Name withheld by request
After reading yet another account of the pitiful downfall of Cris Kirkwood, after watching the slow downward descent of Kurt Cobain, and now after reading your letter to Cris, whatever thoughts I have had or will ever have about experimenting with harsher drugs will be dashed from my mind with one simple recollection of what will actually happen. You have done more than a lifetime's worth of watching those "Drugs are for losers" commercials.
Name withheld by request
I just read your open letter to Cris Kirkwood online. I can't really say, "Nice piece, man," about such a piece of writing. As one who used to write a weekly column, I recognize how much craft, as well as personal pain, went into that piece. As a fellow fan of the Meat Puppets and human being, I can only say I wish it would help. I wish something would help. So, although it sounds hollow, thanks. Good work.
Gary Whitehouse
via Internet
May Day
"State Representative Steve May is a walking, talking contradiction," is the perfect description of him and his politics ("Confessions of a Gay, Right-Wing Mormon," Amy Silverman, April 29). So it should be no surprise that he is about as effective as the Tinky Winkys on his desk.
The thrust of May's argument with Karen Johnson over her ignorant (he was right to call her ignorant, but then he was stupid to apologize for it) remarks were focused more on money than morals ("my gay tax dollars"). Although paying taxes is a point, it's not the point. Luckily for the community, there were straight people both in government and in the media who saw it as the moral and ethical issue it was, and spoke up. And if paying taxes were enough, what about all the taxpaying gay people who want the right to get married? May is against gay marriage. He just doesn't get it, but then, what self-serving conservative ever does?
Steve May's blatant remarks about taking all this money from the community and not having to represent them is about as arrogant as I've heard. "They don't care if you fight for gay causes. . . . I don't have to do a single thing." He couldn't be more wrong! The queer community is demanding to be heard and represented, and they expect their donations to be respected. I guess the people who gave to his campaign got their money's worth, but the rest of us are paying for it. He is out of touch with the community, and this is why he will never be able to represent it. But then again, he is not a leader. He is just a naive politician who is afraid of his own queer shadow.
Michael Wayne Miles
Tempe
I truly enjoyed Amy Silverman's story on Representative Steve May. I don't believe your cover did him any great service, however, as labels can be so destructive.
Let's face it. May is far too nice and intelligent to be a Mormon. Oh, sure, they want to claim him as one of their own. But isn't that the nature of such cults--to recruit? And everyone knows that the unnatural progression of polygamy leads to cannibalism and bestiality. It's all there in the history books. Look it up! Check under "out-of-this-world.blewster.com"
What next? Representative Karen Johnson is going to hit on him to make him husband No. 6? I know these people are into their families, and I applaud the fact that Johnson has gone to great lengths to instill her brand of family values in all five of her own. One has to admire that kind of dedication. But honey, cute as he is, leave your mitts off poor Stevie.
And why do these Mormons have to flaunt their lifestyle? I believe everyone has a right to believe what they will, but can't they just do it in the privacy of their own homes? No, they've gone too far. I say, "No special state-funded genealogical archive rights for non-coffee drinkers."
It's time to draw the line in the sand.
Jeff Ofstedahl
Phoenix
In the April 29 issue, you printed an extensive profile of a gay state representative along with an article about a local dominatrix and her trussed-up submissive. On the same page as the dominatrix, you featured a cartoon ("Book of Sick") guffawing over the hilarious possibilities of repeated prison rape, while the sex ads appear to be spreading like kudzu. I had to check the front page: Did I pick up a New Times, or does Bachelor Beat come free these days?
John Kestner
Peoria
