From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Detroit Pride Letter Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 23:27:08 -0400 (EDT) June 8, 1999 Detroit Free Press 321 W. Lafayette Blvd. Detroit, MI 48231 Dear Editors: Thank you for your article about the first-time participation by faith-based groups in Detroit's Pride Festival. We are happy to report that we will be participating in Philadelphia's Pride Parade for the fifth year in a row, representing seventeen congregations and religious organizations and sixty-six clergy from fifteen religious traditions. There are numerous religious organizations and congregations in the parade that have been marching much longer than we have. Over the last several years of the Philadelphia parade there have been groups from the Metropolitan Community Church; from Reform Jewish, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church (USA), Unitarian-Universalist, and Episcopal congregations; a retired Episcopal Bishop and individual clergy from the Unity Fellowship, United Methodist and Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ); and religious organizations such as the Brethren/Mennonite Council for Gay and Lesbian Concerns, Evangelicals Concerned, Lutherans Concerned, Integrity and Dignity. We hope that communities of faith will eventually be as supportive and as welcomed in Detroit's festival. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and organizations and 65 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.