Subject: IWG Billboard Winans Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 10:06:28 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 53 clergy from 15 religious traditions. 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 15, 1997

Billboard Magazine
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

Thank you for Daniel Jenkins' commentary concerning the
controversial Winans sisters song, "Not Natural." 
Those who objected to the song did just what the Winans
sisters did: expressed disagreement with what they saw
as a fundamental misrepresentation of the truth as they
understood it.  However, Jenkins overlooked some
important points:

First, he speaks of the motivation of gays and lesbians
protesting the song; but there is broad-based support
for the rights of sexual minorities outside of the gay
community as well ("gay-rights supporters" would be a
more accurate umbrella term).  Second, he claims that
the "naturalness" of homosexual-orientation is a debate
between science and religion; unfortunately "natural"
is a vague term that means different things to
different people, and is not an adequate basis for
deciding what is acceptable in a diverse culture.  Many
people believe in the moral equivalence of homosexual
and heterosexual relationships because of their
religious beliefs, not in spite of them, and not
because of science.  Third, instead of just protesting,
people who opposed the song made an effort to encourage
the Winans sisters to engage in dialogue with people of
faith holding opposing views. 

Ellen DeGeneres, at least, has something positive to
say.  Ultimately, the most constructive approaches to
social change are to either say something positive or
speak civilly with those with whom you disagree.   The
Winans sisters felt they were contributing to society,
but to criticize an entire segment of society in a song
is one-sided and can only spread social discord and
discourage peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/         reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.