Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 22:27:27 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG USA Today Dr. Laura/ Michael Medved letter June 20, 2000 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22229 Dear Editors: Michael Medved’s June 13 defense of Dr. Laura was a perfect illustration of why people are paying more attention to Dr. Laura than to Eminem. We have written a letter to Interscope Records about their marketing records that advocate anti-gay violence, but we have written many more letters about Dr. Laura. We believe that marketing Eminem’s record is grossly irresponsible, but as distasteful and potentially dangerous as that may be, the record reflects his personal opinion; there does not seem to be any debate over whether his opinions constitute sound medical practice or religious doctrine, and unlike Dr. Laura, Eminem does not have prominent individuals like Michael Medved defending him. Dr. Laura and those who defend her help create and sustain the kind of environment in which Eminem and his audience believe beating up gay people is something they can get away with. As long as anti-gay prejudice is socially acceptable, there will be recording artists and recording companies who are willing to exploit that prejudice. Medved may be correct in saying that teenagers with a propensity for violence are more likely to listen to Eminem than Dr. Laura. But if he is correct, then the police who arrest them, the juries who convict them, the judges who sentence them, their parents, their teachers, and their clergy are more likely to listen to Dr. Laura. Medved also seems intent on causing exactly the kind of confusion that Dr. Laura herself causes: he calls Dr. Laura a “shrink” when she is neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist, and he repeats her most misleading and inaccurate phrases (“homosexual organizations” and “the political and cultural agenda of homosexual activists”). We’re glad Michael Medved is upset by Eminem, but it’s too bad he can’t put as much energy into correcting, rather than amplifying, the obvious problems caused by Dr. Laura. Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 20 congregations and religious organizations and 66 clergy from 16 religious traditions.For sexual orientation, gender identity, reproductive freedom, church/state separation, diversity, and radical religious right links go to http://www.iwgonline.org/links/ -- Interfaith Working Group PO Box 11706 Philadelphia, PA 19101 http://www.iwgonline.org/ iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829