dojA003015.xml

dojA003015.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-19

Wednesday, December 19, 2001 10:41 AM
survivor benefits


December 19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, 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, I ask that you
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,gay and bisexual people were killed in the September 11th
attacks, as were many unmarried heterosexual domestic partners. 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 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
St. Peter, MN

2001-12-19