RFD Issue 20 Summer 1979 by RFD Magazine Gay

RFD RFD RFD RFD

■ R F D

|SSUE.*iO

Allan Berutfe (Article, ; 125 Lyon St. S.F. CA 9A119 Allen Xroxler (Cover-

Center, Centrepiece: G r a p h ic , 27) 231A Princess Anne. Greensboro, N.C. 27A08 The gravel road winds up the narrow hollow, ford ing the stream three times before it ends in a rocky turn-around below the house. The steep yard area Is waist-deep in weeds. A giant box elder shades one corner of the porch which spreads away from the house on three sides. Only two porch supports remain along the front, and all the lines bend a bit, as if the whole house were drawing itself down to fit the con tours of the hill. So this is RFD'# summer home, bre ezy and beautiful, tht end of the road We've spent two weeks here in the backhills if central Tennessee, and we've Brown to love it. The original house is of logs with a stone fireplace, and over a hundred years old. There's a frame add ition and porches *dded, and the whole is covered with grey clapboard ridlte. Th< "holler" forks here into two short steep branches which rise to a ridge line a hundred feet above. The lover slopes are paetureland while the ridees are foreeted with hardwoods. Chinese sumac is creeping cut of the forest In an ef fort to take over the clearings. An occasional cedar or pine adds an unexpected depth to the multitude of greens which everywhere meets the eye. One could hardly find a more "country" place in which to assemble a magazine. The feeling is of iso lation. The only vehicles which come uo the road are ours or our friends. Our water comes by the Jugfull from a spring by the stream; our cooking is on the open hearth (see Rustic Fireplace Drill,) and when everything's said and done vt scurry up the hill to the outhouse we dug ourselves. It's peaceful here. The birds fiing, the stream murmurs, and the wind whispers in the trees. A pair of screech owls are nesting in a hole in the box elder. The honeysuckle is everywhere, perfuming the air. And it Pains. Day after day of showers; an hour of sun, two hours of rain. The house is open; some of the windows are missing; the sun, rain ard wind have free rein of the place and come and go as friends and lovers do. Our diet has been of the land, too, pokewced and lambs- # Quarters for greens, mint and catr.ip for tea, veg etables canned from last year's garden, milk from Milo's goats and the neighbor's cow. Who are we? Gay men from the country. Wag-ingtung lives here and Milo has a place up the road. John Greenwell is planning to move here from Kentucky. Michael travels a lot, but calls Little Switzerland, N. C. his heart's home. Jeff lives in Ozone, Tennes see. Glance is from Ohio, travelling with an eye out for a country home. Bruce is headed to his native northemNew York, and Faygele is from Efland, North Carolina. We're none of us rich, but we have life styles which leave us time for the things we want to do. In putting rhis iasue together we have had to con front the question: What Is RFD? Our subtitle says "k Country Journal For Cay Men." la that what, we want? What does that mean, anyway? Doe* ft mean that w* print only material bv country gay men, or about country gay men? RFD is a readers Journal, written and assembled by its readers. But who are they, and what do they want of it? The subscription list tells only thst they live both in the country and in cities. Should RfD try to address both these groups? How po litical should it be? These questions were brought out most queerly by tht two major contributions to this issue: June Boyd’s prison writings and Kathy Fire's exposition of the dangers of nuclear power. They art both well-writteu, highly political pieces by lesbians. When we first gathered, we had no other feature-length artic les devoted directly to issues of gay men in the count ry. Although we all agreed that these two pieces should be published, we have had to give much thought to the implications of featuring political writings by wymyn. In the process of writing this statement, ve threw the I Ching, centering our thoughts on the question of what RFD is - where it should go- The hexagram was fVr.g / Curat ion, and In part the text read s:

"Thunder and wind: the image of duration. Thun der rolls and the wind blows; loth are examples of extreme mobility and sc are seemingly the very oppo site of duration, bi t the lave governing their appear ance and subsidence, their exerting and going, endure. " The I Ching also explained that our independence is not based on riglditv and immobility of character, but always keeps abreast of the time and changes with it. The enduring factor is the unswerving lew of heing, which determines our activities. This says to us that RFD is a living growing force. In thir i*sue is a letter from a man in whose leva attic RFD va? birthed. (See Cruising the Mails.> Since that beginning it has gone through a myriad Ot changes, travelling from Massachuesetts to N.C., and Oregon to Louisiana, ranging from slick to notso-slick, fro® down-homey to heavy political. Fach issue builds on the background set by the preceding ones, and each Influences future Issues. So RFD evolves, an organic whole. For many of us RFD brought the first intimation that other rural gay men existed, an intimation accom panied by great relief and rejoicing. We feel that RFD’s focus should remain on rural gay men, as was originally Intended. We are happy being "A Country Journal for Gay Men". But we must maintain our flex ibility. While keeping country gay men as the focus we also feel BED must be inclusive, not exclusive.

The need RFD eatisfies transcends both country and gay. To be gay is to be oppressed and the struggle against oppression is not limited. We are all parts of a greater whole. Each oppressed group has its own special and very real problems, and through under standing others' oppression we gain a better under standing of our own. including the oppressions we put upon each other: sissie and butch, city and country, out and closeted. While we think that RFD has a message for every one, its audience has been primarily gay men. We want all gay men to be able to read RFD without feeling ex cluded. At the same time we want the journal to ad dress issues beyond any limited definition of country gay men's concerns. We choose to publish Kathy Fire's and June Boyd's contributions because we think they speak to questions of great import to rural gay men. Prison is a very real threat to every gay person, and nuclear power lnexcapably affects us all. Vie are not embracing the views they express as some "party line" for RFD. We encourage reasoned arguments from all sides of these questions. But we do feel that RFD has a calling beyond contacts and home-fix-it stories. We see RFD as the center of a growing league of clarity, a network of rural gay men and others con nected by a web of individual friendships and drawn together in gatherings and celebrations like those announced on our back cover. Each time we come to gether is a victory over the forces which would keep us apart. RFD is a travelling journal, assembled by different editors in different places and well-suite! to serve such a network. Hierarchical concentrations of power become impossible, and a variety of editor ial views prevail. Each editing becomes a gathering in itself, bringing together strands of the web, and the "RFD collective" grows, forming and reforming. This issue includes only two feature-length pie ces by gay men other than ourselves. They are the only ones we received. If RFD is to maintain a rur al gay male orientation, we must have material from rural gay men. It is as simple as that. We need mat erial of all kinds, particularly graphics (line draw ings and photos) and feature-length prose. We would all rather assemble an issue than create one. It's easier for the editors if it's typed, and double spaced, but don't let the lack of a typewriter or skilled fingers keep you away. We do_ read legible handwriting. This is your journal - we print almost everything we receive. If you feel a topic needs coverage, write it up, or find someone else who will. We do like feedback on previous issues, especially fan mail. (It's been very favorable recently, by the way.) Of course contributions of a pecuniary nature are always welcome; we need money. We're not in the red, but neither are we in the pink, so to speak. Subscribe, if you haven't already, or give a gift subscription. Pass the word along with an old copy to friends who might be interested. Finally, we would like to share with you what a fine experience this has been for us, truly a gather ing and a celebration. We have formed new friendships which will endure. We have met each other in a spec ial way in this ancient house arid joined our memories into a special xnot. Uur collective decisions have not always come easily, but we think they have been good ones. We are proud of this issue, we hope you’ll like it. We recommend this experience. Get your selves together and take over an issue. You won't re gret it. At an early circle we also threw the I Ching. The hexagram was Tui / The Joyous / Lake. The judgement reads in part:

The Joyous. Success. Perseverance is favorable. The Joyous mood is infectious and therefore brings success. Hit joy must, he based on steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. Truth and strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself tn social intercourse.

S U M M E R SOLSTICE. 1919

Jean LaBelle (Poetry, 14) 45A6 S. St. Louis Chicago, IL 6C632 Jefferv Beame (Poetru, 14) 22A Severin St. Chapel Hill. N.C. 2751A Jeffery Lee Ford (Photos,

IS, 20, poem, IS; art icle, 12; graphic, 2; staff.)

Allatdes (Graphics,

12 t.no lo) Box 1018 Lawrence, KS 660AA

C/0 Will Martin Ozone, TN 378A2

Aram (Article, IS) Hanuman Hill Box 18AA k Wolcott, VT 05680

John E. Greenwell (Art

icle. 7; poem, IS; Staff)

Bruce Penrose (Staff) Rt. 2 (ffcew, Photo. 3) Potsdam, NY 13676

Rt. A, Box 209 Bardstown. KY A000A June Boyd (Article, 4) Muncy Correctional Inst. P.0. Box 180 •Muncy. PA 12756

Glance Vcrshact (Art

icle. 19; Staff) 370A Aikenside Ave. Cincinnati, OF A5213 Clarence Englebert

Kathy Fire (Article, 16) 3030 Nirritz Blvd. San Diego, CA 92106 Kermis Milton Frost (Art

(Article, 9)

icle, 20)

Rt. 3 .Fayetteville, TN .733A

a David Gerrv (Poetry, IS) 10 John Ryle Ave. Haledon, NJ 07508 David Jagger (Photo, 9) 3C 1" ! : !i t,m Ay . "'n-innsti. TH. Don Sunseri (Poetru, IS) RFD |> West Glover, VT 05875 Frank Abbott (Poetry. IS) Lodestar 1A22 Iverson St. Atlanta, Ga . 3030~\

2601 Western Parkway Orlando, FL 32803

I Len Richardson (Article, Z) A525 Lower Wolf Creek Rd. Wolfcreek OR 97A97 m Michael Mason (Article 12;

Poem, IS; Staff) Box 362 Little Switzerland, N.C. Milo Guthrie (Article 6, 9)

Graphic, 9; Photos 14, 3, 18; Staff)

Rt. 1, Box 98 A Gassaway, TN 3709-F

Patrick Hammer Jr .(Foer;, IS) Gordi (Poetru, IS> 327 Lockwood Dr. Aloe Community Paramas, NJ 07652 Rt. 1 Box 100 Cedar Grove, N.C. 27231 j Greg Caffey (Photo 12; PhoU Thomas H. Gough (Poem, i4) Enlargements.) 125 Abbeyville Rd. 1909 Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Knoxville, TN 37916 W k Wag-Ing-Tung (Poetry, 14: Article. 8) Harry & John (Article,18) Belly Acres Rt. 1 Circle of Loving DowelItown, TN 3?059 Companions P. 0 . Box 656 Alcalde, NM V7511 TO*/ T* *l.L OU<C f o

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RFD staff, Issue #20

Book review: H ftNDHRDE Fdll

E^vjirvox

The Autumnal Fquinox issue of RFD will be put toge ther at the Octagon House, Butterworth Farm, with the help of country gay men from throughout New England. The theme of the issue is "Gay in rural New England." Articles, photos, and drawings are welcome from every one, but especially from people who currently live or grew up in New england’s countryside. We would like the issue to be a potpourri of material, inclu ding economic survival, gay/straight relations, gay relationships, social survival, etc. A definite pre ference will be given to material written by people who are now living in the country. Folks from outside New England should also send stuff, as we may not have enough. Send by July 31, 1979 to: Octagon House, Butterworth Farm, RFD 2, Orange, Mass. 0136A. Corrections on issue #19: First collected statement, p. A, is by Russell Cravens Poem, "I Tread Lightly", p. 9, is by Scott Luscombe Photo on p. 17 is by Gil Robison "A Meditation on the Word BALL", p. 20, is by John Gilgun

HOT \jJP(TEK 5V5TEP05 Dear Readers: If you want a follow-up article on alternative ways to hot water water systems, and I refer to Peter's ar ticle in the Fall '76 issue of RFD. Then, Handmade Hot Water Systems by Art Sussman & Richard Frazier is a must. If rural alternative lifestyles are your thing and you are off in the woods without electricity & natural gas, and wood heat is your source of fuel, then this new book will be a real energy saver. The book is divided into many different "recipes" for all types of wood stoves including open hearth fire places. It also delves into solar converters and heat exchangers. The book is well illustrated with clear de tails of exact measurements of fittings and so on. Be cause of their extensive coverage of alternative heating systems the authors have neglected to fill in some of the more exacting specifics on particulars. The book seems to be workable. I've tried from a few other books but was unable to complete my project because there lacked information. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to save energy and at the same time have a very practical contraption. Even if you don't care to wind copper coils around homemade wooden Jigs the authors of this book give you another route. At the end of each chapter they tell you where you can buy the already-made apparatus. Also, they give you the price. Handmade Hot Water Systems can be obtained from Garcia River Press, P.0. Box 527, Point Arena, CA 95A68; price: $A .95; 100 pp. Your brother, Len (Wolf Creek) p.s. I've been playing around with alternative water heating devices for three years now. My first ideas came from John Vivians Wood Heat and popular mechanics issue called "Home Kinks" (19AA). In 1976 a company formed in Point Arena called "Blazing Showers". Both Art and Richard worked for them. They sell the kits, but now the new book Handmade Hot Water Systems tells you exactly how to do it. p.p.s. I ordered the book after I saw a blurb for it in the Mendocine Grapevine...

