dojA003767.xml

dojA003767.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-19

Wednesday, December 19, 2001 7:57 PM
Equal rights for victims


December 19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

As a member of Amnesty International I strongly support equal access to
benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims,
regardless of sexual orientation or marital status.

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.

I therefore ask you to 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 your help.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Ithaca, NY

2001-12-19