May 17, 2004

Rocky Mountain News
400 W. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80204

Dear Editors:

We were puzzled by the unquoted comment about homophobia 
from Tom Minnery of Focus on the family in your May 7 article
“Focus on Family demands records.”   According to the article 
Minnery believes that “Homophobic is an offensive word to people 
with sincerely held religious beliefs.”  Given Focus on the Family’s 
long-stated homophobic and heterosexist positions on gay, lesbian, 
bisexual and transgender issues Minnery appears to be using the 
phrase “people with sincerely held religious beliefs” to mean 
“homophobes.” The implication that the religious beliefs of 
non-homophobic, pro-gay people of faith are not sincerely held is 
inaccurate and highly offensive, while the objection to the word 
itself by a homophobic organization is extremely confusing.

Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators