December 5, Washington: A special fund has been created to help gays and lesbians like Peggy Neff who have been affected by the events of September 11.

Following a story in 365Gay.com about Neff the woman who may lose the home she shared with her partner of 18 years after the state of Virginia decided GLBT families do not qualify for benefits our newsroom was deluged with emails from people wanting to help.

Neff's partner, Sheila Hein, was killed in the September 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, just outside Washington in Virginia.

Since then a number of other families have been identified that have been excluded from benefits because they are gay.

On Sunday, 365Gay.com publisher Rob Sands held a conference call with the Human Rights Campaign's Senior Strategist, David Smith, to see what could be done.

Smith agreed that several of the families were in the same situation as Neff (who has already received a $2,000 cheque from HRC) needed immediate help.  

Today, Human Rights Campaign announced the creation of the HRC Relief Fund.  "Money sent to the Relief Fund will be used only to help GLBT families impacted by the 9-11 terrorist tragedy," Smith told 365Gay.com Tuesday.

Smith said money raised will be put into a special Trust Account.

"The money will be divided equally among the families involved," Smith said.  "We intend to work with other GLBT agencies to identify those who need help from the fund," he told 365Gay.com. 

Most of the families lost partners or parents when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon.

While Virginia refused to help GLBT families, New York Governor George Pataki moved quickly to ensure help was offered to gay families.

Federal compensation remains in limbo.  Congress established a Victim Compensation Fund after the attacks but the Justice Department won't release a final draft of eligibility rules until Dec. 22. The draft is expected to offer guidelines on whether to include the partners of gays and lesbians and must have 90 days of public review. 

Meanwhile, for the children of gays and lesbians killed in the attacks, this will be a bleak Christmas without help.

Donations can be made to:

Human Rights Campaign Relief Fund
919 18th St, 8th Floor, NW
Washington, DC 20006

(202) 628-4160

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