From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG USA Today boycott letter Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:00:16 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 41 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. June 19, 1997 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,VA 22229 Dear Editors: Douglas Cote's letter about the Southern Baptists' boycott was interesting, but showed that he does not understand the motivation of all those who object to it. Many of the religious institutions which support the rights and uphold the dignity of sexual minorities have themselves engaged in boycotts and civil disobedience to promote racial equality, to improve treatment for exploited laborers, or to protect refugees, among other things. Many congregations continue to risk their relationships with their denominations over sexual orientation issues. Our objection is thus not to the act of boycotting, but to the reasons behind it. The boycott is primarily in response to actions which we believe (even if they were accidental or driven by a profit motive) are inherently moral. Mr. Cote is correct in saying that belief in a moral system does not automatically make a person intolerant, but the charge of intolerance is reasonable when an organization singles out a group for physical, legal, verbal, or economic attack solely because they are engaged in behavior, or hold beliefs, which do not fit the attackers' moral code or belief system. This boycott is not an attack on Disney so much as an attempt to deny health benefits and recognition to sexual minorities by threatening any corporation that treats them equally. An act of defiance against a government, corporation or religious institution for harming its citizens, employees, or members is more tolerant and more moral than a boycott against a corporation for simply recognizing that not all of its customers or employees think and act alike. 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.