R002379
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 2:44 PM
Excluding gay family members?
Dear sirs,
When I learned of the utter hypocrisy being practiced by the September 11th
fund in refusing (I think you are calling it "limiting") compensation to the
partners of gay victims, I was very disappointed in my country. What
disturbs me most is not only the fact that gay relationships and gay
partners are being discriminated against - that has been going on for quite
a long time - but rather that the reasons for doing so are being asserted on
a legal basis. Since gay relationships aren't recognized by federal law,
they cannot be included in a federal compensation fund. By this logic,
however, since illegal immigrants are not even recognized as citizens of
this country under federal law, they too should not receive compensation
from a government fund. Furthermore, since unborn children do not even
exist yet, and it is often unsure if a fetus will survive to birth, they
should not be counted as family members at all, and therefore not receive
compensation either. Surprisingly, the latter two categories of people are
included in the victims' compensation fund. Regular, law abiding, American
citizens who are gay, on the other hand, are being completely ignored. It
is clear that their suffering is at least equal to that of illegal immigrant
families and unborn fetuses, but the fund chooses not to recognize this.
The main problem with homosexual discrimination in the US is that it is
constantly denied and camouflaged behind legal terms and the "official"
definition of a "spouse." The case of the 9/11 fund's discrimination is so
clearly an example of hypocrisy that it makes me ashamed of my country. As
an American, I believe in our country and I love the opportunities it
provides, but I cringe at the fact that we carry out wars to "liberate"
countries like Afghanistan and Iraq from repressive regimes while we at home
restrict the freedom, liberty, and rights of a significant portion of our
own population.
September 11th was indeed a turning point for the "American identity" and an
opportunity to move forward toward true unity and solidarity. It is just a
shame to see an institution directly associated with that turning point, the
9-11 fund, contributing to the emotional, legal, social, and psychological
division of the American people. I thought we had moved beyond such
divisive practices.
Respectfully,
Individual Comment