R002734
FOR THE MEMORY OF:
And so many more...
To Whom it May Concern:
I am a survivor of the tragic attack on the World Trade Towers on September 11th and have
just been made aware of the unfair exclusion of same-sex partners of compensation for their
losses. This is the saddest and most embarrassing issue that has come out of this tragic event.
Especially when you consider the first victim of these attacks was (Death
Certificate ) who was a gay man. The rest of the country recognizes , a
gay man, as a hero for sacrificing his life to fight the terrorist on the airliner that crashed in
Pennsylvania. Just last week I saw an interview with his mother who appeared on national
television to say how proud she was of her son, no matter his sexual orientation. Your
department must take another look at how insensitive and completely homophobic your
decision appears to the world. We are living in the twenty-first century. Join the rest of the
nation and recognize human beings as individuals without prejudice.
When I was on the World Trade Center Plaza and saw the tragic results of the first attack I
thought I had seen the worst sight of my life; people leaping to their deaths to escape the fire. I
never imagined I would be standing under an explosion and a ball of fire that left flying debris,
body parts and fire all around me when the South Tower was hit. I ran for my life. My only
thought was to return to the comfort of my apartment and to the one I love; my boyfriend of
seven years. Had it not been for his continued support, financial and otherwise, I could not
have achieved the status of a bank officer for an international bank in only five years. As an
artist it was difficult for him to support two people on his income but he did because he believed
in me. Why is my relationship so different than those who were not as lucky as I was to escape
with my life?
I trust you will re-evaluate your decision and decide to do what is right and just and award ALL
those individuals who lost loved ones. Not just those you deemed as "politically correct."
Individual Comment
New York, NY