R000774
Thursday, March 14, 2002 3:16 PM
9/11 fund
Dear President Bush,
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