Subject: IWG TV12 letter : Bert, Ernie, and Tinky Winky
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 23:53:24 -0400 (EDT)

April 3, 1999

Samuel M. Lemon
Manager Community Education Services
WHYY
150 N. 6th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19105

Dear Mr. Lemon:

Thank you for your column about the Teletubbies.  We
especially appreciated the explanation of the pink
triangle, and the comments about labeling and
name-calling.  However, we were puzzled by your
assertion that the show does not "promote any
particular gender-based lifestyle."  The notion that
sexual orientation and sexual identity are the basis
of "lifestyles" is in itself an unfortunate
stereotype.  We were also troubled by your writing
that the show is not intended to "influence a child's
psychosexual development," and that fictional
characters like the Teletubbies and Ernie and Bert
have no life beyond the screen. Orientation and gender
identity are not just about sex.  It certainly seems
to us that one of the goals of PBS children's
programming is to help children accept both themselves
and others who are different, and we hope that
children who watch your shows become more accepting by
making some connection with all the characters,
including Ernie,  Bert, and Tinky Winky.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and
organizations and 61 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.

Sunday May 16, 1999 5pm. Marching In the Light: IWG Benefit Concert. Old
First Reformed Church. 4th and Race, Philadelphia, PA.  See the web page.