Subject: IWG Lansing Public Schools, Morality, and Orientation
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 23:35:28 -0400 (EDT)

June 12,1999

Lansing State Journal
120 E. Lenawee St.
Lansing, MI  48919

Dear Editors:

	Jeffrey Helmel raises an interesting question in
his June 8 letter.  Public schools are not in the
business of teaching morality, and teaching that it is
"OK" to do something in a moral sense (as opposed to a
legal sense), is no better than teaching what things
are morally "not OK," whether or not the source is the
King James Bible.  
	However, it is perfectly reasonable to teach that
everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is
entitled by the US Constitution to equal treatment
under the law.  It is reasonable to demonstrate in
political science and history classes how laws,
including limitations on marriage, have been applied
unevenly to oppress individuals with certain
characteristics.  It is reasonable to review different
religious and cultural attitudes toward many different
issues (including sexual orientation and sexual
identity) and how they have changed over time, as long
as no religious attitude is said to be the “correct”
belief.  It is reasonable to teach about the current
scientific understanding of sexual orientation and
sexual identity.  It is reasonable to teach English
using works that feature gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender characters.  It is reasonable to offer
older students comprehensive sex education classes
that discuss the risks and mechanics of human
sexuality, including same-gender sexual behavior,
without making moral judgments for or against any
sexual activity.  And it is imperative that schools
enforce policies that require all students, staff, and
faculty to treat each other with dignity and respect
regardless of sexual orientation, religious belief or
any other characteristic.
	We do need to be extremely careful to leave moral
teachings about sexual behavior to parents and
religious institutions.  But there is nothing that
anyone can teach in any class that will change any
student's orientation.

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,
[email-masked]                      reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.