From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG USA Today letter Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 00:52:44 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 9 congregations and religious organizations and 38 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. April 2, 1997 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,VA 22229 Dear Editors: Eugene Delguadio, who claims to be a Public Advocate of the United States, is obviously not interested in being an advocate for all of the Public. Quibbles about the percentage of the population with a particular sexual orientation, or even over what constitutes a particular sexual orientation, are no more useful than debating how many people belong to a particular religion, or how members of various religions are defined. All citizens of the United States are entitled to the same rights. In a society that still persecutes sexual minorities who are open about their orientation, it is a sign of progress that three percent of those who voted in the last national election felt comfortable identifying themselves as gay. Sexual and religious minorities are both purely self-identified. We should not be surprised when people choose to keep their religious beliefs or their sexual orientation to themselves, nor discriminate against them for making this information public. 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.