Subject: IWG Grand Rapids MI Marriage/Child Raising letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 19:10:07 -0400 (EDT)

July 16, 1999

Grand Rapids Press
155 Michigan St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49502

Dear Editors:

We were confused by your July 11 article about
attitudes toward sexual minorities.  The first
mention of poll results said: "67 percent of
respondents who indicated concern about changing
family structures said gays should not be allowed to
legally marry and raise children;" but there was no
number for the percentage of the respondents who
"indicated concern about changing family structures."
Whatever the actual percentages are, schools and
houses of worship need to do a much better job of
invalidating stereotypes by welcoming sexual
minorities and their families into the full life of
the community.  Until that happens, everyone is still
entitled to equal treatment under the law regardless
of prevailing community prejudices, and that includes
the right to civil marriage, and the freedom to
reproduce, without legal restrictions based on
gender. 

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and
organizations and 67 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.

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