dojR001832.xml

dojR001832.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-18

Monday, March 18, 2002 6:20 PM
Protesting exclusion of Gay victims families from 9/11 fund


Dear President Bush and Mr. Feinberg,

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.

Sincerely,



Individual Comment
Arlington, VA

2002-03-18