dojR001331.xml

dojR001331.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-17

Sunday, March 17, 2002 3:47 AM
Why does the 9/11 Fund exclude gays/lesbians?

Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC

Re: Kenneth Feinberg Comments on 03/10 "Meet The Press"

This e-mail is submitted to express very serious concern about a
discriminatory policy of the Justice Dept. Mr. Kenneth Feinberg of the 09/11
Victims Compensation Fund recently stated on "Meet The Press" that state laws
concerning same-gender partnerships shall dictate whether loved ones of gay
persons who died will receive benefits. Because only Vermont and California
offer some recognition to same-gender relationships, it is apparent that
people will now be intentionally excluded from the compensation process
because of a homosexual orientation. This is unacceptable.

Mr. Feinberg indicated that non-citizens (in the United States illegally)
would be eligible. Why is it that the U.S. Justice Dept. can "bend the
rules" in this area and possibly grant benefits but decide that other laws
which limit marriages to heterosexuals should be employed to deny eligibility
to gays and lesbians? This is a completely indefensible position, and the
U.S. Justice Dept. should be held accountable and publicly explain this
discriminatory policy.



Individual Comment
Long Beach, California

2002-03-17