dojN000039.xml

dojN000039.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-20

Thursday, December 20, 2001 5:00 PM
Subject: Crises Relief Benefits for Surviving Gay and Lesbian Partners


December 20, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of 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. 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.

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 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
Perry, KS

2001-12-20