This letter was sent to the Seattle Weekly, in response to this February 27, 2008 article (titled “Seattle, You Love Your Mainstream Country Music” inside the issue, but “Trapped in the Closet” on the cover). It was published in the March 19, 2008 edition, but the online version only carries a portion of the letters. (Which makes no sense: online is where you can easily print them all.) The letter was edited slightly (which is fine); original content removed is [blue in brackets]. Special thanks to Spencer for letting me know the letter was published.
Brian Barr and the Weekly’s editor must be wearing their Wranglers a size too tight. How else do you cover feature a story with a blurb like “Trapped in the Closet” without making any mention of the gay and lesbian side of things?
GLBTQ country-western dancing and music is alive and kicking [(up its heels)] in the Seattle area. The non-profit, volunteer-run Rain Country Dance Association currently produces dance nights at the Cuff Complex on Capitol Hill every Friday night and alternate Wednesdays, providing both dance instruction and all your favorite country-western dance music. Rain Country is also in an expansion mode this month: we are adding a classic country music night at the Seattle Eagle, and Monday lessons and dancing at Swank in Kent. (Kudos to the Weekly for your recent story on gay life in Kent!) We also produce a monthly non-bar dance night at a Seattle church.
[Rain Country’s biggest news, of course, is the upcoming Emerald City Hoedown on April 25-27, with a whole weekend of dancing and dance workshops, including guest instructors from San Francisco.]
And [since someone will be thinking the question,] no, you don’t have to show your “gay card” at any of our dances. Everyone is welcome. [We don’t care who you sleep with, so long as you like to dance! Check us out online at www.raincountrydance.org.]
-- Jim Drew
[President, Rain Country]
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