May 17, 2004

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Philadelphia, PA 19101

Dear Editors:

Gary Bauer is woefully unfamiliar both with minority religious 
traditions in America and the definition of the word “heterosexual.”  
In his May 14 commentary, he claims, “…the definition of marriage has 
never been an issue. Until last year, it was universally understood 
that marriage presupposed a heterosexual union.”  It is true that until 
the issuance of marriage licenses to same-gender couples this year, 
civil marriage in the United States was limited to mixed-gender couples 
(although the definition of gender was inconsistent, as Kansas and parts 
of Texas have been using a different definition of gender than the rest 
of the country for a few years now).  However, contrary to Mr. Bauer’s 
assertion the law does not currently limit marriage to heterosexuals 
in any state or presume the orientation of any married person. Legally
married people can be asexual, heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.  
Furthermore while most religious traditions in America have gender-specific 
definitions of marriage, such an understanding is hardly “universal.” 
Non-gender-specific definitions have been used in some American religious 
traditions for as long as thirty years, and a growing number of religious 
organizations, congregations and clergy within traditions that are not as 
gay-friendly are applying the word to the relationships of same-gender 
couples despite opposition from their national bodies.


Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators