Subject: IWG Lawrence MA letter - churchgoers v. gay rights activists
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 23:00:24 -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 15, 1998

Eagle-Tribune
PO Box 100
Lawrence, MA 01842

Dear Editors:

We were appalled by the opening ("Gay rights supporters
and churchgoers clashed") of Paul Fleming Jr.'s April 8
story about the pride parade.  Does Mr. Fleming
personally know which of the gay rights supporters are
religiously observant or motivated by their faith to
support equality and fairness?  Was the most relevant
factor about those on the other side the fact that they
were church-goers or gay-rights opponents?  Mr. Fleming
is helping to perpetuate the unfortunate stereotype
that people of faith are inherently anti-gay, and that
gay rights supporters are inherently anti-religious. 
The only accurate statement you can make about this
issue is that most anti-gay activists seem to be
religiously motivated--anything else obscures the
diversity of religious thought that is a byproduct of
living in a religiously free country. 

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.