Katrina's aftermath, same-sex couples will be hit the hardest

MARTA DONAYRE
El Observador
September 12, 2005

The images of the devastation and suffering caused by hurricane Katrina are the tip of the iceberg of what is to follow. Many will have to rebuild their lives from scratch, and people in the LGBT and HIV-positive communities will have the hardest time.

The states that were the most impacted by Katrina — Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama — all have measures in place that forbid the legal recognition of same-sex couples and their families. After the dust settles, partners will have a harder time locating loved ones. If they succeed, it will be almost impossible to make medical decisions for them if needed.

If the family home was in the name of a deceased partner, a surviving partner may have no rights to insurance monies. All of the inheritance may go to the nearest blood relative, who may not approve of the relationship and deny the survivor benefits, including attending the funeral.

Children in these families face undue burdens and challenges. If the biological parent dies, their other parent will be unlikely to obtain their custody. Many may end in the foster care system, even though one of their parents is alive and well. And these are only state-wide problems.

Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, that defines marriage federally only as that between a man and a woman, many will be denied aid from FEMA, and survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration. Many children too may be denied pensions if they lose their non-biological parent.

The HIV-positive population will face incredible hurdles. The South has the largest percentage of people affected by HIV/AIDS. According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and The Aids Institute, 40 percent of all HIV victims live in the South, yet only 38 percent of the U.S. population lives in the South. The majority of all HIV-positive Southerners, 53 percent, are African-American.

HIV infection in the South carries tremendous stigma, and many clinics dispense medication through the back door so patients won't be seen entering an HIV/AIDS clinic. Many of them are now in massive refugee camps, and are likely to be without medication. Some may choose to not take it to avoid revealing their HIV status.

The human drama caused by discrimination and stigma is unlikely to hit the airwaves. We won't see surviving partners pleading for help, or HIV-positive people asking for their medication making headlines. But they will be there, suffering silently, and ignored by society at large.

When disaster hits, minority groups are always hit the hardest. Most of us will never hear their stories. We always hear the sad stories of the stranded tourists, but never learn the full impact of the calamity on the most vulnerable segments of society.