August 1, 2004

The News-Leader
651 Boonville
Springfield, MO 65801

Dear Editors:

Jason Fletcher’s July 26 opinion was incorrect on two points.  
It is not true that “marriage has never included homosexual unions.”  
Religious organizations, congregations and clergy have been performing 
marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples in the United States for at 
least thirty years, and the number that do so has been steadily increasing. 
Civil marriage for same-gender couples is now recognized in Massachusetts, 
four Canadian provinces, the Netherlands and Belgium.  We also disagree with 
Fletcher’s assessment that the recognition of same-gender parents will somehow 
communicate to his son that his parents aren’t necessary at all.  Equal marriage 
rights for same-gender parents will provide legal protections for children who 
do not currently have them, will communicate to those children that their parents 
are equal in the eyes of the state, and will communicate to all children that all 
parents matter equally as individuals and couples, regardless of their gender.

Sincerely,
Barbara Lamond Purdom			
Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators