N001235
Sunday, December 30, 2001 5:48 PM
Sept 11 survivor equality
December 30, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I write 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.
Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. My
understanding from Amnesty International, is that 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.
In this time of national sorrow and crisis, please give all relationships
the dignitity and respect that they deserve. Please tell me about your
efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks
have equal access to the relief fund.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Reading, MA