A003151
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 11:56 AM
Equal Benefits for Same-Sex Partners-9/11
December 19, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I am writing to encourage you to support equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including 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. The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, 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."
Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.
*****In addition, this is not only a gay/lesbian issue, but one of race and
class as well.*****
Many of those killed were janitors and food workers, not just commodities
brokers. Among these, many were black, Hispanic, and/or immigrants.
Different cultures have more and less emphasis on legal marriage in
relationships and in parenting children. Please make sure that no one gets
left out.
An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help
establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating
victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types
of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are
treated with dignity and equality.
Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Rochester, NY