From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Detroit letter: Exodus, Religious Diversity Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 23:50:13 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and organizations and 56 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. April 17, 1998 Detroit Free Press 321 W. Lafayette Blvd. Detroit, MI 48231 Dear Editors: In the April 13 article about Exodus-related ministries, Tom Cole was quoted as saying, "The church in general has handled the issue of homosexuality so poorly in the past. Some churches were going to gay rallies and holding up banners that said 'God hates fags.' We see this as very disconcerting and very painful." As far as we know there is only one congregation in the whole country, Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist church in Kansas, whose congregation travels all over the country holding up that particular sign (and others). There are far more congregations that go to pride parades and other "gay rallies" in order to fully participate and demonstrate their support for gay people and their rights, a possibility not mentioned by Mr. Cole, or by anyone else in the article, including those who expressed opposition to Exodus. American religious institutions have responded to sexual minorities in a variety of ways, from highly visible support to highly visible condemnation, with the great majority falling somewhere in between (or studiously ignoring the issue). Why would an organization position itself as being merely better than the worst alternative? 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.