A001307
Friday, December 07, 2001 4:16 PM
Equal Rights for All
To: Mr. Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
I am writing today to ask you to stop the discrimination being done to the gay and lesbian people by our government. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Justice Department established the "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." 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.
The U.S. Department of Justice wants to know how the funds should be administered and distributed. I strongly encourage you to let them know to listen to all the voices of the people who were affected by the loss of their loved ones. Whether, that voice is straight or someone of an alternative lifestyle. These voices still need to be heard. I would like to remind the U.S. Justice Department officials that justice is only served only when all families be straight or not, who were impacted by September 11 are treated with equality, justice and respect and compensated for the loss of their loved one.
Once again I ask the Justice Department to include among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners as well as defacto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. A great example for you all to follow is already set forth by New York Governor Pataki who is 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 deserve this help in this time of need."
Individual Comment