N000707
Saturday, December 22, 2001 1:17 PM
equal access to benefits
December 22, 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.
Since the United States has committed to uphold international human rights
standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I ask that you apply
basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of
equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who
lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without
regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has
already adopted such a policy, granting 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."
Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, 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
Bethesda, MD