From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Salon letter Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 22:54:55 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 41 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. June 10, 1997 Salon 185 Berry St. Suite 4811 San Francisco CA 94107 Dear Editors: In our mission to make the general public aware of the diversity of opinion in the religious community concerning a variety of social issues, we try to read every opinion piece and article written anywhere on the subject of religion and sexual orientation. We have read a fair number that could be classified as outright insulting, but none have been quite so annoying as David Horowitz's June 9 commentary. Mr. Horowitz's conclusions are based on the notion that there are natural conflicts between individuals who have been grouped on the basis of a single characteristic. We object both to his contrasting heterosexuals with homosexuals and Christians with Jews. As heterosexual, legally-married gay rights activists who coordinate an organization with Christian and Jewish members, we are proof that any such conflicts are merely artificial constructs. We are glad that Mr. Horowitz recognizes the value of diversity, but it is especially important in a diverse society that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or religion, is treated equally under the law. Within the last few centuries, civil marriage rights have been extended to include heterosexuals who are also religious minorities, and for some racial minorities it was only within the last forty years, but that extension has not yet been applied to sexual minorities. Until it is, we cannot claim to have achieved either equal protection under the law or a truly moral society. 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.