Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 23:08:32 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Mississipi Equal Rights Letter July 18, 2000 Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS 38802-0909 Dear Editors: In the July 13 editorial by your design editor, the basic premise is that a system which discriminates on the basis of gender is a system based on a higher moral standard. We couldn't disagree more. The standard isn't being lowered when laws provide equal protection for same-gender couples; it is evolving into a system with progressively more and more fairness and justice, and true implementation of the Constitutional rights we're all supposedly guaranteed as citizens. One of those rights, the right to free speech, includes the right to complain about the speech of those like Dr. Laura who are paid to say that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should not have equal rights. Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 22 congregations and religious organizations and 65 clergy from 16 religious traditions. Visit our Religious Support for Equal Marriage Rights page: http://www.iwgonline.org/marriage/ -- Interfaith Working Group PO Box 11706 Philadelphia, PA 19101 http://www.iwgonline.org/ iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829