From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Bergen Record Matthew Shepard Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 23:35:00 -0500 (EST) November 3, 1998 Bergen Record 150 River Street Hackensack, NJ 07602 Dear Editors: Leslie DeBlasio's October 23 letter regarding Matthew Shepard's death missed the point entirely. Anti-gay violence and discrimination are very real problems; Mr. Shepard's attack was a horrific and well- publicized example. Conservative Christians are not routinely abused or oppressed in the United States. Discrimination on the basis of religion is both illegal and generally socially unacceptable, and violence against anyone on the basis of their religion is widely condemned without reservation or qualification. Conservative Christians do not routinely advocate violence, but the most vociferous verbal attacks on sexual minorities and most of the work to deny sexual minorities the legal protections enjoyed by conservative Christians comes from groups that identify themselves as conservative Christian organizations and are supported by some conservative Christian churches. Following Mr. Shepard's death, statements from those organizations condemned the murder but also argued against hate-crime laws, and/or reiterated a moral objection to same-gender sexual activity. It is certainly not fair to place the blame for Mr. Shepard's death on conservative Christians in general. Not all conservative Christians oppose legal equity for sexual minorities. Indeed, some conservative Christians are themselves gay. But no doubt relentless negative stereotyping and lobbying by some groups, a focus on the "otherness" and perceived sinfulness of sexual minorities, a refusal to acknowledge their human and civil rights, and a willingness by many people of faith to let these actions and attitudes go unchallenged, coupled with the frequent lack of incarceration for crimes against sexual minorities, have contributed to an environment in which violence and discrimination appear to be socially acceptable. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and organizations and 60 clergy from 15 religious traditions. 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. -- 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.