Culinary Kudos

We had dinner at the Estancia Grill when we last visited Houston and found it exactly as your article stated [DineOut, "Culinary Anthropology," December OutSmart, by E.J. Arnell]. There were six of us and we all ordered a different dish. Now I want to go back and try them all over again. They were cooked to perfection, especially the salmon. We congratulate this new restaurant for having such outstanding management and chefs. It was truly a delightful culinary experience.

–Dr. and Mrs. James L. Wilson

New Braunfels

Judy, Arun, Sharon, Lauren, Susann, Jane

I rarely write letters, but after reading the articles on Judy Shepard and Arun Gandhi [December OutSmart], I’m putting pen to paper (actually, I’m putting fingers to keyboard) to let you know that the interviews were inspiring and so appropriate for the holidays. While I’m writing, I must say that the articles on the lesbian filmmakers [Sharon Ferranti and Lauren Johnson], the openly lesbian thespian [Susann Fletcher], and singer Jane Olivor made for interesting and fun reading. Keep up the good work.

–Joel Bolen

via the Internet

Justice, What Justice?

I just heard the news report that Justice Alberto Gonzales of the Texas Supreme Court has been named White House Counsel by temporary Governor George W. Bush. I am sure as I write this Dale (Evans) Carpenter is scratching quill to parchment in an effort to remind us that when the sec. 21.06 [the so-called sodomy statute]-related Morales v. Texas case reached the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Gonzales voted (in the minority) to hear the case. The other members of the court took the position that the Morales case was a civil case asking the Texas Supreme Court to rule a criminal law unconstitutional. They suggested that the more appropriate forum for this case and its objective was the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on the other side of the lobby. I had thought a direct criminal appeal was a preferred approach even before the Texas Supreme Court rejection. Young, capable Mitchell Katine is currently shepherding a direct criminal appeal on its way to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Dale will no doubt suggest that the Gonzales vote to hear the case was in some way favorable to gay and lesbian interests. I found no positive conclusion to be drawn at the time, yet others began a movement to send thank you notes to the dissenting judge. No one knows whether he would have held the statute being tested constitutional or un, had it reached hearing and decision. I suspect he was ready to "pour us out" (a legal term meaning "not good news").

Oh, for those who think I should have called George W. Bush the President Elect, well he isn’t really, not to those of us who think all the votes should be counted.

–Ray Hill

Houston

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