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HDfNATC v i U n

An item from the Police Reports published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Friday, May 11, 1979: Dean A. Hayes,26, and Dennis Melbason, A 6 , were arrested after they allegedly appeared at their front door in the nude and "paraded around" the front porch in full view of persons in the area, including students at Charles J. Colton Junior High School about 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

The following letter was sent to the co ordinating committee for the national March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, and to some endorsers of the !4arch, as well as to various gay organizations and publications, especially in the Southeast: Dear Friends, As a concerned group of Lesbians and Gay men, we would like to express our feel ings about the proposed March on Washington. We do not feel it is a feasible proposal for several reasons: 1) it is hastily conceived and inappro'JT priately timed 2) there appears to be a complex heirarchical bureaucracy masking an ap parent lack of grass roots support 3) the list of proposed demands is vague, rhetorical and lacks political cred ibility A) it is in conflict with the NOW confer ence to be held in October in Los An geles, thus preventing much needed support from many Lesbians 5) we are unsure who will be participat ing or supporting this March since many well known national Gay organi zations have withheld their support 6) apparently many people in the mid-At lantic region (DC area) feel alienated because their feelings of doubt about the March were not respected. A March on Washington might be bene ficial to the movement— but coordinated marches on state capitols might have more impact. If there is to be a National March, the 1980 election year would provide a bet ter opportunity to present the issues. We strongly urge that the National March on Washington be cancelled for October 1979. /s/ 19 Lesbians and Gay men from Tennessee

Dimid (aka Dean A. Hayes) and Dennis were taken to Central Lockup and booked under a Louisiana state statute: Obscenity (exposing the person). Contrary to usual procedure, their cases were separated. No law yer came to their assistance. Dennis was singled out and forced to declare himself a "homosexual." The ar rest had occured at 1:15 Thursday afternoon. Stacy was able to bail Dimid out at midnight. Dennis was held in solitary until 9:30 Friday morning, even tho Stacy had paid his bail at 5:30 a.m. Every two weeks, on Thursday mornings, la Casa Marlcon receives a delivery of bottled drinking water. That Thursday morning Dennis staggered out of bed into the hallway at 9:30 a.m. (note time discrepancy) and opened the front door for the waterman. He then stag gered back down the long hallway into the community room to search for the checkbook and a robe. In the meantime Stacy was awake and went out onto the front porch in bright blue satin jogging shorts to see what was happening and to check the mailbox. The waterman collected his check and left. Dimid slept thru it all and Aurora had been at work since 8:30 a.m. The day began typically. Stacy went downtown to make a bank deposit and Dennis went out back to write a long overdue letter. Dimid watered the plants and was doing some rearranging of his space when the front door began to be pounded upon. He slipped on some cutoffs. Dennis had forgotten to relock the door earlier, so by the time Dimid got into the front hall way he was greeted by ten cops. Dimid was forced out side onto the front porch. On the street there stood a black woman and a black man surrounded by white cops. She said, "That's him." Immediately Dimid was arrested and handcuffed behind his back. Dennis had heard the pounding and came inside to investigate. He was nude and was arrested immediately. By the time he was allowed to get dressed and taken onto the front porch, the Woman had gone. Dennis was never identified (tho the Woman told the cops that there was "an older one" inside) , and Dir.iid was falsely identi fied. Friday was spent locating a lawyer who would take our case and making phone calls to everyone we could think of. The rest of the week was spent in our usual manner: going to work; attending community meetings; arranging a concert for Charlie Murphy and Chris Tanner in connection with the New Orleans GayFest cel ebration June 29-July 1; working on organizing Louisi ana, Mississippi, and Arkansas for the Gay March on Washington October 1A; trying to keep up with our cor respondence; battling Impact, our local gay paper, because the publisher censors our Pink Triangle Allia nce (PTA) column; doing childcare for a Meg Christian concert; trying to find time to dance among ourMlvet*. Only that week we added seeing lawyeru to our Dance Card of activities. By Thursday afternoon. May 17,our dance card was full of things to talk about. We circled on the patio about 12:30. By a Goddess-sent stroke of intuition, Aurora had on cutoffs. Dimid, Stacy, and Dennis were nude. At exactly 1:15 p.m., a week to the hour, two cops walked into our backyard and arrested us on a municipal charge of Lewd Conduct. Aurora, who was not arrested, was told to go In the house and get us shorts. Dimid, Stacy, and Dennis were handcuffed ln

The beauty of the laid remains, in swamp and woods, (How will 1 know when it has gone too far?) It holds my roots like sod where earth and grass become as one, inseparable. For we are not too near to love our neighbor's light.

uoR.o6a .B L l I IO N Buttons are now available as illustrated here; 2 1/A Inches across, with hand-colored pansies and letters. Cost to our readers is S 1.50 each, with all proceeds going ”FD. Order from: RFD BUTTON P 0. BOX 51012 NEW ORLEANS, LA. 70151

We need your support and energy. Notiiy your local gay media. Spread the word In your guv commun ity. Our only hope for survival I.*> letting large numbers of gay people know what's happening. He St r o w Love" each other. We ar<- all special. Louisiana Sissies ln Struggle (LASIS)

p. o. Box 51012

N. 0 ., la.

70151

Smaller buttons,

February, 1979, marked the beginning of a day care cen ter for the children of ringle parents. No longer will pre-school children have to feel awkward being raised in a one-parent home, as a supportive environment is being set up. Our school will also focus on the creation of an anti-sexist., multi-cultural, and non-violent environ ment. We are unique in the fact that the school is founded and staffed by day care teachers who are sin gle parents At this time, the government Is not interested in funding such a project. You can help--mail us a check or money order payable to: Caterpillar's Cocoon 38 Jay Street Cambridge, Ma. 02139

with "RFD" and a single pansy in pur ple on pink have been produced in quantity and are avail able from MILO RT. 1- BOX 98A GASSAWAY, TN. 37095. Prices: 75c for one, postage Included; $1.00 for three, plus 30c postage. Cash and/or stamps preferred.

RFD is published four timer, a year by RFD, ht. 1,

Box 92E, Efland, N. C. 27243. Second Class post age paid at Efland, N. C. 27243. Copyright @ R F D 1979. RFD is a non-profit ccrfioration. Donations are tax-deductable. MOVING?? Send us yr old and new addresses, with zips. Otherwise

yr magazines.

The P.0, doesn't forward 2nd class mall unless specified. ADVERTISING! is $10/ column inchcamera-ready black Awhile copy. WHOLESALE: Bookstores pay $1.05 (40% discount); distributors, 90c (48% off), w/full credit for com plete copies returned. Thanks.

So should i stand and fight? The outcome seems so clear. (How will i know when it has gone too far?) Or break the sod and try to set new roots in other ground, remoter still. (It is but roots which hold the soil in its place.)

SUBSCRIPTIONS $6/year, second class $9/year, first class $7/year, Canada S abroad FREE— prisoners' subs. $lQ/yecr, institutions $lS/year, sustaining

Bruce Penrose

------- -----

NAME______

aiico

valid and heigiiunvd i.aUty.

1 172 inches across,

you will net recieve

sissies under surveillance:.

the usual manner and taken to a police car. Fifteen minutes passed while the cops knocked on neighbors’ doors in order to find someone to lodge a complaint. The name of an Hispanic woman who speaks no English was filed as our complaintant. Her daughter told Dimid later that her mother had understood nothing of what had been said to her. The cops got the name off the mailbox. In the squad car on the way to Central Lockup Dimid, Stacy, and Dennis were told that "We’re gonna keep coming back until they lock you perverts up for ever." Repeating the pattern of the week before, Dennis was sepevated from Stacy and Dimid. Our lawyer got a Judge to sign us out on recognizance. The order was signed at A:15 p.m. Dimid and Stacy were released at A:30 Dennis was not released until 6:00. At the arraignment hearing on Friday, May 18, our lawyer was told by the City Attorney that charges would be drop ped if we were not arrested again before the trial date, which was set for August 23. For the next three months la Casa Maricon will be under police surveil lance . The-e Is a atrong and growing feeling among oursel ves and In the Women's community that we are obvious victims of political harassment. The Pink Triangle Al liance, our political face in New Orleans, Is an outfront Sissie presence at Women's rallies and events, be Because of this, and because we protest the racism, sex ism, and ageism of certain gay bars, we are under attack from some of the gaymale community. Impact . for example, ha? refused to let us use the words "sissie” or "faggot" in our column, and censors our responses to criticism from other gay organizations. PTA is also an outspoken critic of James C. Parsons, the Superintendant of Pol ice. In addition, our house has protested to the District Supervisor about the principal of Colton Jr. High School, who blares his pronouncements over an outside PA system for aLl the neighborhood to hear. And now we have been forced to deal with the homo phobia of the 5th District Police Department. LASIS wants to try and assure everyone reading this Update that every precaution we can think of has been taken to secure our files. All mailing lists have been removed from la Casa Maricon. For obvious reasons we cannot go into our security measures in any detail. Dimid and Dennis are in particular danger right now because of the second bust. At any moment the police can go to the District Attorney and ask that he have their bail ($150 each) revoked, which would mean they would go to Parish Prison for Dimid or the House of Detention (9th tier, the Queer Tank) for Dennis. Or their bail could be Increased. This Up date is being written from a house somewhere in New Orleans where Dimid and Dennis are staying until we learn what action the D.A. is going to take. This is not a formal plea for funds. But that may come. Nor is it a warning that we may appear on some of your doorsteps seeking sanctuary. But that may come too. We will try to keep you informed of what's happening. If for any reason, after repeated tries, you cannot make contact with us by letter or phone, our lawyer's name is: James Derbes (off: 1-504-5228706; home: 1-50A 522-3997). The phone number of la Ca r s ■' .rlcon t«. 1-5Q4-9A3-2081 . Identify yourself

F\NTI-5EYI5TDRYCRR£ CENTER. *

Progress The lining of the road is but another step, (How will 1 know when it has gone too far?) for, looking back, there must have been a time, as ancient maples testify, when it was lined with trees and not with paint.

• POLICE! TERROR IN THE CRESCENT CITY,

I u •

STREET/BOX TOWN

STATE

ZIP

JuneBgyd-- ABM StrongWomon B ic k P e n

P R IS O N

Ed's note: We re-'eioed the June foyd, an innate ; th State Correstiom' Inc tit.., She has been (serving a l : tense since Sept. 19 ■ her present status, lu: tv one time that eke was no ’ confinement. We fee1 that serves mush wider Hetri! . give it, ani we hove that will take heed a n ’ 'ontasi adiireee is: P.O. H\tx 160.

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE OF PRISON ARE? I SUPPOSE PRISON IS THE MIND, UNCASING SUITOSIBLY

dll rights reservfid 1*579 June Boyd

T R U T H IS P O W E R F U L L ! ! ! I AM WRITING MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY. FIKST, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I AM 41 YEARS OF ACL. PUCK, FEM ALE. BEING BIRTH WITH THE KAMI OF JUNE BOYD. MY LIFE AS A LESBIAN AND THE IMPOSED ON ME SINCE I’VE ENCOUNTERED FR) AGE 12. THE ATROCT SEXUAL AFFAIR l PAV MY INCARCERATIONS. ADDICTION TO HEROI FROM P R E S S U R E S OF EMBPACED BY A DISEA TOWARD MEN. THE LG TRUCTOR DURING AHOT ESCAPE FROM INSANIT ION FROM MY PEOPLE,

PRISON IS? THE MANY FORMS EMBEDDED IN free

BEINCS.

ANY FORM or ENSLAVEMENT IS THE SYMBOL DENOTING CURTAILMENT OF MOVEMENT UNERIL TO CREATE SPONTANEITY. IN THIS SENSE, ARE. NOT THE MONARCH A PRISON WITHIN THEM SELVES? AND EAR DANGEROUS! FOR THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DWELL IN THE DARK VALLEY OF SELF - ENTOMBMENT! THAT VERY POWER SO DESPERATELY SEEK'D, SO ABSOLUTE DESTROYS, CHURNS THE,INTO ICE BOMBS FREEZ ING THE INSTINCTS OF SPONTANEITY. 1 SUPPOSE PRISON TO BE A STATE OF MIND, OOL G R A *

UFA ill. Tllfir ENCLOSES THF.tn FIcflH R T, B ur E A

PON US. PRISON IS E V F R Y W H F R f l ^ ^ ^ ^ H FOR THOSE WHO WONT DIVORCE THFMSe T^RS!’ /i’.

