Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 09:52:00 -0500 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Denver Post Homophobia letter March 25, 2000 Denver Post 650 15th Street Denver, CO, 80202 Dear Editors: We were extremely disturbed by the rampant stereotyping in Ken Hamblin’s March 19 opinion piece. Hamblin is perfectly free to believe that mixed-gender relationships are inherently better than same-sex relationships, or that heterosexuals are inherently superior to homosexuals, but his assumptions about the nature of other peoples’ relationships and his defense of anti-gay workplace humor are indicative of a complete lack of understanding of those who struggle daily with institutionalized and internalized homophobia. Nor does he seem to recognize that people from a wide variety of religions, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities believe that sexual minorities deserve equal treatment under the law and as much social respect as everyone else. Hamblin’s stereotyped conflict between “fanatic socio/political homosexual activists” and “God-fearing Jack and Jill Six Pack” is both linguistically illogical and socially irresponsible. Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 19 congregations and religious organizations and 64 clergy from 16 religious traditions. For more letters visit http://www.iwgonline.org/letters/ -- Interfaith Working Group PO Box 11706 Philadelphia, PA 19101 http://www.iwgonline.org/ iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829