R000487
Tuesday, March 12, 2002 4:18 PM
September 11 Fund
Dear Kenneth Feinberg,
I am writing to voice my concern over the exclusion of same-sex partners
from the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund. This horrible tragedy was
unprecedented and affected people from all walks of American society. All
the affected deserve our help. Your administration has recognized that a
compassionate and effective response will entail making certain exceptions
to general U.S.
policy on eligibility for public benefits, such as making compensation
available to undocumented aliens (and protecting their employers from
prosecution should such individuals come forward). Please make sure that
ALL affected families and households receive the assistance they need to
cope with this terrorist attack, whether the household was counting on the
income of a brother or sister, an opposite-sex but unmarried partner, a
same-sex partner, or a friend. Fair rules can be devised for assisting all
families and households who were directly affected by this terrorist
attack. Please don't use this as an opportunity to cut out or further
marginalize people whose loss
and grief is no less real because they are not heterosexual.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
NY, NY