MY EDUCATIONAL l.KVE GRADE, OUTSIDE OF

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT b RISTS THROUGHOUT MINDS. IT IS BORN OF THOUGHT. AND MANIFESTS T H R O U G ^ H AmlNSENSITIVITIES. A CIVIL SUIT SHOD" D. ___ II ED ON THE VERY CONCEPT OF LAW. M n M j L I S THIS BOOK LAW THAT HAVE MASSLi^lFINED. THIS BOOK LAW THAT CLOWS nflWJGH MINDS SYNDRONIAL - LIKE

THERE NEVER HAS BF.F. ER THAT WILL UNCOVE INSIDE A FEMALE STA HAVE LIVED THROUGH KNOWS THAT OR CAN F. BIOGRAPHY WILL BE A k n o w t h e t r u t h ::::

loSE YOU AST IHER ISQNED BY YOUR

FluiniatmfMother* Fucker I'd be a fluxua the pipes of extern help me when they c Goddamn problems, circumference of pe helping ao k *body, a «hlt. Hop© some »C drug© thcm«©Ives t(lljnf Anot her crazy motherfu#kpr for support— taikits, these emotional {re born© problems, but Oh yeah lets not fo not possibly survtv ahlt~~telllng you t never seen a lion f or any other of the have choosen to cal with a map direct in 1*« to you my knowl one fuckin over lit fuck over Mother ma for any body.

- fj SUPPOSE yo*- APf IMPRISONED NOT NOR WILL I/'-.1Mr. OF DfeSIRE, LOSE 111 US'iOvi|>Y ATTACHMENTS, CELL Of INCEPTUALITY. ST IN ALOO !ESS. I AM TO W E HAR'EEI. ffiREE! NEEiW f c ’ vou THAT AL, SOU.THAT IMAGINE tha |S t * h o w s o ? . ipw So- YOU BREATHE

m & k . L V'OCR NOR A*«r m YOUR.,. m .HOW MEET AU i-FT YOU W iv 'lilT WORK INC MOTHERS

RE ______■ E F . m f n t : AGAIN! 0.0^« E GONE!

S YOURSELF

BE YOURS! INC. TER A POWER

I've just picked up a dangerous weapon, A Bick Pen. Through this pen my feelings shall flow— for those of you not. comprehending my terminology for Bick— let me clarify that line. You see, I am being held in solatary confinmenc for writting. Yes! Written. For ex pressing my Legal, Political, and Religious beliefs. And you tell me this is Aaerrika. You tell me I am not In a concentration camp. And these people have the nerve to talk of Communism. They said that my writting was inflaraatory— that could result in a riotious situ ation. Is my pen that powerful, or is truth the power. Oh, 1 am fine, because of the very fact that I was carted off to solatary confinment proves that there have to be truth in what I wrote. And that it was so powerful the officials couldn't deal with it because it stepped directly on plenty of TOES. I really fell complimented that I disrupted their minds. For it is only a lie that is disruptive and they are infested with them. I am a Black Strong Womon, and fear noth ing— I advocate political awareness to my Sisters and |Brothers that are duped by a sick mentallity. I too of ignorance finding my Sell il.vay is* a si ate of confuscion, always in 3 problematical situation, because of the references I e m b ra c e t nug ; ma nothing but problems and trying to e&ive’a p r o b l e m with a problem. Taug.ut me to look out depend on External help. BullSJ.it--! found Cht way tc he me, nothing other than me. T n?» Liu* director of :.hir voluntary me, nature the director of the invelent.ary nto. So I began a strenuxovs battle 4 di*u*.-.r di all t h a t Superficial Shit and began to take, charge of y Sell. Began to make my own decisions, tud . a result I've became Strong in my to see me as a mind ra t t i e r t h e n a body, b u t iney are so h u n t up on that phys■ superior thing, they aate to respect * ••*».•erf cl mind, and more so when a Mack Vomv is control! Lug that, mlzjd. You see deep dot.cn inside of authorities, they havjg this loath for any one they T e! to be inferior. That can stand eye to eye;and rap rbtre r idicoln&e triaijjionality into trot! ir.g mot 'than bull.il it- This womon with no degree in cviloge, no P.H.C., no conventional educational back ground to apeak of, cun tear thier super!ficial know ledge to shreds. Simply be cause X '|ot the power of truth behind me. The- power -of consistent law— which is natural, law, ami that damn sure can’t be put in a book. >r covered up. If they don't believe In <-*;• law which Is, balanced for. all life, why dent tin v stop ereoti.lng, :-t :T i, vc in lay law that harmony for a why dont they stop eatiu,.. .-•ur, jdvir.es :or every body and every living substance, Lhere Is no prejudices then*. It shines on "a* ' oa Hi 3«1 ;ns. ;t is total Applying across the kuud. That lg what unity ‘is all ■i-'- Ter be p;.d iced. This cos,nup^.-X^,|r ,.. .. people. ftlxon damp. hear *>• *j,? y he enjoys the rofcjffr???''''of" ,e"; pirg. n T r g A ir11ng on benches :'r 3 PC TSlIP.-t rat Law >amW.ipg| rolling the dice w! people fives png lawyers hear say is not add■a'*le in courtvery fuckin thing they go by and judge >.>>fc by i,o la And theyjCall this Law— I say it's Out Ij8 ... liet t\ a atate of Sl'rue Law what apply to me apply to you u s we 11. Arid you give me the hvpotheses that this! is Amcrri-ca. Hull Shit I say that Amerricka never he poor, for the oppressed, Home of the free and J,and of the brave, wrath approximately 300,000 Humana thrj-.T. in -nceatjta^ on camps. How are we free, so unbalanced, liow are we the poor free. T cal system aid;! the Rich and only the Rich.' -tiff ople such as I that have caught the shitttf end of

NATURE VERSES J CA PR ATE MY YOU ARF TIT JUDGE, YOU ARE RDEN, YOU ARE THE GUARD. HAVE SENTENCED YOURSELF TO THE RN OF SFI.P! YOU ARE THE DAN GEROUS, YOU ARE EMBRACING LUNACY AND I. I WEEP FOR US

MY DEV STRUNG THROW MY BARK CREATING DE! MY LADY TREE. MY MELODY PLAYING MY SUNRISE SPREAD A PRESENTATION OF BKA

ROAR INC v>F rreijr NES P? -VIES TAFING QFi rm: n->G' ta&i.’ i# IRON CASS! SPARKS r-NtlNnWG FROM MATING TRACKS!' Tl.c-.N-. ;. GY GOING m AS ISCAL. AYS! HIGHWAYS! BI-WAff!.’! lull ROljBUHGj BLEPIMCIJI ' ~ '• : e x e r l s s i o n l e s s f a c e s !:;: CONTOURED FACES! S U P E R S I AGAIN!.'! INSANITY!::: AND. I .\K g o i n g t o b e LATE FOR WORK!!!!

MY MOON IN ITS CONS MY FIELD OF CORN TK MY CATTERFILLER TRAVELING MY BODY. MY LITTLE FUZZY FACE, APPREHENSIVE PTEs. KNOWING LOVE SO WELL. MY BUTTERFLY FLYING SKFM'.NaY IN' ' MY

I >U*>.

MY BIRD RECREATION INC P.KFORi NEST IE':, A WHIRL OF ENERGY - CIRCLING ABOVE. MY KAY SHOOTING ABOUT THE aKY UPWARD, DOWNWARD.

Ot.’lWARD,

TOUCHING ALL!! MY CRIMSON BERRY TREE. MY PINE CONE, MY WALNUT, MY K U k .TP.. MY

:PASS.

PATROLLED BY POLICE GUARDS OF THE PEOPLE. YOU GO AGAINST THEIR LAW AND YOU ARE TO BE CARTED OFP TO FACE THE WARDEN OF THE PEOPLE! THE FUDGE! THAT MANY OR MANY NOT HAVE YOU REMOVED FROM MINIMUM SECURITY TO MAXIMUM SECURITY. THE COMMISSIONER’S OF THE STREET PEOPLE ARF THE VERY POLITICIANS THAT YOU VOTE INTO POWER. AND IF THE PRISONERS ARE NOT ORDERLY, THE PATRIOTIC GUARDS (REMEMBERING KENT STATE), SUPPOSIBLY PROTECTING YOU AND YOUR COUNTRY, ARE ORDERED TO SHOOT YOU. CURFEWS ARE IMPOSED ON YOU. AND YOU CALL ME PRISONER. YOU CALL ME CRIMINAL. I SUPPOSE PRISON IS YOU. PRISON IS A STATE OF MIND!!!!!!!!!!

READ GROSS MURDER!!!!! SENSATIONALISM!!! --- TO THEM, ARE THE JIM JONES, THE SON OF SAM, THE ZODIAC, THE MADPERSON!! EGADS!.'!.' AND GOD IS SUMMONED REPETITIOUSLY! AND TECHNOLOGY GOES ON AS USUAL. SKYSCRAPERS! MONUMENT! ELEVATORS! GOING UP!!! LOVE, GENTLENESS, KINDNESS. GOING DOWN!!! ROCKETS! GOING UP!! PRICES ON THE RISE! DISEASE GOING UP!! ACCIDENTAL DEATH ESCALATES! CORRUPTION!!! DECEPTION! DIVERSITIES! ARE CLIMBING LIKE THE MERCURY OF A THERMOMETER. CARING! INGENUITY! CONCERN! DECREASES!!! AND TECHNOLOGY GOES ON AS USUAL. BOMB-GUNS! NUCLEAR WEAPONS! ARE ON THEIR RISE!!!! ABORTIONS! RAPE!! TUBE BABIES!!! MARY AN QUI.MLINS ARE ON THE RISE!!! TECHNOLOGY GOING ON AS USUAL.

WOVEN WITH SILK THREAD. CAST!NC REDS, BLUES , GHEE.VS ,

’■

MY COW OUT TO PASTURE. MY SNOW COMPELLINGLY USTERGRATIMC- TOWAR YOU ARE MY DAWN, MY ICICLE, MY MY WATER FROM THE OCEAN OF THE

0 .'

UNANIMITY.

KY’ GOING.

KY REFLECTION REFLECTIN' , REFLECTING, REFLECTING ALL!!'

MOMMA SHEDDING HER WIWTERY COAT ABOUT!! THE PLANET, MOMMA POURS HER JUICES OF PRODUCTIVITY. SCATTER HEP. WINDS OF PURITY SPROUT HER LAVAE BALANCE OUT HER WATERS OF THE UNIVERSE. TECHNOLOGY HAS UNDERGONE A STROKE! ALL YOUR HAUGHTNESS, WITH ALL YOUR MIGHTS ARROGANT! TECHNOLOGY? WHY ARE YOU INCEPT?? INCOHERENT?? INCUBEHT?? NATURE VERSES TECHNOLOGY???? MOTHER IS INDUBITABLE!!!:::

Gays in the Joint M Letters

ttie Prison Wall Will Tumble... The indictment of the b.c. pen took place in february, after the inmates and civilians had endured twelve months of pressure and pig-harassment. Two of these, betsy wood and gay hoon, outside-the-wall-prison-rights-activists, had diligently been on the backs of the prison system to force abolition of the solitary confinement wing (penthouse) of the pen. this notori ous section of the archaic, almost century-old prison, located in new Westminster, b.c., has been in the crown's court before, the penthouse has induced pun ishments which have been ruled "cruel and unusual." while betsy and gay were visiting the pen, a pri son break and hostage-taking occurred, and the prison guards locked (trapped) the escaping prisoners and vis itors together in the visiting area, the handful of inmates and as many visitors were captive for a few days of file-burning and media bombardment of the crusty castle-like warehouse of men, until the peace ful surrender of the inmates. betsy and gay were indicted by the crown even though a preliminary hearing could not raise enough evidence against the two, and they found themselves in the Van couver federal court house, betsy defended herself with assistance of counsel, gay used services of an advocate, the court was inhabited by a trio of prosecutors, a jury of eleven, and the judge on his throne, who behaved more like a theater director and seemed as fairheaded as his role could allow. the court room was filled daily with supporters who hung on, enduring six weeks of bullshit from the prose cution. bullshit is what it was. "they will tell their lying stories, send their dogs to bite our bodies, they will lock us up in prison, carry it on..." well, needless to say, betsy and gay and their sup porters stayed on top of the shit. they were acquitted. yes, their lies were forgotten, and the pigs were rotting in the back row. the prison wall will tumble, carry it on... i believe there is a forthcoming prison supplement in the open road. publication in regard to this trial and the prison movement. be/stay strong windi earthworm 1607 st Catherine ouest #10 montreal, quebec Canada h3h 1L8

Dear RFD Just before I left Atlanta federal penUentiarv I received a carbon copv of a letter that the warden sent to you telling you that they were sending your paper back to vou because of its homosexual content and because it "violated the security of the institu tion." I didn't bother raising hell about it because i was about to be transferee! and because it probably wouldn't have done a hell of slot of good anyway. 1 have been transfered out of Atlanta to Marion and I would like to start receiving RFD again. 1 have checked with the officials here and they have no objection to my receiving RFD. Sincerely, Lawrence Librick #21780-175 P.0. Box 1000 Marion, II. 62959 RFD: Getting out of prison and need funds for apartment. Don't know who else to ask but people like myself. Send monev orders only to: Robert Norris, A-60323 Box 711 Menard, IL 62259 Join Hands

Need help.

