Lesbian who lost her partner on September 11 awarded $570,000

THE lesbian lover of a woman killed in the Pentagon terror attack on September 11 has been awarded $570,000 compensation from the US government in a landmark ruling.

The master of the Victim Compensation Fund decided that Peggy Neff was entitled to the money after the death of her partner of 18 years, civilian army management analyst Sheila Hein.

It is the first time the US government has awarded compensation to the surviving partner in a gay relationship. Ms Hein, 51, was wearing a gold band given to her by Ms Neff when a hijacked American Airlines jet slammed into the Pentagon.

“Words cannot express what I have lost,” Ms Neff wrote in her compensation claim.

“She was my entire world and my soul-mate, my closest confidante and my best friend.”

The couple had lived together in University Park, Maryland.

David Smith, from the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign, said: “It is our sincere hope this signals that other gay families who have suffered the loss of a loved one will be treated similarly.