dojN000398.xml

dojN000398.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-21

Friday, December 21, 2001 10:20 AM
Equal Access


December 21, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of the worldwide human rights movement, Amnesty
International, in 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, please 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 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 - affected 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
New York, NY

2001-12-21