Thank you in advance.

Common struggle, Bobbie

GAYCON PRESS NEWSLETTER This is the newsletter that is for f. about gays lock ed behind prism walls. Free to Prisoners. $5 per yr. (12 issues) to free people. Gayoon Press Newsletter, Ron Endersby, Ed., 216 Eddy St. It203, S.F., Ca. 94102. Dear beautiful RFD folks, sissies, hutches, throughout the land, and gays in the joint, I've read RFD, smiled, and often reread it, for over two years. I am gay and love it. 1 am incarcer ated in the Max. Sec. facility of CSP and am not there by overjoyed. However, I am not sniveling. I have two CS sentences for sales of the sweet nose candy and don't see a board until '84, and I'm still not snivel ing. Not all imprisoned gays are snivelers, rats, or p.c.'s (in protective custody, honey). Listen dears, the way a gay makes it In a jailhouse situation is the same way any other individual makes it therein: He be comes a good convict. The sissie who expects to make it as a sissie in pop can do so; she just must be a good con first. She can't expect to be free or exempt from the laws and rule of convictdom. Well sweets, throughout your mags, good lockedup sissies have written of the myriad woes of impris onment. The horrors ot being prostJtut>o , needing a good "dad", or dodging rape-city come otUy to those individuals, gay or straight, who are not confident or secure in who or what they are. If you lack the egostrength, self-esteem, or stamina to do your own num ber, honey, then, yes, go check-in; but please don't blame it on your gayness. There are cock sue kern lock ed up all over this country, dearie, who have daddies they well love, who can't get enough dick, or who proudly retort: "Yes, I suck dick; what's it to you." The incarcerated gays, bemoaning role-playing, had best realize that being butch or sissie must come sec ond to being a good con. "Being Free" in jail, in your sex role or how you walk, talk, or gobble peter, Is a little like having to fart: in Church: You can go with the pain or the shame; either way you have to re member where you're at. Sincerely yours, Frank Martz #44159

Dear RFD: After much letter writing to Judges and Lawyers, I finally got RFD in the prison. So far it's the only gay oublication I could get. I'm the Only Gay here in Montana State Prison and feel like I'm the only one in the state. I'm twenty-five and have been here for a year and two months. I'm originally from Manhattan, New York. I came here to visit in August of 1977 and got busted on a drug charge. I got six years. Montana is a pretty state and all that, but they don't have any idea how to handle gays or anyone in volved in drugs. The whole state is still living in the early "60's". I went to the parole board in October 1978 and • got flopped for a year. "Inadequate Parole Plan". What that amounts to Is, I was paroling to a guy in Portland, Oregon. Mj counselor said, "They got a re port the guy you are paroling to is gay." I didn't think they would turn down my parole because of that. They d id. And so It goes. 1 just wanted to Introduce mywelt to you people and thank you for the great Ofper. Keep it up. Thl» copy of RFD means «or<* to me than you can Imagine. To Dairy, Larney Larney L. Sager #A01 3018 Mot t tna State Prison, P.C*. Box 7 Deer lodge, Montana 59722

PETER PiKfcSi The old Wymyn's House of Detention, Mew York City Photo by Diana Davies from WIN Magazine

Atascadero Gays Dear RFD: I am writing you on behalf of the Atascadero Gay Encounter, referred to as AGE. We are a gay organiz ation that functions within the walls of Atascadero State Hospital. We believe we are the only outfront gay organization in existence ir any institution of this type. We are staff-sponsored and patient-organized. We were originally created as a part of the format fo» the Sexual Orientation program, within the hospital. The purpose of our organization is to assist gay patients by providing them with opportunities to become more accepting of their sexual orientation. We also provide useful information about, and contact with, outside-the-hospital gay organizations, and provide opportunities to meet with other gays in social set tings and informing members, other patients and hosp ital personnel about gay culture. We are a non-funded organization and only have access to office supplies. Material that would be of use to us, such as books, films, literature, etc., are donated. We are sending this letter to ask for any donations that would be of use to us in meeting our goals. Thank you, Gary F. Evans, A.G.F. Secretary Drawer A, Atascadero, C& 93422

Hand Carved in the P.S.: I hope this letter doesn't blow your liberal minds; don't print it if you think I’m too unreal. Be lieve me, this is where its at. I've been down since '76 and am writing because 1 no longer write the thirty some lazy friends whom distance has disenchanted. I would love to send gay/prisoner fiction, poetry and art work. Also please pub my address and send me your mag. Tim went home and Robbie sends her love. Place my enclosed ad, please, as it is for real, honey. Love and peace. ________________ _____________________

ATTENTION

My name is James Lattimore. I ins incarcerated at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. I'm writing this article because I an a lonely person without friends, would definately appreciate any mail to help combat my loneliness and depression. 1 am -irgo, 5 ' 6" 140 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, single no lies. I am seeking friendship and meaningful correspondence regardless of age, nationality or creed. Address. James Lattimore #143-103, P. 0. Box 45699, Lucasville. Ohio 45699.

Colorado State Penitentiary Hobby Shop by a stall full of sissies

4 1/2 Inches (slightly larger than shown) only $15.00 plus 1.00 for postage and handling in Six Varieties of Hardwood: ZEBRA (dark and light stripes) CHERRY (orange and pink veins) K0A (redish Hawaiian rosewood) PECAN (whitish peach) HICKORY (whitish peach with dark veins) TEAK (Thailand's richest dark and golden veined wood) send $ to: Colorado State Penitentiary (for Frank Martz #44159) Box 1010. Canon City, CO 81212

NO MORE GENOCIDE IN OUR NAME

rf. African National Prison Organization

u M

DJIdfruits fromCoasttoCoas "£«VT ' f n < X A W “

“ sr

All areas of our Turtle Island (North America) abound In a great variety of wild fruits which compose an abundant supply of vitanin-rich, fresh, free food. There are fruits which can be gathered in varying de grees, in all seasons of the year. Eaten fresh, dried, canned, frozen or juiced, they can provide a welcome supplement or a major portion of the diet In these times of rising prices and doubtful quality of store-bought foods. There are a great many books on the subject of wild foods-leaves, roots and tubers, seeds and fruit. This article will attempt to provide an outline of some of the variety of wild fruit# available in the upper south east, Pacific Northwest, and Northeastern parts of tem perate-zone North America. Some of the better books on edible plants will be listed at the end. I*m going to group the wild fruits together by bo tanical families, because most of them fall, into 5 of these families: the Rose Family, the Azalea Family, the Honeysuckle Family, the Tomato Family and the Grape Family. Technically speaking, any seed-bearing type of plant organ Is a "fruit" - an acorn, a bean-pod, a thlatlehead, etc. What we commonly call a fruit Is a fleshy covering which generally encloses the seed or seeds. Strawber ries are an odd exception— the seeds are mounted In lit tle dimples of the exterior of the fruit. Anyway, on to our catalogue: the Rose Family con tains a great many edible fruits, including the familiar apple, pear, peach and cherry. Wild forms in the South east Include rose hips (Rosa species), of which there are two common kinds; the multiflora rose (whose petals can be dried for tea), and the Carolina rose. The for mer has small oval hips which come in great clusters, and are best dried for tea. The latter's hips are roundish, larger, and can be nibbled fresh. They some times persist into the winter. There are many kinds of Hawthorns (Crataegus species) all over the continent; I've only seen one kind here in Tennessee. The fruits persist into early spring, and are somewhat tasty, with large seeds and not much flesh. The Hawthorn is a fairly large shrub with thorns, grow ing in pastures and hillsides. Some people prize them as a subject for jam and Jelly-making. True wild strawberries (Fragaria species) as well as abandoned patches are found across the Southeast, North east and Northwest. Smaller than the cultivated forms, they are very sweet and tasty. The flowers have white petals and the seeds rest in little dimples on the sur face of the fruit. There is a related, inedible species (Duohesnea) which has an all-yellow flower and a taste less red berry with bumps all over It.

Dewberries, blackberries, and raspberries (Rubue species) form a multitudinous group. Hers in Tsnnessee, we have dewberries, which are essentially early, trail ing blackberries; several kinds of blackberries; and black raspberries. The Northwest and Northeast have similar companion species. The berries can be used in many ways: for pies, canning, jelllas, Jams and Juice making. A simple way to make Juice is to put about a 1/2 pint of berries in a sterilized quart canning Jar, pour boiling water over them, and screw a sterile lid on It. Then turn the Jar over to slosh hot water all over the Inside, and let It cool and seal Itself. No processing Is needed, you can add whatever sweetener you prefer, when you can 'em, or when you open 'em. The Pacific Northwest has s "Salmonberry" which is like a raspberry. It is salmon-colored and Its clus ters are reminiscent, of salmon eggs. There is also another related type (Rubua Parviflorus) called a "thimbleberry" because It is so thin. "Raspberries" and "blackberries" differ in that the former will readily separate from the stem, leaving a cavity in the berry. Another Northeastern species is the "cloud berry" (R. Chamaenoms). It bears a solitary fruit which changes color from pink to yellow. Wineberry (P. Phoenicolaeium) is an introduced species from Asia which has become widespread In the Northeast, It is orange-red when ripe.

Also in the rose family are the service (or sarvls) berries (Amlannhier species), also called shadbush. They bloom real early, before the other trees even leaf out. That's In March here, in Tennessee, Around here, It's a small tree or shrub with berries that aren't all that great, but up on Roan Mountain I ate some last sum mer from a big tree that were excellent-very sweet, ten der and tasty. Not to forget wild cherrles-the common one in Tennessee Is the black cherry, which makes fruits In hanging clusters (racemes). They are small, with relatively large aeeds-but are very flavorful. I eat them fresh, or when I gather a lot by knocking them off the trees onto a bedsheet, I make black cherry Juice as in the method outlined for blackberries above. There are also chokecherries and pincherries . whose edibility I can't vouch for. The Northwest and Northeast also have wild cherries, some of which are quite large and tasty.

There are also many kinds of wild plums; large, sweet red ones, and little yellow "pucker plums". A local name for the little blue ones is "Damsels" (Damsons?). Look In fence-rows and old fields for the better ones, plant their seeds, or graft their buds onto other unknown seed lings. I have seen purple-leafed plums planted around buildings in shopping centers whose tasty fruit was com pletely Ignored by people there. The Azalea Family (Ericaceae) contains the large group of blueberries, deerberries, and farkleberries (Vaocinium species); and the similar huckleberries (GayluBaacia species) as well as wintergreen berries (Gaultheria). The common names of blueberry and huckleberry get mixed up; botanically, the former have numerous small seeds and the latter 10 large ones. The several species vary widely in range, size of bush, and eating quality. Deerberries (V. Staminium) are distinct from the others; their larger, somewhat pear-shaped fruits are rather bitter-tasting when raw. When cooked, they can make a uniquely-flavored jam. Farkleberrles (V. Arboreum) are large, shiny-black and kind of dry— not choice, but ok to eat when they ripen in October when all the other berries are long gone. The plant is very large and woody, with leaves which are evergreen in the south.

huckleberry

As for the many other blueberries and huckleberries, just put them all in the same pail and "put the cream to 'em." There are both high, medium and low bush types and some ripen a little earlier than others. In my area of Tennessee it looks like a "berry good year." Hunt for them on dry ridges, in acid soil. If you have the wild ones, plant some Improved horticultural types in a simi lar place closer to the house where the deer (or bears!) won't get them. The Pacific Northwest has an evergreen huckleberry, a red huckleberry, and several kinds of blueberries. Once in upper east Tennessee, I tasted some real Wintergreen berries (Gaultheria procumhens) -- fantastic! They are much more common in the North east, I am told. This family also Includes the lovely azaleas and rhododendrons as well as the mountain laurel (Kalmia), all of which are poisonous to humans and live stock. Mountain laurel is locally called "ivy."

The honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaoeae) contains only one real useful fruit, the elderberry (Samhucus). There are 2 kinds, the more prevalent dark purple one, and an inedible or poisonous kind of red-berried elder. It is in the mountains of Tennessee and up north of here. The common elder (S. Canadensis) is everywhere along roadsides and field-margins. The flowers can be dried for tea, made into wine, or dipped in batter and fried. The berries can be eaten fresh, although they are better tasting when canned with sweetener or dried and then reconstituted for use later. One caution: the fruit 18 poisonous when green, as are the leaves and stems. Juliette de Rairacli-Levy recommends an elder stem splint for a dog's broken leg, and a tea made from dried leaves has some use medicinally, but don't in gest any fresh material. Supposedly children have been poisoned by blowing on whistles or blowguns made from the hollow stems. The Tomato Family (Solanaceae) gives us our garden friends, tomato, eggplant and potato, as well as night shade, tobacco, and Jimson weed (Datura). It contains one group of wild edible fruits, the ground-cherries (Phyealis species). There are several kinds here, and others all across the continent. All of them are low, annual plants, which produce a very small, tomato-like fruit enclosed in a papery husk. They are called "husk tomatoes" for this reason. The decorative Chinese-lancern plant, whose husk is orange, is in this group as well. People around here gather them late in the summer as a subject for preserves. I eat them raw; they're a nice garden nibble. Don't eat them green; wait till the husk turns brown, and the fruit gets yellow. There are several kinds of wild grapes (Vitis species). Back in North Carolina, we could find big light-colored ones called Muskydines. All I've run into in Tennessee is clusters of little "fox grapes" which are a pleasant nibble and make excellent jam. They have a real nice tart flavor. Sometimes they hang onto the vine into the winter, and you find a few on the snow while roaming around the woods-a pleasant surprise! Virginia creeper, or Woodbine (Parthenociesus) is in the grape family, but has poisonous fruit; its leaves are 5-parted, sort of like a hand (palmately compound). Mulberries (.Wbrus species) are also an Important and versatile food source. I'll always love the huge tree in ray parents' North Carolina backyard, its purple fruits would litter the ground and stain my feet. In later years, I’ve returned there and dried a couple of quarts on screens in their attic. They ripen in May, and are real good eating. The purple, or red, kind, is native, whereas the white kind was brought here originally to provide food for silkworms (!) A projected silk indus try was one of those early economic schemes, like indigo cultivation, that never panned out for America. Mulberries usually bear male and female flowers on separate trees. The dried fruit is a staple of the people in Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

miLO

The Saxifrage Family (Saxifragraceae) contains goose berries and currants. Numerous species range across the continent, and all are edible although I'm not familiar with them. Their botanical name is Ribes, and their ripe fruit varies in color /ff from red to purplish-black.

The berries of two kinds of sumac (Rhus species) can be used to make a tart, cooling beverage. Pour boiling water over them and steep as for herb tea, or cover with water and set in the sun for several hours. I prefer the smooth sumac (R. glabra) or the winged, dwarf, or black sumac (R. copallina) for this purpose. In addition, I have lately discovered that the berries of a western species, Rhus triloba, are eaten, raw or cooked, as well as being used for tea. According to Harrington's book (see Bibliography below), flour can be mixed with the ground-up berries, gradually added to boiling water, and cooked for ten minutes. Sweetener can also be added. This makes a pudding or stew. The plant is widely used by the native tribes. Harrington also notes that an eastern companion species (Rhus aromatica) is similar, and worth trying. This kind is found in the Cedar Glades of middle Tennessee, and I intend to check it out. All of the sumacs are in the Cashew Family (Anarcardiaceae), along with poison-ivy and poison sumac. Both of these have white berries. All of the edible species have red berries. There are some other miscellaneous fruits which don't have any familial companions. Mayapples are the fruit of Podophyllum pelatatum, which also has a purgative and med icinal root. The leaves look like green umbrellas, in a patch on the forest floor. Ripening about August, the fruits appear singly in a crotch formed by the 2 leaf stalks of a mature plant. They bloom in May, hence the name. Eating too many of them could give you the runs. May-pop, or wild apricot, is an entirely different plant. A vine, related to the tropical passionflower (Passiflora), it rambles over fields and fences. The egg-shaped fruits are a delight when they ripen in late September. I eat

them fresh, skin, pulp and all. You can also make a delicious drink by blending them with water and strain ing. They are also a subject for syrup-making. If you step on a green one, it goes "POP", hence the name. The bunchberry is a dwarf member of the Dogwood Family (C o m aceae) which bears an edible cluster of red berries. It is found in cool woods and bogs in the Northeast. Of the whole panoply of wild fruits, my favorites are the Paw-paws (Asinrina triloba), and persimmons (Diospyros Virginia). Paw-paws range as far north as Mich igan. There is a town up there called "Pawpaw". Also called an "Indiana Banana" the fruits can get as big as a mango, and have a similar, irregularly oval shape. They start out green and ripen to custard-yellow with purple blotches. The pulp is kind of like a cross between avo cado and banana, and contains several large, brown, flattish seeds. Just eat 'em raw, peeled or not. I imagine the pulp could be frozen. This is an understory tree, not getting very tall or large (maybe up to AO ft. at most). They will thrive in full sun after a few years but prefer shade and moisture when young. The seeds will not germinate if allowed to dry out. It is also called custard-apple, for obvious reasons, and ripens in late September. Watch 'em closely, the possums'll get them soon after they fall. They are the only tem perate-zone representative of the custard-apple family

(Annonaceae). Persimmons are not as exotic as paw-paws, although nearly so, and they form a staple of my wild-fruit pan try, whereas paw-paws are a rare treat. This large (to 100 ft.) tree is the only temperate-zone member of the Ebony family (Ebenaceae). There is great variety in quality of mature fruits. In his book Tree Crops, Rus sell Smith devotes a whole chapter to the persimmon and the desirability of selecting and improving the better types. One of my trees makes fruits almost as big as golf balls, another's fruits are marble-sized. I let the chickens eat those. I'm sure the persimmons were a staple food of the Indians, as they are good fresh, and can be dried in several ways. (More on that later.) Anyone who's eaten persimmons has at one time or another eaten one that was not quite ripe. The experience will never be forgotten— the astringency sort of turns the mouth in side-out, and coats it with a kind of film. The only cure is to eat several good ripe ones. So, if you are foraging under a tree, don't eat all the obviously ripe ones first; save a few back just in case you eat that one too many. Also, don't shake the tree too hard; or the unripe ones'11 fall off too soon. Fruits which (continued on page 7 .)

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/orsg.n^ U J o r k s h o p 5 - f ai/ 1 9 7 9 Every spring and fall, I teach weekend workshops on edible plants, herbs and wildflowers here in Tennessee. There will probably be two fall sessions in late September and early October.* Cost is rea sonable (S18 adults, $2 children; cash or trade, "Scholarships" available), camp-out or barn for sleeping. All are welcome. Contact me for more information. scat. ocr.

w-i.

Milo Rt. 1, Box 98a Gassaway, Tn. 37095

country antique 'jjjealij/ g s For over a year now I have supported myself with a part-time antique business. This form of self-reliance has allowed me to be more comfortable with my lifestyle, while taking away the problems of working for someone. This problem of economic survival has been addressed in several issues of RFD and has encouraged me to write this article." Economic survival in the country has been a part of my life since early childhood. 1 was reared in Kentucky on a small farm, which provided the primary means for supporting our family. The work was hard and helped de velop a desire for self-sufficiency that has remained with me. Since those childhood experiences I have worked at various Jobs. However, there always seemed to be some thing missing. I kept working and thinking, "The money will buy what is missing," but it did not. Now, of course, we are all tied to the old money game. However, we have to decide "How much is enough." With this stuck in the back of my mind, I began to look for ways to be come self-sufficient. First I tried to simplify my lifestyle and learned to "make do" with what I already had. While this took some of the complication from my life, it allowed me to set aside some bucks and explore other alternatives. As I had always been fascinated with antiques, this was my first choice. In fact, it was at an auction that I first thought of antiques as a means of self-suf ficiency. I chose antiques since the demand is high and fairly consistant, and they form part of a tradition that ties us to the past. However, one could start a side line with any product or service that is in demand. After a few purchases at the auction, I visited many shops, antique shows and flea markets, and quickly de cided it was complicated. You really need to know your stuff to make a good profit. Meanwhile, I gathered some books from the library and some trade magazines from a dealer-friend. These were especially helpful in the identification and dating of certain articles. However, since the field of antiques is so varied, I decided on a particular line of merchandise in order to learn more a— bout pricing, demand and marketing. Thus, I chose to deal with antiques that are called primitives. This in cluded: early furniture, tools, kitchen equipment, tin, iron, wood, and early stoneware items. Most of these items have some practical value, so if I can t sell them I can use them. For example: apple peeler, fireplace equipment, or a froe. Another advantage of primitives is, they don't break as easily as glass or need the care that other items may. So I decided primitives were for me. Now that I had decided what to sell, I had to ask where it could be sold. I could not afford a shop or a full-time business, so I kept look ing for a market. Finally I decided that, for the antique business and the "would-be dealer' marketing has been made simple by the flea market. Most everyone knows of one nearby and to 'set up' is inexpensive. This elim inated the overhead of a shop and ex APPLE PEELER posed me to a ready market.

The next move was gathering an inventory. While talking with the dealers I learned a few quick tricks. For example: did you know that dealers give discounts to dealers? This usually requires a state tax number, in order to be legitimate, so check into the possibility and begin to deal. Visit the shops, shows, flea markets and do not forget the yard sales. Remember, buying can be fun or disastrous. Know what you are buying— beware of damage, repairs, and reproductions. Ask lots of questions, as most dealers are glad to help and will honestly represent their merchandise. Asking will also help you get to know the dealer and develop rapport for future dealings. One of the initial problems will be the decision to be a dealer or a collector. This will have a lot to do with what you pay for something. You cannot afford to become attached to items, unless your finances allow it. This fact becomes most evident at auctions, for buying at auctions can be very tricky, and one can easily overpay for poor merchandise. Auction buying has also grown more difficult as more people learn the value of antiques. People will often pay higher prices at auctions simply because it belonged to Grandma. So be sure to arrive in time to examine the articles, and set the price you will pay. The auctioneer will often goad crowds into buying by creating a competitive sit uation between two buyers. These are little tricks that he has learned and you have to learn yours. So stick to your price and don't be too hasty. Besides... auctions are fun and have been a social occasion for years. After one has made a few purchases you Ir’ve to de cide what price you must have to sell them. There are numerous price guides around but practical experience is more helpful. Moreover, there are several factors that will influence pricing. The most immediate one will be "How soon will you need the cash?" Some items can be purchased inexpensively and turned over quick ly for a ready cash flow. However, unusual items can be priced higher, and you will most often get your price, for a collector will pay for quality merchandise. Pricing can also be influenced by the amount of market exposure. For example, a potential buyer will pass you by, if you consistently display the same merchandise. So it is important to have new articles to keep the buyers interested. Don’t forget that the larger part of your sales will be to other dealers; thus you need to allow for a discount, yet sell at a price that will allow you to restock your inventory. So far T have been able to find enough articles to provide an income to cover my immediate needs, without running a full time operation. This allows plenty of time for the garden ar.d other necessary work. Tt also provides the freedom of t r a v e l , with the added pleasure of browsing in ahops and and the chance to pay for the trip with a few purchases. Perhaps these added freedoms were what I was missing vhen I was working for someone else. So look around and maybe you can start a small part-time business and gain a little more freedom. .Ti

FROE .V

(continued from page 6 .) aren't ready yet can carefully be taken home and set out in newspaper-lined boxes to ripen. They contain several hard seeds, which are inedible. I save all mine, and roast them to a very dark brown, like coffee beans. Then I put them through the grain mill and com bine with chicory roots and other spicy ingredients as a 'brown-drink' coffee-substitute. Now I've found sev eral seed companies who'll buy the seed from me, or trade me other seed which I need for the garden or flower bed. Anyway, the little orange balls of delight can be utilized in a number of ways. I gather selected ones, layer them in boxes with newspaper, and let them dry whole over the wood heater, suspended on a screen. You have to sort through them every few days, and deal with those which aren't gonna make it all the way through. This is the lazy way to dry them, also good in any weather. Making 'persimmon leather' is a more involved process which produces a phenomenal product. It s really quite simple, though. Put the persimmons through a Foley food mill or one of those conical apple-sauce makers with the wooden piece you roll around. This drives the pulp through the holes and leaves behind the seeds, skin and fibers. The pulp can be used in persimmon pudding, fro zen, or dried on plastic sheets. Spread it out, about 1/4 inch thick, on plastic, dry it in the sun for a few days, until ycu can peel it off, then finish off the other side. Vhen it's good and dry, store it, in wide mouth canning jars. Use it as a nibble or trail food, or soak in water and reconstitute it for fcaling use. Don't try canning the pulp, as this brings the astringency out. Locally the word is that persimmons are never any good until a heavy frost hits 'em. However, 1 ve found some trees whose fruit drops in September, and is edi ble; while there's a tree at Aloe in North Carolina whose fruit still was astringent and stuck on the tree in mid-January! If the calyx (the little 4-part"cup" on the fruit) readily separates, then it is ripe. If not, then don't eat it or you'll regret it. Some years are better than others for these wild fruits, but the same is true of apples, peaches, etc. It is good to become acquainted with the wild foods of one's native area, for the time may arrive when we 11 need them in order to survive. It pays off to think "wild" all year round. Spot berry patches in the win ter, when the canes stand out against the dead grass; look for abandoned apple and pear trees when they bloom, then return in August or September for the harvest. Keep these favorite trees and patches in mind, as you would a distant lover, they will return your love; tend them and communicate with them. Carefully clear out some of the competing vegetation, especially vines. Plant related or improved species nearby. There is currently a great revival of interest in wild and native foods, especially those borne on trees. I can provide seeds for persimmon, thornless honey lo cust, wild black cherry and paw-paw to anyone who’s interested. Send SASE for more information. Good eating!

