February 10, 2004

The New York Times
229 W. 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

Frank J. Russo, Jr. of the American Family Association of New York (letter, February 6)
 does not appear to understand that he lives in a religiously diverse and free country.  
Many Americans do not read the Bible the same way he does and many people do not read 
the Bible at all.  Furthermore, many Bible-reading and non-Bible-reading organizations, 
as well as theistic and atheistic religious organizations, congregations, and clergy do 
not believe in gender-based definitions of ethics and morality but celebrate and affirm 
the relationships of same-gender couples.  


Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators