From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG East Brunswick separation of orientation and state Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 23:37:12 -0400 (EDT) August 12, 1998 Home News Tribune 35 Kennedy Blvd. East Brunswick, NJ 08816 Dear Editors: In an obvious play on the phrase "separation of church and state" a recent letter-writer proposed a "separation of sexual preference and state." This proposal deserves serious consideration. If we were to follow the same guidelines established for religion since the passage of the Constitution, that would mean that government agencies would not suggest that any particular sexual orientation is better than any other, or that either sexual activity or a lack of sexual activity is preferable. Under such a system the government would not limit any right or responsibility, such as civil marriage or employment, to people of any one orientation, such as heterosexuals. Schools would be sexually neutral, teaching the basic scientific facts about sexual orientation and both same-gender and mixed-gender sexual activity without forcing moral judgments on anyone. Such a system would allow moral training about sexual issues to happen in homes and houses of worship where it belongs, and would hopefully not offend the sensibilities of those people with religious objections to a particular orientation or those whose religious beliefs hold that heterosexuality and homosexuality are morally equivalent. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and organizations and 59 clergy from 16 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.