I like to keep up on rec.folk-dancing, and there have been a few interesting threads recently:

• Dealing with non-traditional lifestyles at dances: Most of the dancers had a pretty negative reaction to the person who brought up his discomfort with dancing with a transvestite. Interestingly enough, the cross-dressing guy was dancing the man’s part and always partnered up with his wife, but apparently, the complainer had a hard time even holding hands with the cross-dresser.
• Unsolicited Advice for Contra Dance Callers: This discussion (very long!) ranges over a lot of topics, including calling and dancing squares. There’s a lot to wade through, but there are some interesting observations along the way.
• Reply to “unsolicited Advice”: A continuation of the already very long discussion.
• HR 645 – designating “square dance” the “national folk dance”: it comes up almost every term; why should this one be an exception, even though we are perilously close to starting a war?