Subject: IWG Chattanooga Maine Editorial Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 00:04:23 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 55 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.

February 19, 1998

Chattanooga Free Press
Box 1447
Chattanooga, TN  37401-1447

Dear Editors:

Your February 12 editorial regarding the Maine sexual
orientation non-discrimination vote was extremely
misleading.  We agree with you that "no American,
individually or in a group, ought to be treated other
than equally before the law."  The Maine law,
however, banned discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation.   Both heterosexual and homosexual
people may or may not be in relationships, sexual or
otherwise.  Even civil marriage, a relationship
involving the government and limited by Federal and
most state laws to couples of different genders may
or may not include sexual activity.  Discrimination
occurs based on the perception of sexual orientation,
not on the basis of private sexual activity.   So,
contrary to your assertions, the law does not give
special privileges to sexual minorities based on
private sexual activity, and plenty of people involve
the government in their relationships by getting
married (and more would if they could).  The law
would have protected everyone from the biases of
people who actually probably know very little about
you, whether you or they are gay or not.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/         reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.