dojR002914.xml

dojR002914.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-14

Kenneth L. Zwick
Director, Office of Management Programs
Civil Division, US Dept of Justice Main Building
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530 3/14/02

Dear Mr. Zwick:

I am writing to voice my concern over the exclusion of same-sex partners from the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund. This horrible tragedy was unprecedented and affected people from all walks of American society. All the affected deserve our help. Your administration has recognized that a compassionate and effective response will entail making certain exceptions to general U.S. policy on eligibility for public benefits, such as making compensation available to undocumented aliens (and protecting their employers from prosecution should such individuals come forward). Please make sure that ALL affected families and households receive the assistance they need to cope with this terrorist attack, whether the household was counting on the income of a brother or sister, an opposite-sex but unmarried partner, a same-sex partner, or a friend. Fair rules can be devised for assisting all families and households who were directly affected by this terrorist attack. Please don't use this as an opportunity to cut out or further
marginalize people whose loss and grief is no less real because they are not heterosexual.


was one of the heroes of 9/11. He helped bring down the plane that was probably headed for the U.S. Capitol. Senator McCain said of : "He supported me, and his support now ranks among the greatest honors of my life. I wish I had known before September 11 just how great an honor his trust in me was. I wish I could have thanked him for it more profusely than time and circumstances allowed. But I know it now." (Senator McCain, Eulogy for , September 22, 20001).

was gay. Is our country going to welcome gays as heroes, but not support them as ordinary people?

Sincerely yours,

Individual Comment
Sacramento, CA

2002-03-14