The LGBT heroes of 9/11 live on today
When remembering the horrific events which took place in New York on 11th September 2001. I ask you to please take a moment to think about what else happened at “ground zero” and far beyond.
On the day America was attacked with aeroplanes instead of bombs, Americans, among many other nationalities had their lives ended or changed forever.
Countless emergency service personnel rushed to the scene, willing to risk everything in their duty to serve and protect the public.
Mark Bingham
Mark Bingham, a 31 year old gay man was one of the passengers on United Airlines flight 93 which crashed in Pennsylvania. He bravely helped to overpower the planes hijackers, giving his life for his country and free to be the man he was.
16th September has officially been designated Mark Bingham Day in San Francisco.
Unlike the World Trade Centre, one fact can never be destroyed, on that day men, women, black, white, gay and straight became victims and heroes. On that day the world once again saw the worst and the best of humanity. People reached out to one another for strength and comfort to face their new enemy in unity.
The attack on freedom condemned by President George. W. Bush, as well as other leaders around the globe seems to be a distant memory now. Fifteen years later we see reports of attacks almost daily coming out of America against citizens targeted because of their sexuality, race or religion. Just like the terrorists these attackers are fuelled by intolerance, bigotry and ignorance. Choosing the easy option of hate rather than learning to embrace those they deem to be different.
The article below, published on 10th September 2015, pays tribute to those from the LGBT community caught up in the 911 slaughter, capturing everything and more I could ever say.
The LGBT heroes of 9/11 live on today
by
TIMOTHY RAWLES – COMMUNITY EDITOR FOR SDGLN
As we head into the day nobody will ever forget, we realize that nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001.
Speculations abound about the theories behind 9/11, but there is one thing that will always remain true: people, gay and straight, with families lost their lives on that fateful day.
Fourteen years later and a lot has changed in the United States. We elected a black president, multi-cultural families now outweigh white ones, and marriage equality is now law.
Many special events and tributes will be held today, a lot of those services involve the reading of names of those taken so tragically.
What some people don’t realize is that among the many brave citizens who lost their lives in the attacks, there were many LGBT people taken from their families.
These people were either passengers on board the aircrafts, in the towers, or helping to rescue others, putting their own lives at stake.
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This is where we really go when we die: |
The site angelfire.com has created a list of LGBT victims of 9/11.
It never seems right to separate one victim from another based on certain aspects of their lives, especially in a tragedy such as September 11, however, we must remind some people that the LGBT community had many heroes that day.
These heroes cannot enjoy the freedoms we do today because terrorists took them away too soon.
One certain Rowan County clerk might remember that even though she is refusing to recognize gay and lesbian people as citizens of a country in which she lives, the gay people who died, rescued and put their lives on the line at ground zero didn’t discriminate through the fire, dust and falling debris.
They were not thinking about religious freedoms or selfish bravado, they were scared and ultimately motivated to help others in a time of true terror.
As Kim Davis emerges from her jail cell to the tune of “Eye of the Tiger,” and forces tears from her eyes in front of supporters in an effort to showcase her proud victory of bigotry, one has to wonder about the loved-ones still trying to be recognized as the spouses of gay and lesbian 9/11 victims.
America has made many changes in the last fourteen years; marriage equality perhaps being the most symbolic.
As we remember the victims of the tragedies that happened in New York in 2001, let us all take an extra minute to remember the gay and lesbian heroes who would not see the day when they would be free to marry, adopt children, or have to endure job discrimination.
The heroes and victims of 9/11 were of many backgrounds and cultures. But none have come so far in the last decade as those in the LGBT community.
What is truly saddening is that those gays and lesbians who risked everything so that others may live, are not around to partake in the hard work and progress we have made possible.
My heart and thoughts go out to those who not only lost loved ones to the atrocities of the 9/11 attacks, but the grief they must feel knowing that change has been made and how much their lives would be different if their loved-ones were present today. They are the true “Eye of the Tiger.”
Timothy Rawles is Community Editor of SDGLN. He can be reached at editor@sdgln.com, @reporter66 on Twitter, or by calling toll-free to 888-442-9639, ext. 713.
Memorial to Gay heroes and patriots of September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania The total GLBT number of deaths may never be known. Not all of the victims were Out.
Americans should hang their heads in shame. To have treated “victims” of this tragedy in such a disrespectful manner based on who they love…