From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG West Virginia Marriage Letter Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 01:15:34 -0400 (EDT) May 16, 1999 Charleston Daily Mail 1001 E. Virginia St. Charleston, WV 25301 Dear Editors: We strongly object to James C. Rymer's May 14 characterization of those who are trying to stop the state from refusing to recognize the legal marriages of same-gender couples as a "heterophobic special elite." Nobody is proposing that the state stop recognizing the marriages of mixed-gender couples, many supporters of the legal recognition of same-gender marriage are themselves heterosexual, and one can hardly refer to any group as "elite" that is denied the very basic right of marriage. Finally, marriage means many things to many people, but we are not aware of any tradition in which it is accurate to say that marriages "swarm." 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, iwg@libertynet.org reproductive freedom, and the voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 232-0829 separation of church and state.