ONE OF THE MANY LESSONS America learned from Sept. 11 is that there were gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered victims and heroes with names and faces and ordinary life histories. Like many of those who died, they also left behind grieving partners, children, houses with mortgages, unpaid car loans, monthly bills -- the same sad remnants of so many of the lives stolen by the terrorists.
They are left behind to face a life forever changed. Healing for them will be a process that will be made even more difficult by the fact that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.
Because our laws and society don't recognize our relationships and our families, survivors from the GLBT community do not qualify for relief funds from the federal government and some state and private agencies. Denied the access to funds that were designated for supporting the families that lost loved ones, they will be left to face hardship alone.
With no legal connection for their committed relationships, many will lose their homes. Not being the beneficiaries of retirement funds or having access to other financial aid, they will be saddled with enormous debts and hardship, denied the same Social Security and pension benefits other surviving families have received and have taken for granted as their due.
Not being legal guardians, many will lose the children they have been rearing with their loved ones. Many will be denied credit to rebuild their lives simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.
The greatest travesty of all, though, is the fact that all of this is perfectly legal.
The events of Sept. 11 made clear the power of living outside the closet. They also made clear how vulnerable the GLBT community remains. Now, more than ever, it is time for sexual-orientation issues to be brought forth. We must become active in our community to show Dayton and the Miami Valley that we are a productive part of society.
John Gantt of Dayton is semi-retired from 20 years in industrial management. He is chairman of the Dayton Pride Partnership and a speaker for The Miami Valley Community Coalition, and supports area outreach and nonprofit groups through fundraising.
(C) 2002 Dayton Daily News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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