From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Inquirer Parade Coverage letter Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 23:41:13 -0400 (EDT) June 15, 1998 The Philadelphia Inquirer PO Box 8263 Phila., PA 19101 Dear Editors: We are continually mystified by your inability to cover the annual Diversity of Pride Parade in a sensible fashion. You are clearly not opposed to covering annual events; Flag Day, Odunde, and the Pride Parade were all in your paper this year. It was nice that you mentioned the mayor's speech in the caption of the photograph, but you could have taken a picture of the cheering crowds lining both sides of Locust, or both sides of Chestnut Street in front of Independence Mall. You could have mentioned the thousands of people who watched the parade and attended the festival, or listed the broad diversity of groups in the parade (including many religious groups), or mentioned some of the notable individuals participating, like Bishop Righter and his wife. Every year people who get their news from the Inquirer get an extremely inaccurate picture (and usually a picture is all they get), of a joyous event that brings people from all over to our city. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and organizations and 58 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 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.