dojN000797.xml

dojN000797.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-22

Saturday, December 22, 2001 11:18 PM
Equal access to relief for gay and lesbian families

Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice

Mr. Zwick,

Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights movement committed to
ensuring that the basic human rights of people are respected without
discrimination.

International human rights standards including the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
prohibit arbitrary discrimination and the US government is obligated to
respect these rights.

I therefore request that the Justice Department, consistent with such
international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality,
include 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.

I ask the Justice Department follow the positive example of New York state
in 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."
I would like to remind the Justice Department officials that real justice is
only served when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the
human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality.

Sincerely,
Individual Comment

2001-12-22