From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Teaching Tolerance Letter Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 22:54:46 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 49 clergy from 14 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. October 1, 1997 Editor Teaching Tolerance 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 Dear Editor: We were as usual very pleased with the latest issue of the magazine, especially with the inclusion of an article on Gay-Straight Alliances. However, the article glossed over the amount of controversy that a Gay-Straight Alliance can generate. The state legislature of Utah, for instance, met in an illegal, closed-door, emergency session when they learned that such a club had been proposed at a Utah high school, resulting in the decision to ban all non-curricular clubs rather than allow that one club. Instead, the Alliance was formed as an outside organization. While we certainly encourage organizations that help sexual minority youth, teachers contemplating the creation of an Alliance need to be prepared for the religiously-based emotional debate that can ensue. To that end, they may find our web page, with material on sexual orientation issues from a wide variety of religious sources, to be a useful addition to the resource list you published with the story. The URL is http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/. Perhaps in the future you might consider articles on teaching religious tolerance as well. 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.