From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Dr. Schlessinger letter Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 12:09:12 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 39 clergy from 13 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. May 25, 1997 Dr. Laura Schlessinger c/o The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 122 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10168 Dear Dr. Schlessinger: We were both saddened and disturbed by the column in which you said that you believe homosexuality is an inferior sexual orientation. To grade human sexual and affectional relationships on their potential for direct biological reproduction is morally questionable and the insulting way in which you stated your opinion was socially reprehensible. As parents, we hope that we are providing our children with two loving and firm adults with compatible personalities who put their best interests at heart. We fail to see how these qualities are at all related to our respective genders, and we resent the implication that they might be. But what we found most offensive about your column was that you labeled the deeply held religious beliefs of many people to be "bizarre" and "regrettable" without even acknowledging that you were insulting their faith traditions. In a society with many religious traditions, there are times when it becomes necessary to respectfully disagree with someone else's faith, but it is traditional to at least be civil about it and make polite concessions about respecting the beliefs of others. In addition to multiple races, multiple genders and multiple sexual orientations, there are also multiple religions. We are people of faith who believe in the moral equivalence of same-gender relationships, and in justice for sexual minorities. It is very clear to us that, consciously or not, you believe in the superiority, and most importantly, the state enforcement of a belief system that values rigid gender roles and biological reproduction above all other sexual aspects. We sincerely hope that you will rethink your position or at the very least apologize for your insulting tone. 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.