From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Atlanta Holocaust letter Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 23:04:43 -0500 (EST) January 8, 1999 The Atlanta Journal 72 Marietta Street NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Dear Editors: We were disturbed to learn that the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust decided to delete text about sexual minorities from their teachers' guide. The deleted material is far from "sexually graphic," mentioning no specific sexual acts other than kissing and embracing. Isn't the point of Holocaust education to make sure it never happens again by making people understand how Nazi ideas about nationality, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation led to the systematic murder of millions of people who did not fit into their narrow definitions of correctness? Holocaust education materials are the least appropriate forum for such censorship that we can possibly imagine. Thank you for printing the deleted paragraphs in your newspaper. 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 http://www.libertynet.org/iwg and clergy supporting gay rights, iwg@libertynet.org reproductive freedom, and the voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 232-0829 separation of church and state.