Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 00:01:14 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Iowa State Daily "gay militants" response September 11, 1999 The Iowa State Daily 108 Hamilton Hall Ames, IA 50011 Dear Editors: We had many, many problems with Timothy Kelly's September 7 letter: Religious belief is legally protected, even though religious belief can change over time. Whether someone receives religious education or not, there is no way of knowing when a child is born what religious beliefs he or she will eventually hold. Sexual orientation has to do with attraction, not `gratification' (there are celibate gay, lesbian, and bisexual people). People discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and identity, and there seems to be a large overlap between those who discriminate and those who object to laws against that discrimination. Kelly repeatedly uses the label `gay militants' in a derogatory manner, but he ignores the fact that activists seeking equal rights for sexual minorities come from just about every faith tradition represented in this country; they are gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual; and most are not best described as `militant.' Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 17 religious organizations and congregations and 63 clergy from 16 religious definitions. For news, opinion, links and opportunites for action, please visit our website. -- Interfaith Working Group http://www.iwgonline.org iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829