Angler, Feasting Free on Wild ______ t Field Guide to Edible Berglund 4 Bolshy, The Edible Fernald 4 Kinsey, Edible Wild

Edibles. Wild Plants. Wild. Plants of Eastern

Forth America. Gibbons, Stalking the Wild Acpca'cgue. _______ , Stalking the Good life (chatcr 17). Harrington, EdibU Native Plants cf the Rocky fountains. (Excellent book) Harris, Eat the. Weeds. . Kirk, Edible Wild Plants of the Western United

States Modsget, Edible Wild Plants. Peterson, Field Guide to Edible Wild Plante. (Recently published, excellent illustrations.) Smith, Tree Crops (Originally published 1929; paper bound reprint now available.) Wharton 4 Barbour, Trees and Shrubs of Kentucky. (Excellent photographs; U. of Ky. Prose.)

FIfcENLACE MtILL Since this issue of RFD is being created in a log cabin, we are, of necessity, cooking In the fireplace. Everyone knows food tastes better when cooked out of doors. Well, this goes for the fireplace too— -you Just can t bear them fried 'taters. Of course, you can cook iust about anything in a fireplace, once you develop the skill, and it doesn’t take long. The skill appears to be proportional to the care and attention you give the fire. The fireplace we are using has a grate (displaced oven rack), that can be used with conventional cookware. However, once conven tional cookware is used, it is usually destined for fireplace use only. It is best not to use enamel or porcelain pans, for they become encrusted with soot and resins,which are impossible to remove. Stainless steel and cast iron are better suited and they distribute the heat better for more even cooking. Fortu nately, we have some pots and pans—previously fired-and some antique utensils, including a Dutch oven and a reflector oven. The reflec tor oven can be used to make good blsquits and cookies, and most boy scout manuals can explain how you can make one. However, for the early fireplace cook the Dutch oven was lndispenslhle for baking. The Dutch oven is an iron pot with three legs and a lid with an upturned rim. The legs allowed it tc be placed into the coals, while the lid allowed coals to be placed on top to create the effect of an oven.

The oven was not set directly in the coals, for they were too hot and the food got scorched, instead, the coals were pulled to the side of the

fireplace

a n d n*H«a w e r e s p r i n k l e d

on t o

inaulale Lh*-i# beioie the pot was added. l.l-c wise, ashes were sprinkled on the top before^ the coala were added, Phm entire owen ¥*• covered with aahea to promote an even heating. Thl* baking arrangement allowed the fire to be used for continued cooking and a means to replenish the coals, if necessary. Open tire cooking can be time conauming and moat people, who cook outalde or in firepi «<:•», do it out of necessity. However, It can be fun and the food delicious. Since the food prepared by our ancestors watt organic, some of the old recipes can add tasty additions to the diet. The recipes that follow are adaptable to any form of cooking arrangement. SPONGE BREAD Flour and warm water mixed to the consis tency of thin pancake baiter. Add yeaat, let stand, occasionally give the batter a atir. Periodically add flour and blend till smooth. Salt is added, while kneading on a floured board. Shape into round flat cakeB and set aside to rise. Put on hot greased pan, Just enough to harden the toll. Reduce heat-split apart with forks and toast the inside, spread with butter. PEANUT BUTTER SOUP Saute chunks of onion in a small amount of oil. Add hot water, chunks of green pepper and celery, Two cups of crunchy peanut butter, garlic,and some tomato sauce. Bring to a boilset aside-add tarnari,basil, and oregano to taste. Cover and let set awhile. It can be reheated, but do not boil. SWEET 'TATER PUDDING

While writing the article on fruits and berries, it occured to me that a couple of paragraphs on chlggers might be in order. These small, almost Invisible red mites are a cousin to the mite which causes the dread cables. They don't burrow into the skin*, in stead, they inlect saliva into the host. The reaction between the flesh and saliva forms a feeding tube; it fills with lymph fluid and partially digested tissue which the mite sucks up as food. This causes the itch, which can last for a week or longer. People usually pick chiggers up in berry patches, or tall weeds. The little critters will feed on birds, snakes, rodents and other small mammals as well as two-leggeds. Control measures include cutting down the tall weeds and grass where you frequently walk. Sunlight and air circulation will discourage chiggers. When you go berry-picking, try dusting sulfur powder into your socks, underclothing, and outerwear as a repellent. Once exposure has taken place, the best solution is to take a hot soapy bath, then rubdovr. with alcohol. Calamine lotion may relieve the itching of the welts themselves. There are also various herbal salves available, such as ‘Elder Sisters. I a made a healing oil by steeping St. John a Wort (Hyper icum) tops in vegetable oil (olive is best). Only young chiggers feed on warm-blooded animals. As they mature, they eat eggs of insects like mosqui toes. Mil o

3 lge.sweet potatoes 1 c. •nolaaeies 3/4 c. milk

1 egg 1 tbls. butter 1 tsp. nutmeg

Grate potatoes, add molasses,nllk and mix. Beat egg, butter, and nutmeg together. Fold into other ingredients. Bake at 350° till done. Approx. 1 hr. BAKED BEANS 4 c. navy beans 1 tsp. dry mustard 1 tbls. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper 1 c. molasses

Soak beans overnight, bring beans to boil, and cook slowly for l hr. Drain. To 3 cups liquid add other ingredients. Place in well greased Dutch oven or casserole and bake slowly at 325° for 3 hrs.

or at Miatar Natural once said "Being Born and Dying, that’s the easy part.

HELLO, My name 1* John (A.K.A. WAC-INC-TUNC). Aa I've rambthrough the Briar Patch I've come across a few clear ings where I could relax , get stoned, and ponder my Journey. I would like to share a few of them with all of you - 1 know that one person's oasis can be another parson's Illusion but for me the following WERE A GREAT HIGH.

The Little Prince, A. de Saint-Exupery, Harcourt, Brace "Coodbye," said the fox. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what la essential is invisible to the eye," "What is essential is invisible to the eye," the lit tle prince repeated so that he would be sure to remember. "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." "It is the time I have wasted for my rose— " said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember. "People have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, for ever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose..." "I am responsible for my rose," the little prince re peated so that he would be sure to remember.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

compiled by Paul Reps, Doubleday

"The Moon Cannot Be Stolen" Ryokan, a Zen master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered. slunk away.

He took the clothes and

Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.' Life As Carole, Joan Grant, Avon, 1939

The Joyous Cosmology, Alan W. Watts, Pantheon Books There is no difference in principle between sharp ening perception with an external instrument, such as a microscope, and sharpening it with an internal in strument, such as one of the many psychoactive drugs. If they are an affront to the dignity of the mind, the microscope is an affront to the dignity of the eye and the telephone to the dignity of the ear. Strictly speaking, these drugs do not Impart wisdom at all, any more than the microscope alone gives knowledge. They provide the raw material of wisdom, and are useful to the extent that the person Involved can integrate what the drugs reveal into the whole pattern of their behav ior and the whole system of their knowledge.

Cousin Billy (under the Influence of N^O) "The good and the bed are the same as long as you have enough dope."

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, M. Williams, Doubledsy "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, be fore Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean hav ing things that Buzz inside you and a Stick-Out Handle?" "Real isn't how you are Made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that Happens to you. When a child loves you for a vary long time, not just to Play With, but REALLY lexes you, then you become Real." "Does it Hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for it was always Truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being Hurt." "Does it happen all at Once, like being Wound Up?" the Rabbit asked, "or Bit by Bit?" "It doesn’t happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You Become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who Break Easily, or have Sharp Edges, or who have to be. Carefully Kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, raoet of your hair has been Loved Off and you get Loose in the Joints." "And very Shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be Ugly, except to people who don't Understand."

Dune, Frank Herbert, Ac# Book, 1965 "1 must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past 1 will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

In the story of Adam and Eve there is a truth which has been forgotten, a truth taught in parables since earth was young. The Church maintains that the serpent of evil knowledge tempted man and woman to lust after each other, and because they listened they were cast out of Eden. Yet in the days when the meaning of this legend was understood, the serpent symbolized not evil knowledge, but wisdom. It was taken as the symbol of wisdom because it can make itself into a circle to which we attain when the past and the future are joined. When Eve and Adam were born of God they knew no evil, and knowing no evil they knew no good for good is the overthrowing of evil. For a time they were content, but as they grew older, they began to be aware of the loneliness which had come with the separation from the source. They asked the Serpent, who was coiled under the Tree of Life, how they could return to the land whence they had been born. And the Serpent answered, "If you would return to the source you must go forth into earth and eat of the fruit of destruction until you learn to create." So Adam and Eve set out on their long journey. At first they were unarmed, but they had not yet wrested the sword of courage from the hand of fear. When they saw danger they fled into the shadows; but pain followed them into their hiding place, and bound them prisoner. They cried out in torment, but no one answered them until endurance came to give them their first weapon. It was a dagger and though it was still blunt, written on the blade they saw, "The Trained Will, which one day shall cut all fetters." Time passed, and Adam and Eve became leaders. Pride was appointed their seneschal, and beguiled them with false counsel, for they had yet to learn that though Pride is a good servant it must never be allowed to take command. So they listened to Pride until their leader ship was taken from them lest they should betray their followers. They walked through barren valleys, and at last came to the house of humility where the wounds of their feet were healed and the dust laved from their eyes. Then Humility summoned them to audience, and they saw Humility enthroned with Pride as its partner. And Pride said to them, "Now that you have come to the house of my kin, you need fear me no longer; for you will nev er see me except at the side of humility, and together we have become your friend." Then were Eve and Adam given great riches, and they used them to surround their house with a wall of gold as a protection from the world. But a plague fell upon their estate, and when they tried to flee the pestilence they found their gateway had vanished and an unbroken wall imprisoned them. They were alone, save for a sha dow who shuffled after them down echoing corridors. They dared not sleep, for always they must be ready to run from the sound of its approach. They grew weary, and the shadow came so near they could feel it upon them. At last they were engulfed; and they found themselves even as the shadow. At this point the walls cracked open; and they passed through into the road beyond. So Adam and Eve continue on their journey, until they shall see the green meadows of heaven, which they once knew as Eden.

