“It helps to imagine Hutcherson as Elmer Fudd, tiptoeing around with his goofy hat and gun during “wabbit season” — and to remember how easy it was for Bugs Bunny to prove him a fool, often while dressed in drag.

And it helped to see television commentator and author Bill Moyers, whose speech at the Paramount theatre on Friday night was like a balm.

We are not alone in our disbelief over the connection among a church, a corporation and the Senate chamber, Moyers said.

The entire country is reeling from “the illegitimate coupling of ideology and theology,” Moyers said, as well as the increasing trend of religion being used as “an instrument of political warfare.”

[...]
To that end, I would like to remind Pastor Hutcherson of something Moyers reminded me: The Lord’s Prayer employs the first-person plural: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Shall I continue? “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

I am trying hard to forgive Pastor Hutcherson.

Meanwhile, let’s finish this together: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

I have a sense of Hutcherson’s definition of evil. Mine includes someone who claims to speak for God while urging that his children be turned out.

Heaven help them the most. ”

– Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times columnist

“I was thrilled to hear the Schoonovers’ rousing support for marriage equality in their letter opposing benefits for unmarried domestic partners (”Want benefits? Get married,” April 20). They contend that if people want the benefits of marriage, they should get married. That’s a wonderful idea; why didn’t gay people think of that before?

Assuming the Schoonovers won’t be coming to our next marriage equality rally, I’ll file their flawed argument in the same folder as “gay people are promiscuous,” which is why we shouldn’t allow them to make relationships permanent; “gay people choose to be that way” because they must like being fired from jobs, being kicked out of their homes and being prevented from caring for sick loved ones; “gay people undermine the stability of society” by wanting to create stable families; and “gay parents create gay kids,” despite the fact that all the gay folks I know came from heterosexual parents.

I’ll also include reasoning that says “I’m for personal freedom” but not if you are gay, and “I’m for less government interference” unless you are telling people who to love.

Of course, maybe they do support marriage equality! If so, contact Inland Northwest Equality and get on the mailing list!”

– Barbara Williamson, Letter to the Editor, Spokesman Review, Spokane

“How pathetic that in the same column the news announces that Spain, a fascist dictatorship until 1975, is moving ahead with its own gay-rights legislation (”Key vote for gay marriage in Spain,” News, April 22).”

– C. Scott Smith, Seattle Times Letter to the Editor

“When commenting on his effort to get Microsoft to rescind the firm’s earlier support of gay-rights legislation, the Rev. Ken Hutcherson said he didn’t care what the firm’s policies were regarding gay employees as long as they kept it within the business ["Controversy sparked on Microsoft's stance," News, April 22].

Then he is reported to have said, “What I was upset about was when they tried to step outside their four walls and make their policy my policy.”

My response to the pastor is this: What I am upset about is when Hutcherson steps outside the four walls of his church to make his discriminatory policy my policy and the policy of the state of Washington.”

— Loren Arnett, Lake Forest Park, Seattle Times Letter to the Editor

“Aren’t you the so-called “leader” of the Senate Republican Caucus? Yet, you lack the leadership to do what’s right. Instead, you orchestrated a lock-step vote on behalf of the fearful, intolerant, right wing of your adopted Republican Party.

Senator, your district is full of gay people like me. Your district is full of parents like mine, parents who love their gay children. It is full of my friends, good people I grew up with — in your district.

You don’t respect me because of who I love. You don’t even know me! But I pay taxes, your salary! What are you afraid of? That I might want to marry my partner? How does my love for her adversely affect you? It doesn’t, and that’s not the issue.”

– Lorrie McKay, Seattle Times Letter to the Editor, regarding Republican Minority Leader Bill Finkbeiner