Subject: IWG Boston Globe Ex-gay response
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 22:44:31 -0500 (EST)

February 7, 1999

Boston Globe Magazine
Box 2378
Boston,  MA  02107

Dear Editors:

	We were very disturbed by your article about
Steven Durost and Mike Howatt.   While you presented
their religious beliefs and practices as
controversial, and included opposing viewpoints,
those opposing viewpoints were not religious in
nature.  We support the right of anyone to regulate
their behavior based on their religious beliefs, and
see value in reporting on the diversity of religious
thought in America; but the attempt at balance did
not improve the article.  There are religious
organizations, congregations, and clergy in Boston
and across the country that welcome and support gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, their
friends and their families.   You are doing your
readers a great disservice when you try to present
the debate over sexual orientation as being between
religion and science or conservative Christians and
secular gay rights activists.

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.