From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Minneapolis Religious/Civil Hate Crimes Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 22:17:32 -0500 (EST) November 10, 1998 Star Tribune 425 Portland Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55408 Dear Editors: Katherine Kersten was really stretching a point when she said that in holding his own denomination accountable for contributing to anti-gay attitudes, Jimmy Creech was suggesting that the denomination be charged under civil hate-crime laws. Like Rev. Creech, many religious people who are working to change the attitudes and policies of religious organizations believe that anti-gay religious attitudes contribute to an environment in which anti-gay violence is perceived by some people to be acceptable. There are also many religious people who favor the inclusion of sexual orientation in civil hate crime laws. There is a large overlap between these two groups of people, but they are still two separate issues. Ms. Kersten does your readers a disservice by confusing religious and civil policy. 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 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.