Subject: IWG Honolulu Marriage Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 23:13:37 -0400 (EDT)

October 5, 1998

Honolulu Star Bulletin
PO Box 3080
Honolulu, HI  96802

Dear Editor:

It is heartening to see that the cause of gay rights
has reached a point where even religious leaders who
oppose same-sex marriage feel compelled to deny being
anti-homosexual.  But surely the religious leaders who
made that comment aren't claiming that they are "pro-
homosexual," or even neutral on homosexuality.   An ad
showing two men embracing is not an ad about civil
marriage.  Same-gender couples embrace now and will
continue to embrace regardless of the legal status of
same-gender marriages.  A campaign attacking the
relationships of same-gender couples as immoral,
especially when those relationships are blessed in many
houses of worship, is both socially and religiously
intolerant.  The only question before the people of
Hawaii, and ultimately, the nation, is whether the
legislature should be allowed to use gender to limit
the legal status of a committed relationship between
two adults.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 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
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/          reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.