dojA004322.xml

dojA004322.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-20

Thursday, December 20, 2001 8:40 AM
Equal Access to Crisis Relief Benefits for Surviving Gay and
Lesbian Partners


December 20, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination. I also write as a lesbian with a partner to whom I
have been devoted for more than 13 years. Were I to lose her for any
reason I would be emotionally devastated. Certainly if she were one of
those lost in the September 11 terrorist attacks, I would need
understanding and support from family, friends and my government. I want
to express my support of equal access to benefits under the September 11
Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or
marital status.

As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human
rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit
arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the
relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights
standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among
relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as
well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation
or marital status.
The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting
compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the
victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living
expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves
help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality.

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Madison, WI

2001-12-20