In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, while the world grappled with the immediate chaos, a less visible battle emerged: the fight for victim compensation and the inclusion of same-sex partners. Shortly after the tragedy, the U.S. government established the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to offer financial relief to those impacted by the attacks. However, this initiative quickly revealed deeper societal fault lines. Historians have long analyzed the broader implications of 9/11, noting its connections to past conflicts and civil liberties violations. Recently, a Cambridge University Press article has brought to light the contentious debates surrounding the VCF's distribution and its impact on LGBTQ rights. The VCF aimed to compensate families without resorting to litigation against airlines but triggered significant controversy, especially concerning same-sex partnerships. Initial public and governmental responses were fraught with tension over whether same-sex partners should receive benefits comparable to heterosexual spouses. This debate reflected a broader societal shift, where the visibility of gay heroes like Mark Bingham and Father Mychal Judge challenged traditional views and fueled legislative changes. Public sentiment fluctuated between support for gay rights and resentment towards perceived economic inequality. The VCF highlighted discrepancies in compensation, with wealthy victims' families receiving backlash over government payouts. This, in turn, intensified discussions about economic disparities and the notion of fairness in compensation. The struggle for inclusion culminated in the passage of the Mychal Judge Act, which provided federal benefits to same-sex partners of first responders, marking a significant, albeit indirect, victory for LGBTQ rights in the wake of September 11. This unfortunate incident happened today, 23 years ago. #Queer Up Social Justice