From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG City Council Letter Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 22:35:23 -0500 (EST) This letter was sent to the following signers: City Councilman Angel L. Ortiz Room 590, City Hall City Councilwoman Anna Verna Room 405, City Hall City Councilman David Cohen Room 588, City Hall City Councilman Frank DiCicco Room 488, City Hall City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller Room 316, City Hall City Councilwoman Marian Tasco Room 577, City Hall City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. Room 582B, City Hall City Councilman Lastname Room Number, City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107 Dear Councilman Lastname: Thank you for signing the statement regarding the Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. We were especially heartened by your recognition of the importance of Philadelphia's tradition of religious liberty, diversity and tolerance. We appreciate your willingness to stand up for Philadelphia's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered citizens and their friends and families in the face of overt and extreme hatred. We hope that you will continue to recognize their right to fair and equal treatment when they are faced with subtler attacks. The response to Fred Phelps, from community activists, religious leaders, and elected officials like you sent a clear message to Westboro Baptist, and more importantly to Philadelphians and potential visitors to the city, about what kind of city Philadelphia wants to be. Thank you again for your part in making that message as clear as possible. 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.