A001293
Friday, December 07, 2001 1:43 PM
compensation for September 11 victims
Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Dear Mr. Zwick:
I am writing in response to the Department's request for public
comments regarding the forthcoming regulations for implementing
and administering the "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund."
I emphatically urge the Department to draft regulations that ensure
compensation is available to all victims of the attack,
including the committed partners and the non-biological children
of gay and lesbian victims.
Among other things, the September 11 terrorist attacks were an attack on the
extraordinarily diverse and democratic adventure of America. I, and a great
many others, celebrate this diversity, for instance a society in which
straights and gays, religious believers and non-believers, native-born
citizens and immigrants are all welcomed and embraced. What better, and
ultimately more tragic, place to see this social model in process than the
World Trade Center itself, which was filled with people from every walk of
life,including many different nationalities, occupations, and viewpoints.
One can only surmise that it is precisely this open and diverse social model
that the terrorists, so caught up in their peculiar kind of intolerance, so
viciously opposed.
Therefore, it is essential that when it comes to bestowing aid to families
after the attacks, all the victims be compensated, without any social biases
whatsoever, and this includes the dependents and life partners of gays and
lesbians. This would be in the very best American tradition, once again a
tradition which has always proved welcoming to diversity on a remarkable
scale.
Yours truly,
Individual Comment
Brooklyn, NY