March 15, 2004

Riverside Press Enterprise
3512 14th St.
Riverside, CA  92501

Dear Editors:

We were confused by the quote from the bystander in your March 11 article
 “License for gay couple refused.”  We are not sure what “gay marriage” is 
exactly, but same-gender couples are married in religious ceremonies in
many faith traditions all over the country on a very regular basis.  This 
being a religiously free country, the existence of marriage for those couples 
does not depend on anyone else’s beliefs.  Furthermore, in most states minors 
can already be married in civil ceremonies if they are part of a mixed-gender 
couple, and animals have never been afforded legal rights in any form of civil 
contract.


Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators