A001232
Thursday, December 06, 2001 8:32 PM
TO: Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to assure that the
voices of gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons are heard -- and that we remind
the U.S.Justice Department officials that justice is only served when all
families --and all types of families -- 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 our own Metropolitan Community Churches, our lives 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.
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.
1. I ask the Justice Department 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.
2. I ask the U.S. Government to follow the example already set by New York
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
American families impacted by the events of September 11.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment