dojA000107.xml

dojA000107.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-11-28

Wednesday, November 28, 2001 2:53 PM

Lesbian life partners




Hello,



I am writing to encourage the DOJ to take an active role in making the funds from the 9/11 tragedies available to partners and families of the gay and lesbian victims of the attacks.



I am a 30 year old woman, my partner and I have been in a relationship for a little over 7 years. In that time we have had a commitment ceremony with friends and family, bought a home, traveled, gardened, worked, paid taxes, and shared every aspect of a loving and caring life. We are the American dream. We found each other, built a relationship on love and respect and a day does not pass without my immense gratitude that she is in my life.



On September 10th I was returning home from a business trip in Minnesota. I was home by a little after midnight, I didn't even bother unpacking and went right to sleep cuddled up next to my partner. The next day, 9/11, we were both back to work when the news hit. I rushed home to watch it all unfold, my father works in DC and my sister works at the Embassy in Kuwait, I was terrified. We waited and waited and waited to hear from friends and family and account for our loved ones and our losses.



I cannot imagine going through the past months without my partner, but what is harder to bear is the thought that if she or I were among the victims, we would not be afforded the same access to services and financial help as out heterosexual friends and family. It's hard for me to describe the feelings I have knowing that I am considered a second class American citizen because of who I love. Please consider righting this wrong and doing what you can as the US Department of Justice to make sure that the partners and families of the lesbian and gay victims get equal access to compensation and services.



Thank you very much,



Individual Comment

Ithaca, NY

2001-11-28