C/ In the course of ay research into the experiences | of lesbians and gay men in nineteenth century America, I came across a few newspaper articles that may be of interest to RFC readers. They are the stories of Lilian ! Carver, a man who passed as a woman, and James Robbins, a married man who wore women's clothes. Both men lived in small towns in Maine. The story of James Robbins destroys the myth that men who wear women's clothes have always had a hard time in the U.S. The following is quoted from the Lewiston Journal from around 1895: Commander James Robbins, of Cooper's Mills, in this state, is one of the prominent men of his com munity, a citizen generally esteemed as a man of integrity and intelligence. Mr. Robbins has a brilliant war record. He has lived in the village since 1883, and is a jeweler. His house is a neat cottage house on the brow of the hill as one drives into the Mills. In the narrow front hallway is Mr. Robbins' bench, lathe, and tools, and here you will find him placidly working away at the tiny wheels and springs. If you are on sufficiently intimate terms with Mr. Robbins you will find him indulging in his hobby. He has one, like most of us. In his case the hobby is startlingly picturesque, and it may be safely said that he is the most original man in the State of Maine, so far as his curious fancy is concerned. He wears petticoats. Not when he goes down the street for the mail and to do his marketing. At these times he slips on the masculine pantaloons. Yet he does not wear his trousers even like the or dinary masculinity. No suspenders for him. He wears a sort of dress about his hips. He always wears a women's No. 6 shoe with high heels and graceful, slender shape. Mr. Robbins weighs some thing like 180 pounds, and the effect produced by those shoes peeping coyly out from beneath manly trouser legs is startling, to say the least. Mr. Robbins doesn't mince or toddle, and his shoes seem to fit him pretty well. He reserves his petticoats for the sanctity of the home circle, for the partial retirement of his orchard, and for calls upon neighbors with whom his acquaintance is close. Mr. Robbins isn't squeamish about showing himself in petticoats. He enjoys wearing them; he has worn them when opportunity has presented all his life long, and he wears them scientifically, too. In the first place, there's no half-way business about it. Every detail of feminine attire is there, and Mr. Robbins is rightly fussy about the details. There is no woman in Cooper's Mills who owns so many dresses of such excellent material as does the commander of the Cooper's Mills Post. He takes pride in having only the best. His lingerie is elaborately tucked and ruffled, edged with lace and fashioned according to the most approved models of any lady's wardrobe. The material is of the finest quality, and when Mr. Robbins lifts his skirts the eye gets a vision of ruffles, lace and "all such like” of dazzling whiteness and im maculate smoothness. He is very particular about his ironing. Every thing must be starched "up to the handle," what ever that is, and sometimes Mrs. Robbins finds her hands full and her clothes horse loaded down like a pack donkey. Amazed neighbors, who were not fully aware of the extent of Mr. Robbins' hobby, have been obliged to ask for more details when Mrs. Robbins has laconically informed them that "it is Jim's ironing." Mr. Robbins' hosiery is of the long sort and it is currently rumored that the stockings are hitched up at the sides. His corsets he has made especially for his girth, and these he wears continually. His shape is fair ly good, especially when he dresses up for after noons. In the morning he wears print gowns, for he assists in the housework. Almost every morning Mr. Robbins in his print gown is seen sweeping off the piazza and whisking about the kitchen. He wears petticoats at home almost exclusively, put ting on the garb as soon as he enters the house. For afternoon wear his gowns are elaborate. Some of them are made by Mr. Robbins and some are fash ioned by local dressmakers. One cashmere dress is quite a favorite, and this is frequently worn by Mr . Robbins when he promenades in the orchard. He has lots of these good clothes, all of fashionable cut, puffed sleeves, and all the fixin's that go to lend grace and dignity. Usually he wears an apron, and especially so when at his bench. The apron is white, ordinarily, and has a bib with ruffled straps and pockets. Therefore, does Mr. RobbinB present a somewhat unique appearance as he works away of afternoons, or sits and converses with his wife. Look at the gown and you see a stylishly attired woman. But the face is very manly indeed. Mr. Robbins would be marked in any crowd. His face is full and he wears a mustache that' possibly owes a colour to art. His hair is long, black and curly, his voice deep and full, and there s nothing ef feminate about him except his attire.

F I\ U IT 5

In the late 1890s the Carver family moved to North Haven, Maine, where their only daughter, Lilian, opened a candy shop and also cut women's and men's hair by re quest. Both Lilian and her family were members of the Baptist Church and well-respected in North Haven. Lil ian was described as "a plump, fine-skinned, handsome brunette. A circle of admirers hung about her, and some of them were on at least vague sentimental terms with her." One day Lilian left North Haven on a trip to Bos ton. A few days later the following notice appeared in her hometown newspapers, signed by herself, her par ents, and her Baptist minister, Rev. Lyman W. Sweet: Having been known in North Haven, Me., (sy birthplace and home for thirty years), as a fe male, by the name of Lilian G. Carver, I do here by publicly declare that I have been masquerading and for more than ten years against my wishes. Force of habit, filial regard, and dread of the necessary sensation attendant upon such a step have prevented me from doing my duty; which now, as a Christian I undertake to do. My real name is Arthur Leslie Carver, 1 am a man, and since September of this year, [1901] I have dressed and been known as such. Arthur was examined by a doctor and thought to be a "passive" homosexual. He remained in Boston work ing in a business office. It is possible that many men in 19th century America, like Arthur Carver and James Robbins, in geniously created ways to survive in small towns and villages before they discovered there were others like themselves in America’s large cities. They were an cestors of the rural and small town faggots of today, trying to survive in the country and still be true to themselves. My sources are Psychology of Sex: EonIsm, Havelock Ellis, Philadelphia: Davis, 1929, p. 30-2; and The In tersexes , Xavier Mayne (pseud., Edward Irenaeus Prime Stevenson), Italy: 1908, p. 413-4. Allan Blrube S.F. Gay History Project P.0. Box 1653 Sar. Francisco, CA 94103 P.S. How about a gay history issue of RFD sometime in the future, focusing on the history of U.S. rural gay men? There’s lots more stuff available.

•ioru^ MoUAr H a ve . i X a X Sa to - * x f

These days, longhaired men are an endangered species. In the light of an apparent trend toward short hair, the traditional cut threatens to overwhelm the luxurious long hair which sprouted and bloomed over the last decade Didn't we get that one over with, the taboo against men's long hair?? apparently not, the freak flag must still be constantly flown, longhair liberation has not. been won. Men still get kicked out of bars for length of hair (also age, clothes, skin color, etc.) Macho gay culture may be more uptight about hair-length than the dominant culture. Presumably this Is due to the much discussed insecurity of the gay male community over its fragile emergence and relative liberation from soci etal tyranny. Don't forget, boys,none of us are fret until all or us are free. Longhairs, braid yourselves together!.' Masculine sexobjectif icatlon threatens our gentle beingness. Letting one's hair grow long, and leaving it long, is mainly a personal decision, but it ijs a statement which can be taken as intensely political. People will react positively or negatively and may Judge you on that basis of appearance alone, or they may be able to look deeper. Clarence was working at the bookstore one day, kneeling on the floor when a male customer came in and said, "Excuse me, ma'am..." When Clarence stood up, the customer saw that he was a male and got quite flustered and apologetic for his error. To Clarence it was in fact complimentary. "I'm not try ing to look like a woman, but far out." This article is mainly about keeping your hair in good shape and out of the way, so you won't feel like It must be cut off for convenience of comfort. Men in "western" industrialized cultures don’t normally have access to Information about how to deal with long hair. One of the best ways to find out is to ask a woman, es pecially one whose hair resembles yours in length, color and texture. It is also helpful and fun to look at old photos of native americans or other tribal peo ples, and see how they wore their hair. Our informa tion and experience is about long, non-curly hair. We're not trying to exclude other kinds of hair; we just don't know about it. One of the easiest ways to put hair up is in a pony tail down the back, or in two "dog-ears", over or be hind each ear. This latter method is more comfortable when lying down, and also gives a neat 1950's era ap pearance. The standard hair rubber-bands are fairly cheap, if you can hold onto them for a while. It gets costly to lose them every day or so. They come in thin and thick styles, as well as a variety of colors. The little kind with the plastic balls that loop inside each other are decorative and easy to put on, but they don't stay in place very well. The loose ends of a pony tail can still get In the way. Braiding keeps both the bottom and the top to gether and neat. One braid down the back is very easy to maintain if you have a friend to fix it for you. If not, it is possible to do alone. The hair should, of course, be well brushed out before you begin this. Start by gathering the hair together at the base of the head, and dividing it into three equal segments. It is important to get them really equal, but this takes practice. After dividing the hair put the mid dle strand over the left, and then bring the right strand back under and between those two. Continue braiding in a clockwise direction. After crossing ail the strands a few times, shift your hands around and continue down the side or in front, where you can reach the end eventually. If these directions are hard to follow, perhaps experimentation on three haystrings would help visualization of what you’re doing.

put a thin rubber baud *t the bolt’ hick one where the braid aaeia . on* braid on each aid* of «he (• cA»fer to do on yourself, but take* roor* time. For a real different look, try three or more sm.il) braids, to perhaps just bra l up a little of it, and let the rest fall free. For a nlc* decorative stylo which also ('••eps your locks under control, try bringing one sisal strand from each side in tronl around to the back. Then unite tbase together, hold them with a ribbon, and braid together. Thla is nice to put a feather into, Hairnets can also facilitate kee ing your tre see* out of reaU -j messy situatlonaf like changiiig oil or shovel ing w<st chicken the hairnet manure. Tvi at the hair up into a ball, put 1 over It, and secure It irfith a rubber band. rhen pull the edge of the hairnet forward, to you r for'ehead. over the net and the hair means Putting the rubberband i it won ' get tangled up , Caps are also hand y, Flip the pony tail forward an d put the cap or hat over it. Tilla cornea 1.n handy whe n hitchhiking or when you don't want to be * upfront. Clarent< 'n favorite way of putting his faair up is to wrap it nip on top of his head. He says it has saved it from the scissors wa ny tlme*. To do this , bend over forward, throw the heir over your head and gather It all cloa e tci the scalp. Then twist it all together tight like a rope. Work on down to the end of the to the top of your head, :1< hair and make Wind the remainder around the base of the loop, and put a thick hair rubberbanc around the base, or hold it in place with bobby pin? . This is a great way to sleep with long hair, gets it out of the way quickly in hot weather, and keepi he part from getting sun burned. Clarence has relatively thin, blond hair and this method may not bo as effective with thicker hair. As regards brushing, in order to remove small knots so they won’t become big tangles, brush from the tips and work up. Then, flip the head forward and brush the oil Into it from the nape of the neck, preferably with a boar's bristle brush. Don't wash it too often. Dandruff is dead skin cells from the scalp. Ex cessive dandruff can be corrected by eating a more cleansing diet (leas protein, more fruits and vegetables, raw foods, and juices) and by massage of the scalp. Grab the hair with both hands and manipulate the scalp. Then beat on the scalp loosely with your fists— finger-side down. There is an hereditary factor in baldness. Look at your mother's brothers, and that should give some in dication of whether you'll get bald. It also has some thing to do with hormone balance— ever see any bald women? An excess of male hormones promotes baldness. "I'd rather be a hairy fairy, than bald and ballsy." Jojoba oil, which comes from a desert shrub, is cur rently being manufactured into preparations to prevent hair loss. Check your local natural food score for less expensive forms now available. For more complete information on brushes, shampoos, nutrition, and hair care in general, read Ccfft Coriar snd Storied, published by Straight Arrow Press. We both live In middle Tennessee, and rural people generally like (or don’t disapprove) of our long hair. One day in Woodbury, two old farmers saw Milo and asked "Hey, do you put any fertilizer on that hair?" He replied, "A little chickenshit falls in it now and then." clarence & milo

a country journal

<^au men

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i-t. 1, boy f 2 E

EfIcmd,NC

31313

â&#x20AC;¢Summer Solstice Issue. "ROARING FRESH DECISIONS Subscriptions aE>/n/i R J0 C/ass icIJ y i / STClass * 7 / 1 / 1 ~ C a n a d a

a country journal

<^au men

published cju&rttr/tj bu K F D

i-t. 1, boy f 2 E

EfIcmd,NC

31313

â&#x20AC;¢Summer Solstice Issue. "ROARING FRESH DECISIONS Subscriptions aE>/n/i R J0 C/ass icIJ y i / STClass * 7 / 1 / 1 ~ C a n a d a

Howdy, Can you sissies handle that word, "Howdy”? 1 know that I asked you to let me know If you were going to print ay survey results In RFC, and I'd edit them befor you printed It. But you did and you guys fucked up. Apparently you dldnt read all of It; and when you did reprint part of It, without, ay consents to go along, somehow you did screw up on the point that all the fig ures except the very first grouping were not percent ages. If you add them up you’ll see the figures only total each 50%. Those figures were just plain numbers the number of people in this trip or that out of a to tal of 30. And then the 4 lines of quotes dldnt re late to anything. The one main thing that came out of the survey that you people dont relate to is that no one in the survey gives one iota of shit about the sissie-butch struggle. After reading this last issue I honestly dont know whether to renew ay subscribeion. People trying to survive in the country just don't have time for this political bullshit, unless they are in a commune or a wolf creek type of gay town atmosphere. I did the survey so I could find out how other gaymen survive in the country economically and socially, something RFC rarely touched on. Bluntly decide*who RFD is publishing for; us country faggots trying to survive or you sisters in struggle in the slasle city. Maybe there should be 2 (Two) RFDa, one for country faggots and one for you sissies, who are fantasying about living in the county. __ , ® 1 Steve Clnsburg Mud It tonal comments from Steve Clnsburg; "RFD hsa got to make a choice, either for the sissies In struggle or the manv of us out here in the hills who don't give one fucking shit about the sissie bullshit . . . I think RFD and the single stuff sucks, and sucks ruta bagas . . . if RFD continues to be a vehicle for the 81sate city bullshit I ’ll cancel my subscription.”

