Funds Merge To Help Sept 11 GLBT Families
by Beth Shapiro
365Gay.com Newscenter, in New York 

December 14, New York: Funds set up by Empire Pride in New York and Human Rights Campaign in Washington to help the GLBT families affected by the 9-11 terrorist attacks are being merged into one.

Called The September 11 Gay & Lesbian Family Fund, it will be administered by the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project.  The money will be divided equally among the estimated three-dozen surviving partners and their families around the country.

The combined fund has slightly more than $150,000. Empire Pride had already raised $141,000.  The newer HRC fund, created to help people affected by the attack on the Pentagon, in Virginia has $14,000.

At a news conference on Thursday, four surviving same-sex partners were each presented checks for $4,000. 

It is expected that surviving partners would receive between $4,000 and $6,000, depending on the number of people who file claims.  The deadline in January 15.

New York state moved quickly to help gay families after the attacks there, but Virginia has refused to recognize same-sex relationships in its aid.

In addition, federal aid to GLBT families has not been decided.  The issue is still under advisement by the Justice Department.

On top of that, most company insurance and pension plans do not recognize GLBT families.

"Gay and lesbian life partners have been denied the bedrock government benefits -- like Workers Compensation and Social Security -- afforded automatically to spouses, " said Joe Grabarz, Executive Director of the Pride Agenda. 

"We felt we needed to do something to help offset this discrimination."

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