September 11, 2001: Gay Victims and Heroes

[Duncan Grant]

In Memoriam.

As the days went by, we learned that some of the missing rescue personnel were gay, and that many of their lovers, some of whom are cops and fire fighters, were grieving in silence for fear of outing them. There were also gay cops that lost family members that were rescue personnel. We all learned too quickly and in too cruel a way that the closet is a terrible place to grieve... -- Edgar Rodriguez, NYPD (in the former Lesbian & Gay New York)

http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/uraniamanuscripts/sept11.html

http://tampabaycoalition.homestead.com/files/TBC911LostPartners.htm

[Divine Discontent]

1. hear hear! eom

[The Traveler]

2. You tryin' to make this straight redneck boy cry?

Fuckya. It worked.

"As the days went by, we learned that some of the missing rescue personnel were gay, and that many of their lovers, some of whom are cops and fire fighters, were grieving in silence for fear of outing them."

That's just fucked up. My God what a horrible burden to bear.

[bigscott]

3. I met Edgar once

at a GOAL (Gay Officer Action League) meeting - he is a powerful speaker and a great guy

how sad for these people to lose their partners and not be able to greive openly or seek the support they needed.

Bush sucks

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Rev Mychal Judge, the Fire Chaplin

He was a wonderful man.

[JackBeck]

5. We continue to suffer our losses unrecognized and unacknowledged.

Our lives and sacrifices continue to be thrown away by a polite public that still refuses to accept that we suffered just as much as they did.

[Corkey Mineola]

6. Queer blood also runs red

It's tragic that these distinctions are so entrenched that even grieving, pain-ridden patriots are pushed away because of the gender of their lovers.
The utter lack of equal rights for queer folk -- including federally-recognized marriage -- is the fundamental issue here.
And where are our candidates, for all levels of office, on this issue?

VOTE NO ON PROP 8 -- IT'S HATE

:argh:

[Falcon_Lights1916]

7. It's Sad That Loved Ones of Victims/Heroes ....

Cannot be accepted who they were--heroes and victims who just happened to be gay. So? Did their loved ones mourn any less or need help and comfort any less just because their lovers who died that day were of the same gender? It's crap like this that gets me so angry--it is as if only straight Americans count...if you are gay, just go away (and mourn unseen and unheard).