N000752
Saturday, December 22, 2001 2:47 PM
Please read this...
December 22, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I write as a member of Amnesty International, committed to ensuring respect
for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, 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 consider rules for administering the relief fund, 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."
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.
REMEMBER, ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GRIEVE THE SAME AND SHOULD BE
ENTITLED TO THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LIFE AND ALL OF ITS DISASTERS THE
SAME. SO WHY SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO SUFFER MORE THAN OTHERS, BY US MAKING
THEM FEEL LESS HUMAN BY SAYING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THIER PARTNERS ARE NOT
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES...THAT WOULD BE A TRUELY SAD
INSTANCE OF THE INHUMANITY THAT WE SUFFER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT
IS OUR OWN DEMON THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. WE TRY SO HARD
TO GET ALL THE OTHERS TO RESPECT US, BUT WE REALLY DON'T RESPECT
US/EACHOTHER HERE. HOW SAD.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Long Beach, CA