From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Wall Street Journal Letter Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 23:13:48 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 5 religious organizations and 36 clergy from 12 faiths and denominations. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. December 3, 1996 Wall Street Journal 200 Liberty St. New York, NY 10281 Dear Editors: In his letter to the editor, Stephen F. Oritz wonders why anyone would identify themselves primarily by their sexual orientation in a corporate setting. He goes on to cite a number of other factors which one might use as an identity instead, including church affiliation. Sexual orientation is an issue because most people in the sexual majority choose to make it an issue, and thus it assumes a status which makes it seem primary. There was a time in America when it was not a good idea in many companies to reveal your religion unless you belonged to a major Protestant denomination. A worker displaying a picture of the Pope or a Star of David on his or her desk would have been perceived as primarily identifying with, and perhaps even flaunting, a minority religious affiliation. Today such symbols would probably go unnoticed, especially if they were sitting next to a picture of a same-gender spouse. Family photographs have no more bearing on workplace performance than religious symbols, and the display of both deserves equal protection from job discrimination. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.