dojN001262.xml

dojN001262.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-31

Monday, December 31, 2001 5:26 PM
equal access to 9//11 relief funds


December 31, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I urge you to administer the September 11 Victims Relief Fund without
regard to the sexual orientation of the victims. Specifically, 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 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. 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. My concern is that the
September 11th Victims Relief Fund be administered in accordance with this
standard.

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.


Individual Comment
Western Springs, IL

2001-12-31