In Conclusion: How We Are Treated since 9-11

by Pat Robinson
OITM Staff Writer

November 13, 2001: “Encouraging” said Human Rights Campaign Director David M. Smith regarding the new poll data released by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The information strongly indicates that Americans support federal legislation to battle discrimination and violence against the LGBT community. 73% support hate crime laws, 76% support federal employment protection, while gay, lesbian and bisexual people say they feel more accepted now than in the past.
      The new poll also shows 39% of the general public supports gay marriage, up from 36% in 1998, and 29% in 1994.
      Two thirds of the general public believe that homosexual behavior is a normal part of some people’s sexuality.
ΚΚΚΚΚ Still, an alarming 74% say they have experienced prejudice and discrimination. 32% identified themselves as having been a target of physical violence.
ΚΚΚΚΚ For more information on this new poll, visit www.hrc.org listed under news releases.

November 26, 2001: In a joint letter to Attorney General Ashcroft and the United States Dept. of Justice, six major civil rights organizations ask for fairness in compensation for the victims of Sept. 11. The federal government set up the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide financial support for survivors whose relatives were killed or injured in the attacks.
ΚΚΚΚΚ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, the Human Rights Campaign, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund make specific suggestions to evaluate relationships.
ΚΚΚΚΚ Lambda Staff Atty. Jennifer Middleton, who drafted the letter told Atty. General Ashcroft this: “The only fair and humane response is to recognize all victims of this tragedy, including lesbian and gay partners and their children, and to distribute the funds equitably to all those who suffered losses.”
ΚΚΚΚΚ Lambda, ESPA, and HRC have been working with lesbian and gay surviving partners to receive benefits from the agencies involved.
ΚΚΚΚΚ In a statement at the time, then HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch noted that, “the American Red Cross and the Sally Mae 911 Education fund have already recognized the domestic partners of victims when dispersing survivor benefits.”

December 3, 2001: HRC’s David Smith reports that “for the most part, charities have granted gay partners the same level of aid as that provided to spouses.”
ΚΚΚΚΚ State aid and Federal compensation has varied.
ΚΚΚΚΚ John Winter lost his partner Tony Karnes in the WTC. “You’re never sure whether you’re included or not, so you always have to ask, and when you’re feeling emotionally stressed like this, it’s not easy to push (for aid).”
ΚΚΚΚΚ Winter acknowledged that the American Red Cross and the State of New York both helped. In New York Gov. George Pataki issued an executive order granting gay partners equal benefits from the state’s Crime Victims Board.
ΚΚΚΚΚ In Virginia, gay partners do not have the same standing. Virginia law says that only a surviving spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, adult child or legal dependent may receive compensation.
ΚΚΚΚΚ Peggy Neff lost her partner of 18 years in the attack on the Pentagon. She says, “There has been no cooperation from the State of Virginia.
ΚΚΚΚΚ “Our law is pretty clear on who is eligible, and it does not include domestic partners. Gov. Gilmore can’t just rewrite laws with the stroke of a pen. If he could do that, we’d have a kingdom.” said Reed Boatright, spokesman for the Gov. James Gilmore of Virginia.
ΚΚΚΚΚ Neff, Winter, and others wait for the guidelines for the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund. A final draft of eligibility rules are expected on Dec. 22 from the Justice Dept.

December 5, 2001: Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation releases it’s Year in Reveiw: 2001. National news events on the list: FBI releases 1999 statistics that appear to under count anti-gay hate crimes, backlash for the Boy Scouts after Supreme Court decision, Census reports 601,209 same-sex unmarried partner households counted in 2000, a 314% over 1990, and the Salvation Army’s continued public embrace of anti-gay discrimination. To read the entire list covering national and regional news and politics, and a review of the aftermath of Sept. 11, go to www.glaad.org/org/relations/index.html?record=2887.

December 16, 2001: Special to msnbc.com, Jonathan Alter announces the return of Jerry Falwell, pointing out the remarks Rev. Falwell made on Pat Robertson’s 700 Club following the tragedy of 9-11 and the shame of ignoring the conservatives have done.
ΚΚΚΚΚ Mr. Alter quotes the newsletter done by L. Brent Bozell, a longtime conservative activist mentioning a list called “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” making note of the failure of the “two major leaders of the religious right” to be counted.
ΚΚΚΚΚ To read Jonathan Alter’s entire piece, go to msnbc.com.

December 17, 2001: In the Op-Ed piece, Resolutions For a Changed America, Human Rights Campaign’s Elizabeth Birch and Candace Gingrich offer these suggestions learned the hard way after the losses suffered by some gay and lesbian victims. 1.”The power of living outside the closet.” 2.”Write a will, power of atty, living wills, and hospital visitation authorizations.” 3.”Be a mentor to our young people.” For the full piece go to www.hrc.org/familynet.

December 17, 2001: Katie Couric of NBC News Today Show interviews Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Meet The Press; and P.J.O’Rourke, writer and humorist; asking the question, “What was the political fax paus of 2001?”
ΚΚΚΚΚ Tim Russert answered with this, “Gore’s inventing of the Internet, Bush’s failure to disclose his DUI till the day before the election, and if I may add a third, Robertson and Falwell blaming the homosexuals, feminists, and the ACLU for the terror on Sept.11.”