A003495
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 4:03 PM
Remember Them All
December 19, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I wish to speak with you about plans the Justice Department is making to
compensate all victims and family members of those killed on Sept. 11th.
What occurred on that day was a horror of unimaginable proportions.
Therefore, we must all make the greatest of efforts to help those most
affected by this tragedy.
And those who are most affected are not just the husbands, wives, mothers
and fathers of those lost. The parters of gay and lesbian individuals
killed on Sept. 11th are just as victimized as anyone else. They built
lives together, shared dreams together, and planned a future together.
Some even raised children together or cared for children from previous
marriages and relationships.
They should be recognized by the Justice Department, along with the
families of every other victim. They should be honored and consoled by the
rest of our society for their tremendous loss. To ignore those most loved
by the victims of this horrible act would dishonor the memory of those who
were killed.
The State of New York has already adopted a policy that properly recognize
all vicitms who were affected. It grants 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."
Similar language should be a cornerstone to any relief fund set up by the
Justice Department.
As you consider laying out the ground rules for the Sept. 11 Relief Fund, I
ask that you simply abide by the human rights standards that the United
States has committed itself to in the past. These standards include the
policies laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which
prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
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. 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
Lebanon, PA