A004253
Thursday, December 20, 2001 11:20 AM
Love has many faces.
December 20, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I write as a member of Amnesty International in support of equal access to
benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims,
regardless of sexual orientation or marital status.
As you draw rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply
basic international human rights standards, the general principle of
equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who
lost their life partners, without regard to sexual orientation.
Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks and
need 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.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Poulsbo, WA