Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 01:42:25 -0500 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: CORRECTED IWG Virginia CWA letter November 14, 1999 Alexandria Journal 6408 Edsall Road Alexandria, VA 22312 Dear Editors: Thank you for printing the excellent article on November 8 about the problems faced by sexual minority students, and the need for protection for those students. We were astounded by the comments of Conrae Fortlage, the Maryland director of Concerned Women for America (CWA) who was quoted as saying that students `are harassed for a variety of reasons, and creating a list that included every type of student would be too long' and that if they are harassed they `can go to their parents or discuss the issue with their teacher.' CWA is a major producer of anti-gay propaganda materials that are likely to reinforce anti-gay stereotypes among students, teachers, and parents. We were especially struck by the irony of Fortlage's apparently rhetorical question as to whether gay people are `extra-special,' given the disproportionate amount of gay-specific material on CWA's national web site (www.cwfa.org). A recent search of their site for the word `homosexual' turned up one-hundred thirty-two documents, including `The Homosexual Agenda,' `Homosexual Stealth Initiative,' `Homosexuals: Born or Bred?' and `Homosexuality: A Civil Right or Wrong?' The CWA web site also includes a document entitled `GLSEN Attacks Faith and Families.' GLSEN (www.glsen.org) is the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network `teaching respect for all in our schools.' We found no documents on CWA's web site relating to school harassment, or teasing, or any of the other factors which are frequently cited as reasons for student harassment. We have to question why CWA was chosen as an organization to comment on this issue, and if they were chosen because they are an anti-gay organization, why the article failed to mention their bias and instead implied they had any expertise on, or even general interest in, protecting students from harassment. Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and religious organizations and 63 clergy from 16 religious traditions. For sexual orientation, gender identity, reproductive freedom, church/state separation, diversity, and radical religious right links go to http://www.iwgonline.org/links/ -- Interfaith Working Group PO Box 11706 Philadelphia, PA 19101 http://www.iwgonline.org/ iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829