SHAME ON US
TO THE EDITOR: Shame on The Stranger for asking voters to pull the plug on critical programs for kids in Seattle schools that are funded through the Families and Education Levy (Primary Endorsements, Sept 2). The "small" programs you dismiss make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Seattle's poorest children. No, this levy doesn't address "class size" and "teacher salaries." Those are indeed the biggest problems facing Washington schools, but they should be confronted at the state level. Two voter-approved initiatives (I-728 and I-732) did just that a couple years ago. Yet, Helen Sommers, whom you endorse for reelection to District 36, used her power as head of the Appropriations Committee to nullify those two measures. So, I guess that reducing class sizes and giving teachers cost-of-living increases must be the evil "Democratic interests" that you applaud Sommers for standing up against. Heaven forbid that some intelligent "lefty," like Sommers' opponent Alice Woldt, might enter the legislature as a strong advocate for kids and their schools!

Andy Barker

SHOCKING ENDORSEMENT
STRANGER: I'm really surprised that you endorsed Terry Lukens over Barbara Madsen for Position No. 5 in the Washington State Supreme Court race! The Stranger purports to be pro civil rights and a staunch supporter of marriage for same-sex couples, but your endorsement goes against your record of support for those things.

In your endorsement, you only mentioned Madsen's record as it pertains to business/insurance issues; you failed to take into account her record regarding civil rights issues, which is exemplary. She helped author Vasquez v. Hawthorne, which, in awarding Frank Vasquez a share of his deceased partner's estate, is the first case in Washington State to legally recognize same-sex couples. In addition, she also helped author a very controversial court opinion in a case in which a man was originally tried for a crime that technically didn't exist under the Revised Criminal Code of Washington. Her decision in the case helped allow him--and other prisoners in similar situations--to petition for a retrial.

With her strong record on civil rights, having two-term Justice Barbara Madsen on the Court bodes well for civil rights--especially for the Anderson v. Sims gay marriage case. So, to The Stranger: If you ever switch endorsements in a race, I highly urge you to do so in this case. If not, then to all the readers: Vote for Barbara Madsen!

Aaron Chandler

SIMS CAN'T WIN
YO: I loved your endorsement issue and you made a good case for all those you selected. However, there's one glaring problem with your endorsement of Ron Sims, and that is this: He doesn't stand a chance against Dino Rossi. I personally prefer him to Christine Gregoire too, but I fear that a vote for Sims will be the equivalent of a vote for Ralph Nader, i.e., it will lead to the eventual victory of a very scary candidate!

Rochelle Angel

LEATHER COMMUNITY SHOCKED, SADDENED, and deeply SILLY
DEAR EDITOR: I would like to thank The Stranger for covering the Northwest LeatherSIR/leatherboy/Community Boot Black Contest on Saturday, August 28, at Timberline Spirits ["Teatro Leatherdaddi," by Annie Wagner, Sept 2]. While it is gratifying that your publication was willing to cover our event, it would have been helpful if the reporter could have had some level of appreciation for the community which this contest serves. While entertainment might be one aspect of this event, it is not the only one, and it is important to understand the totality of the event rather than review one aspect of it as "theater."

Leather contests are a process which the Leather Community employs to select its titleholders. This is a tradition that goes back more than two decades. Different subcultures in the GLBTQ community select their leaders in different fashions. [Our titleholders] use these positions to raise money for community charities and scholarships [and to] promote our lifestyle and educate/mentor members of our community.

The "bear flag" [mentioned in the review] was actually the Leather Pride Flag. This is such an obvious inaccuracy that it lays bare the fact that the reporter who covered our event had no background in Leather Culture. To further the insult, the reporter stated, "In a subculture that prizes the psychologically convincing (if stereotyped) simulation of dominance and submission, everyone's an actor." That is hardly accurate. Dominance, submission, sadism/ masochism, bondage and discipline are integral facets to our culture and who we are. This is analogous to attending a Christian church, and then denigrating the "stereotypical" use of the martyr myth.

The recent Northwest LeatherSIR/leatherboy/Community Boot Black Contest had one of the largest audiences of any similar contest in recent years, drawing attendance by leatherfolk from as far away as Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Canada. We have received countless letters, e-mails, and cards congratulating us for an excellently produced contest. The one fly in the proverbial ointment was the Stranger article written from the perspective of a theater critic, when that was neither fair nor appropriate. This is not a play or a musical or a concert.

Yours in Leather Pride,

Gene Romaine

President, Generic Leather Productions of Washington