HAWAII, MAY 15 1995 ENCORE


                        U.S. BRANCH OF SOKA GAKKAI
                    INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION
                   WILL HOLD WEDDINGS OF SAME-SEX COUPLES

        The following report has been sent by Professor Walter L.
Williams of USC:

Dear HERMP members,
I am happy to state that a report I wrote, "Social Acceptance of
Same-Sex Marriages: Models from Other Cultures," along with
letters by others, led the USA Central Executive Conference of
the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Association to decide to
begin holding wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples.  This is
the largest Buddhist association in the USA. Their national
newspaper WORLD TRIBUNE (May 5, 1995, p.5) reported that SGI-USA
General Director Fred Zaitsu said that "allowing marriages for all
Buddhists regardless of sexual orientation reflects the Buddhist
spirit of non-discrimination and equality.  I believe we have
made great progress toward making our organization more
humanistic."

Thanks to all those SGI members who wrote in to support this
report.
Step by step, we make progress.
Best regards,

Walter L. Williams
Professor of Anthropology
University of Southern California
Los Angeles CA 90089-0032

                                        Thanks!!!!!!
                                        Tom Ramsey, Secretary
                                        Steering Committee
                                        Hawaii Equal Rights 

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