dojR002858.xml

dojR002858.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-04-02

Kenneth L. Zwick
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington D.C.

As a member of Amnesty International, I, , would like to express my views on the issue of compensating the families of homosexual victims during the September 11 crisis. I request that gay and lesbian partners be compensated for they are human beings like all the others who have been compensated for the September 11 Compensation Fund.

Gay and lesbian people should not be treated unfairly or differently because of their
sexual preferences. Even though it is illegal for them to get married, their situations should be re-evaluated. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights do not allow discrimination which is arbitrary and the U.S. government must obey and respect these rights

The Justice Department should follow the positive example of New York state in 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."

In the general idea of equality, relatives eligible for compensation are those who have lost their life partners as well as parents and children, without any regard to sexual orientation or marital status.

What I'm trying to say is that they deserve the same level of dignity and respect that
anyone else does. They should be considered as equal and should be given compensation
for they are people, just like all of us.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment
The Plains, VA

2002-04-02