Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 23:33:55 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Salt Lake City Marriage letter September 17, 1999 The Salt Lake Tribune PO Box 867 Salt Lake City, UT 84110 Dear Editors: Melvin C. Johnson seriously misrepresented the arguments about equal marriage rights in his letter of September 13. The question is whether the state can practice gender discrimination by denying the same legal recognition to same-gender couples that is available to mixed-gender couples who meet the same qualifications. Denying equal marriage rights is not the same as defending heterosexuality; heterosexuality is not under attack, and heterosexuals in mixed-gender marriages do support equal marriage rights. Legal recognition of same-gender marriage would `strengthen the social charter' by making it clear that we as a people value committed, caring relationships and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation or religion. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and religious organizations and 63 clergy from 16 religious traditions. Visit our new Religious Support for Equal Marriage Rights page: http://www.iwgonline.org/marriage/ -- Interfaith Working Group http://www.iwgonline.org iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829