Subject: IWG Utah letter: religion, schools, and orientation
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 22:48:21 -0400 (EDT)

May 10, 1999

Deseret News
Box 1257
Salt Lake City, UT 84110 

Dear Editors:

In her letter of May 8, Jennifer Beckstrand complains
about the inclusion of a Gay/Straight Alliance at a
public high school multicultural event because sexual
orientation is a "religious issue."   However, almost
every facet of human behavior is a religious issue to
somebody.  The question in the public schools is
whether an issue is being presented in an overtly
religious fashion.  Same-gender sexual
attraction/behavior and equal rights for sexual
minorities are issues on which there is a great deal
of religious disagreement, and therefore the issue
itself is religiously neutral.

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.