Subject: IWG NY Times FRC letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 23:21:01 -0500 (EST)

December 5, 1998

The New York Times
229 W. 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

	In answer to Frank Rich's question, the only
thing that will discourage the Family Research
Council from their campaigns of illogical
disinformation will be Americans' refusal to accept
and financially support their nonsense.  A December
4 commentary by the FRC's Steven A. Schwalm detailed
the organization's opposition to the repeal of laws
regulating private consensual sexual activity.  
Despite acknowledging that sodomy laws are rarely if
ever enforced, Mr. Schwalm contends that they limit
the spread of disease, and increase social stability
by preventing sex education. adoption, and marriage. 
And though Mr. Schwalm doesn't mention it, such laws
are also used as an excuse not to implement domestic
partnership benefits and anti-discrimination
policies. So somehow, according to Schwalm, teaching
people they are abnormal and inherently immoral,
failing to teach them safe-sex practices,
encouraging them to marry people they aren't
sexually attracted to, and discouraging stable
housing and employment, monogamy, and the
responsibility of parenthood  keeps people from
engaging in high-risk, socially destabilizing
behavior.  If the FRC is really interested in
helping families, they would support gay-friendly
religious institutions, non-discrimination in
housing and employment, domestic partnership
benefits, adoption by same-gender couples, and same-
gender marriage.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and
organizations and 60 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.

-- 

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.