A000935
Wednesday, December 05, 2001 12:15 PM
Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Comments
Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
Wednesday December 5, 2001
Dear Mr. Zwick,
I am writing today to ask you to invest a few minutes in the cause of
justice and
equality.
I understand that, in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist
attacks, the U.S. Justice Department established the "September 11
Victim Compensation Fund." If I understand correctly, the purpose of
this fund is to provide assistance to persons who were injured as a
result of the attacks, and to compensate the relatives of those who were
killed.
I understand that the U.S. Department of Justice is now inviting public
comments on how this fund should be administered and how funds should be
distributed.
I strongly encourage you to remember that justice will be served ONLY
when all families -- and all types of families, including those of a
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered nature -- that were impacted
by September 11 are treated with equality.
>From the brave young gay man who lost his life on the plane attempting
to save the
lives of innocent people... to the gay priest who lost his life while
ministering at Ground Zero... to the many lesbian and gay employees
working in the World Trade Center... it is vitally important that our
government treat all of our families with
dignity and respect and equality.
Within my own denomination ofMetropolitan Community Churches, the lives
of our congregants have forever been touched by the death of a member of MCC New York, and the horrific loss experienced by
her life partner and their teenage son. I put myself in partner's shoes every day. How would I ever explain to my 6 1/2 year
old son that his , my partner and his parent, was killed in a
tragic, horrific nightmare? And how would I explain, further, that our
government, which is to stand behind each and every one of us, does not
"approve" of our family and, therefore, will not be helping us in any
way?
Our pain is no less.
Our loss is no less.
And our access to justice and equality in the aftermath of this crisis
must be no
less.
Therefore, I implore you to 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.
I would ask my federal government to follow the example already set by
New York's Governor Pataki in 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."
Thank you for taking a stand for justice -- and a stand on behalf of all
lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgendered families impacted by the events of September
11. We are Americans too. We are families as well. We wake up in the
morning, get our kids dressed and fed, and take them to school just like
you do. We come home at night, have dinner together, read bedtime
stories and tuck our kids in at night, just like you do. We are soccer
mom's and baseball dads, just like you. We bake cookies and sing songs
and attend PTO meetings, just like you. Please remember that we are
families too. And, as I said before,
Our pain is no less.
Our loss is no less.
And our access to justice and equality in the aftermath of this crisis
must be no
less.
Thank you for taking my comments into consideration and remembering that
ALL American families deserve equal assistance and compensation in the
aftermath of this horrific tradgedy.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Mount Joy, PA