April 13, 2004

The Morning Journal
Box A
Lisbon, OH 44432

Dear Editors:

We were disturbed by several aspects of your April 6 article “Some take 
issue with issues day,” especially to the repeated references to 
“homosexuality” as a “lifestyle,” a “choice,” or something that can be 
“promoted.”  School officials, when faced with such questions, should 
politely point out that they are based on a flawed understanding of 
sexuality, attraction, and gender, rather than entering into a debate 
based on the religious beliefs of anti-gay people.  Rev. Holzaepfel 
claims not to be anti-gay (or as he puts it, “anti-homosexual”), but he 
is clearly not “pro-homosexual” or even neutral on the topic, and his 
objections make it all the more obvious why sexual orientation and gender 
identity should be discussed at all grade levels in the public schools.

Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators