Subject: IWG Ann Landers marriage letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 23:07:56 -0500 (EST)

March 14, 1999

Ann Landers
Box 11562
Chicago, IL 60611-0562

Dear Ann Landers:

We were extremely disturbed by your response to the
parents who didn't want their daughter to participate
in the wedding of two men (one of whom is her uncle).
Parents have an absolute right not to let their minor
children participate in a ceremony they don0x92t approve
of.  It's their decision, not the couple getting
married (regardless of whether the couple is gay or
straight).  But your general answer was that children
don't ever belong at the weddings of same-sex couples,
and that such ceremonies should be limited to a few
friends.  This response completely ignored the
existence of congregations from many religious
traditions--congregations with children--that
celebrate same-gender marriages.  Children who are
raised to believe in the worth and dignity of all
people and types of families are not "confused," and
the marriages of same-gender couples do not deserve
any less attention, celebration, or support than any
other marriage.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and
organizations and 61 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
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg           and clergy supporting gay rights,
[email-masked]                      reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.

Sunday May 16, 1999 5pm. Marching In the Light: IWG Benefit Concert. Old
First Reformed Church. 4th and Race, Philadelphia, PA.  See the web page.