dojA002739.xml

dojA002739.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-19

Wednesday, December 19, 2001 8:24 AM
Equal Access for Surviving Gay and Lesbian Partners of
September 11th Victims


December 19, 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. 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.

Thus, as you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that
you 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. The State of New York has already
adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits. This should be the
standard by which future regulations are drafted.

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
New York, NY

2001-12-19