From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Salon Camile Paglia response Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:42:54 -0400 (EDT) July 4, 1998 Salon 706 Mission St. Second Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 Dear Editors: Camille Paglia first complains about gay rights activists not respecting the free speech rights of religious people, and then goes on to complain about the free exercise of religion by those who believe that same-gender sexual activity is morally equivalent to mixed-gender sexual activity. When she discussed the good things religion has done in this country, she cited the Quakers' abolition work and Martin Luther King's and Jesse Jackson's civil rights work. It is especially ironic that she chose these examples after complaining about gay-friendly religious people. Many Quaker congregations now perform same-sex marriages, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, Coretta Scott King, has been extremely supportive of equal rights for sexual minorities, as has the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Ms. Paglia is correct in her assertion that Southern Baptists are entitled to the expression of their religious opinion, and she is also correct that there are gay activists who have an understandable historical aversion to organized religion. However, she is wrong to imply that all gay-rights activists are themselves gay, or that there is a need for anyone to make a choice between "gay activism" and religion. 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. Celebrating Religious Liberty and Defending Democracy Rev. Barry Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Jerry Mondesire, NAACP * Larry Frankel, ACLU * Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell Thursday, July 9, 7:30 pm, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/special.html