Subject: IWG Dr. Laura It's Elementary Response
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 23:04:45 -0400 (EDT)

June 19, 1999

Dr. Laura Schlessinger
c/o Premiere Radio Networks
15260 Ventura Blvd.
Suite 500
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Dear Dr. Schlessinger:

	In your June 12 column about the film "It's
Elementary," we appreciated your stated support for
teaching all students to respect each other, and your
statement of opposition to people picking on the
poor, weak and different, including sexual and
religious minorities.  However, it is society at
large that defines who is poor, weak, and different. 
Continued opposition to equal treatment for sexual
minorities and an insistence that public policy
reflect a religious belief that mixed-gender
relationships are superior marginalizes those who do
not conform to gender stereotypes. 
	Nobody has to accept the assertion that "two men
or two women constitute the foundation of a family
equal to the covenantal relationship of marriage
between a man and a woman ordained by God." 
Obviously you don't.  Given that there are plenty of
congregations, religious organizations and clergy
from many religious traditions who disagree with you,
we suspect that when you say "all traditional
religions view homosexuality as a sin," you're
defining "traditional" religious views as those that
you agree with.  (You also failed to mention that one
school in the film was a religious school.)  But
regardless of how you define traditional religion,
the fact that a belief is a tenet of any religion or
group of religions does not automatically make it an
adequate basis for public policy or an excuse to deny
anyone equal treatment.  
	We've seen "It's Elementary," and we don't agree
with your characterization of it.  In a column that
included a call for tolerance and respect, you went
out of your way to make sexual minorities look bad,
and to portray a respectful and honest film for
teachers as a propaganda piece for children intended
to cancel out the religious education given by their
parents. 

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.