A000133
Wednesday, November 28, 2001 5:55 PM
Offer benefits to non-traditional families
Attention Kenneth L. Zwick, Director, Office of Management Programs
Unless the government expands its definition of "family," survivors of
victims of the September 11 attack will suffer even more than they have
already. The partners and de facto children & dependents of gays and
lesbians have suffered an equal economic and emotional loss to heterosexual
victims' wives, husbands, children, parents and siblings.
I'm very grateful that my partner of five years was not hurt or killed in
this tragedy. Because we are gay and, therefore, have virtually no
guaranteed rights as couples, we all stand to lose not only our partners
when they die, but also our claims to property and other assets. To deny aid
to the families of homosexual victims of the attack is to deny their
significant contributions to their communities as families. Please dispense
this aid equally; I expect no less as a taxpayer and an American.
Individual Comment