Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2000 22:06:04 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Pasadena Religious Opinion Letter August 1, 2000 Pasadena Star News 525 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA, 91109 Dear Editors: We are responding to Tom Houg’s July 28 letter. Many people who support legal recognition of the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people do so on the basis of their understanding of a higher authority. Indeed, people from many religious traditions cite religious belief as the basis for varied opinions on a wide array of social issues. The religious basis of their opinions, and whether they cite that basis, does not make their views any more or less legally valid, though Mr. Houg is of course free to believe only religiously-derived arguments. 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. 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