The Empire State Pride Agenda, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project praised the American Red Cross Tuesday for issuing an official policy of fair treatment for gay and lesbian families suffering from the loss of a loved one on September 11. The Red Cross also announced that it has appointed a liaison to oversee the quality and consistency of service to the gay and lesbian community. The new guidelines were issued in response to a meeting with the three gay advocacy organizations last month to ensure that relief assistance would include the partners and children of lesbian and gay victims.

The written guidelines clearly state that same-sex survivors are eligible for September 11 family relief assistance and that the Red Cross will incorporate the guidelines into its training protocols for Family Services staff. The guidelines provide a list of 16 possible criteria that can show an interdependent and supportive relationship. The list includes joint rental leases, bank accounts, or credit cards; joint responsibility for child care; and designation as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement benefits account. The list also includes nonfinancial criteria such as registration as domestic partners, if available, and certification of a union celebrated overseas.

The new guidelines make the Red Cross the first national relief agency to provide detailed policies and procedures on how to respect same-sex relationships when determining eligibility for disaster-related assistance.

"This action by the Red Cross brings real meaning to its stated commitment to using a broad and inclusive definition of family when distributing assistance to all those who suffered on September 11, including gays and lesbians who lost their partners," said Joe Grabarz, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York State's gay civil rights advocacy group. "We praise the Red Cross for this decision and urge it to use the guidelines and training established here to address similar needs as they arise in future disasters and emergencies."