R002039
Monday, March 18, 2002 4:49 PM
victim's fund
Hello,
My name is and I have become aware recently of the inequity of
financial help available to families of victims of the September 11th
terrorist attacks. I am deeply saddened and outraged at the recent statement
made by Kenneth Feinberg on Meet the Press that he will defer to state
governments in terms of whether domestic partners of gay and lesbian victims
of the 9/11 tragedy will receive any kind of compensation. As you know,
there is no federal law protecting domestic partners although they pay the
same taxes as heterosexuals, contribute to society, and even were recognized
as playing an instrumental part in the 9/11 events ( , NY Fire
Department ). It is an injustice, on top of
such suffering, to deny compensation or benefits of any kind to domestic
partners of gay and lesbian victims, who are not eligible for social
security benefits, survivor's insurance and other compensations allowed to
heterosexual couples. I ask you to direct Mr. Feinberg to make an exception
for domestic partners in the same way the 9/11 fund made an exception for
families of undocumented persons. Please do not contribute to further
victimization by leaving these families more vulnerable after the tragic
loss of their loved ones.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
San Francisco, CA