...a n d

■RE5 P & 7N S E

Dear Steve, I must ask for you to accept mv apology. I made a mistake, I was unaware that you did not want your survey edited without your input. I can un derstand how you feel blown off/fucked over. I also think that I would like for you to accept some comments I feel compelled to make to help clarify this situation and to hopefully ease some pain for all of us. I am from a rural background, considered myself a slasle way back then and was part of the strong grass roots Midwestern anti-war actions. So I am rural, 1 am a slssle and I am political. (Nuclear power isn’t gonna spare the country by any means.) I hate living in the city sometimea. I much prefer living in the country where T can be at home in the Goddess and goodness. I venerate the country, 1 long to return to it. I also know that living rurally requires a good deal of money and that agribusiness makes it damn hard to earn a living out of farming. So 1 came to the city beeuz money Is necess ary to finance land. And I must trade my time and labor for money. The rate of exchange is much better hare. 1 felt and still feel that the survey la both needed and wanted and also that it deserves to be pub lished. I admit that 1 didn’t fully understand your needs nor did I fully understand the survey. At that point 1 could've communicated with you but life was al so centered around the final days (daze) of RFD. 1 did not and I'm sorry, I believe that we can try and work this out together, I propose publishing your letter to RFD. this r«ponae and the original survey, as one section for the summer issue. Milo has informed this household that by "aome horrendous oversight this letter (yours) was omitted from the last RFD." All this can be clarifi ed . Now how can l touch on the limitations of your survey without you lashing out at me? We, every male one of us was a child who had slaaic thrown at him whenever he did anything that was out of his sex role, therefore NO ONE of us knows what to think about these Issues yet they do exist and In rural settings as well — I did come Out to family, friends and community be fore moving to a "big eity"— long before. What is hap pening is a dialogue and if you don’t give one iota of shit about it, fine, don't read that particular sect ion. I must also say that"non aisaie-identif ied" gay males helped us immensely with putting RFD together, as well as many faggots from the country. We all need to continue to be vulnerable to submit items that are relevant to us, and to where and who we are, W«, all of us-you too-hav# to bluntly decide who RFD is publishing for. Hopefully it it, and can be, a magazine for all of us to have pride in. We can be growing with RFD. trying to keep clarity with and among ourselves. There will be some backlash from the right and middle, even in the country. RFD is a jour nal thru which we can all Share our concerns, our visions, our pains, and our abilities. The composition of the Wolf Creek community has changed quite a lot since RFD days. They have recent ly been fire-bombed after years of continued sporadic harassment. I don't understand that reference becuz I don't have your experience. It simply strikes me as odd. "Sisters" was used in a sexist manner that demeans all of us. In love and struggle and hopefully communication, House (aurora) for RFD # 18 collective Box 51012, NOLA, 70151

CONFERENCE REPORTS c h a p e l h il l

GAY

NAME 0AME ACCLAIM It would hardly be fair to merely delineate the pros and cons of "Gay Name Game". Unfair to to Tom Wilson, to what we are about; we are what the Gay Name Game is about. Running parallel to politics is an equal strand of life, as we are touched. The GNG pulls together many differences, also provides a comic look at ourselves and the rest of the world. Once I saw a t-shirt, with hundreds of Big Names printed in little and varying sizes, list ing, for all the world to see, a culled-from-theanals-of-Ttme, famous homosexuals and lesbians, l.nough people could not have seen that shirt. In similar boldness, the Cay Name Game twirls Alex the Great, Gertrude Stein, da Vinci, and others: writers heros, heroines, and for-some-reason-Knowos, on plea sing scales, finally, for your ears and conscious ness. Your ears have never seen what your eyes have heard. Tom Wilson performed songs from the album at the Tidewater Conference (Norfolk, Va) 26 MAY 79 : his piano is saloonish, he sings along. His rapport with the crowd was tangible. You know, when hear ing Tom, that he is original. His voice is free, around the notes of the piano sometimes. All in all, his vocal qualities lend an interesting aspect to the material he sings. I'd recommend this record. If you can't, don't, or won't buy it, you will be the minus. In hall marks of progression, gay artists are finding viable expression to open more minds with. "It is a sign of the times." Aboveground Records Is a gay company; this is their first offering. I hope there will be many more. They plan to record other gay artists in the near future— maybe If you can get your act together, you can ask them about that, when you put your name(gay or Other-wise) on a check or money order, in an envelope kissed by a stamp. Ask them for Tom Wilson. Through the mails he will come to you. And please understand that you can go and get him your self, on records (and tapes?) at gay bookstores, and places that specialize— one way or Another. I look forward to Tom's next album, having heard this one. He is good, and will get even bet ter with a patina of time. Listen for yourself, Judge with your own mind. Aboveground Records Box 2131 Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 ($7.00 plus 50c postage and handling) Pennsylvania residents, add 6% sales tax.

On the 6th, 7th, and 8th of April, the 4th Annual Southeastern Conference of Lesbians and Gay Men gathered in Chapel Hill, N.C. Approximately 650 people attended this event, which was sponsored by the Carolina Gay As sociation. The conference theme was "Unity through Diversity". Participants focused particularly on our sexist language and the ways we relate to each other. There were 87 different workshops with topics rang ing from "Living in Community" to "Cross Cultural Ap proaches to Homosexuality." Of particular interest to rural gay men were a rural faggots caucus and a life styles discussion on rural faggotry. Workshops titled "Gay Spirituality Movement" and "Remembering Forgotten Dreams:a gay heritage of religious counterculture" fo cused on spiritual matters. One workshop dealt with nuclear power which led to controversy during the final feedback session only days after the Three Mile Island accident. Aloe Community and others ran an all hours (well, almost) coffeeshop. Many groups sold or distributed literature, records, buttons, and other paraphernalia. Dynamite entertainment featured Charlie Murphy (of "Walls to Roses" fame) and Therese Edell in concert with numerous guests. On Friday evening, after a tal ent review show, there was a dance for all participants, where I joined a 30 mile an hour whirling circle in the middle of the floor. Four other individuals from Nashville came with me to the conference. We all went back to Gnashville Sunday evening overflowing with wonderment and great Joy. For me the conference was a personal affirmation. The last men's circle was especially enlightening. We net in the arboretum, right next to some students— men and women who were also playing. They went on with their fun as we did with ours. Jeff Ford

by Michael Mason I have to say, first off, to the people who mas terminded this conference, you really brought it HOME■ And with a relish. It was a good coming toge ther because of the hard work that went into making it so. Hard on you-all, but pleasing and good for us. Thank you. As it was, so many interesting things were hap pening at the same time it was difficult to decide what to go to. If you admittedly couldn't decide, you could spend the quiet time in the products-of-gaycultures room, where there were photographs, books, many wimin's records and different kinds of t-shirts. And other stuff. I do rot know how many people were actually there, there; there were throngs of gay men and lesbians in teracting lovingly at Tidewater Pulse. The confer ence was down so pat that there were childcare facil— ities; there were lots of children around. That felt good*, that there really are numbers of children who are being raised in freer environments who will be mature adults in a more open-minded world someday. There was a great diversity in workshops. I will list a few of these, trying to aim onto a broad plat eau of interests. 'Resistance/Armed Struggle’, "Dial ogue with Feminists and Female Impersonators,’ 'Homo sexuality in the Bible,' ’Black Lesbians - Women,' 'Taking Care of Yourself While Minding the Revolution,' 'Bars, Bookstores, baths' (how to deal with rejection). Out of all this, it's easily seen that society's homo sexuals and lesbians, forever the blackest of sheep, are emerging to each other, as if in building a found ation. Tidewater pointed out to me that yes. we have come this far, but, we are not fools: we know there is still a distance to travel. An overall Love pervad ed the air; gays of both sexes loving, learning, liv ing, lighting. It was a time of light, sharing. Saturday night, we were entertained by the KEH Chorus: a group of very talented wimin, who have work ed up a great act, performing your long-recalled hymns and ballads to some lyrics that will amaze and delight your every sense. Tom Wilson, of 'Gay Name Came' fame, performed also. (See record review, elsewhere this issue.) Afterwards, there was a disco dance. Everyone was kicking and shaking and rattling across the flocr. Fur hours. Beet was a quarter, was well-consumed, in the heat of the fun ar.d frenzy. A particular high point was when a song saying: "We're r.li Family / I got all my sisters with me,” came on. Writhing as we w’ere, together, bumping in to each other, it was true, finally. We are all Family. Tidewater was a memorable time, I'm sure, for all who were there. The theme of the Conference was : 'Bringing It Home' - the Norfolk people set up the structure; it was up to us to actively Bring It Home. The world is coming out of its closet.

MAGNOLIA

Dear RFD,

Dear Friends: Thank you to the people who worked on issue #18, Winter '78. It is one of the most valuable issues yet, and I have them all (except #1 and 2). Thanks again. 1 recently spent 2 weeks in Tampa and southern Florida. I grew up in Oklahoma but haven't been south in years. It was quite a culture shock. The three bars I was in in Tampa were very dressy and had either drag shows or disco contests as main features. I felt very out of place, probably because of my long hair and the overalls I was wearing. Went camping with my daughter around Florida City near the Everglades. Ran out of $$ and picked squash for 2 days. The black farmworkers were the people who were most real to me, especially a young sissie, another butch man with a Jamaican accent and two women who appeared to be lovers: I'll never forget their dignity and beauty and support of each other; those who are lowest on our "social scale" and also no getting around it— queer. Made me more aware of classism in myself and in this U.S. Want to write more and will soon. Love, Madrone Besschild Will Ballard Box 104 Guernewood Park.CA 95446 Fello RFD Folks: To those of you who contributed to RFD #18— thank you and may your lives continue full of love. What I liked in #18 was con cern, action, for some pressing worldly is sues other than "GAY - Gay - Gay: Me - Me Me." This apparent change signals a heal thy change in RFD contributors and, hope fully, readers, and maybe even signals an end to the ego-inflated seventies. We fag gots have a lot to offer the world (exper ience, perspective, action) if we only get out and DO It and not worry so much about ourselves. A special thanks to Brent Ingram. His last paragraph (in the article about Tsutsiat Point) says it well.

Thanx for the last two issues - they really helped bring in the spring. By way of introduction, I'm a 28-year-old Capri corn with (approximately) several goats on a small far® here in northern Vermont, a need to pound the piano a bit every day to keep from going crazy and a sometimes car penter. Right now most of my time is be ing spent organizing a conference for the Natural Organic Farmers Assn. (NOFA) and working on anti-nuke stuff. I'd like to make contact with other gay people around here and especially anyone planning on going to Boston or do ing something in Burlington for Gay Pride Week in June. Also, anyone into the anti nuke struggle. A big hug to everyone working on this issue. Love, araa Hello, box 184a What’s happening? My friend sent me a wolcott, vt 05680 copy of your magazine and 1 really enjoyed it. I thought that you might be able to help me out. Do you know of any gay com munity that puts emphasis on raw live food (sprouts, wheatgrass, etc.) along the line of Vlktoras Kulvinskas' Survival into the 21st Century? If you don't know of any, would you know of any organization that might? Any help that you could give me would be appreciated. Keep up the good work and thanks for your consideration. RFD: Is every issue so nellie? Don't you have any butch guys pushing plows or chas ing cows? Do you have a "want ad" section? I'd like to contact gays who are into horse power, steam-power, wind-power; back-tothe-landers, self-sufficient, back-woodsmen. I live in an Amish community— they have pe culiar customs— such as dating/bundling. Also visiting bachelors are bedded down with the eldest son (I'd never do that— talk about forbidden fruit). But the poor kids are so horny. Enjoyed your survey— some had no electricity, etc. Will the next is sue focus on some young stud farmers?

Sincerely, Dale Wolfe 5321 Canoga Ave. Woodland Hills,CA 91364

Jeff Wetmore 22793 Ireland Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028 Dear Friends at RFD, Please renew my subscription to RFD. Your journal does much to help ease the loneliness up here; the winter is long, gay contact very infrequent. Seems like there could be others of our persuasion in these hills— anyone else out there (north-east Vermont)? love, Don Sunseri rfd W.Glover.VT 05875

Dear RFDers, for some time I've been reading your Journal. i really identified with your spirituality and small town issues, among others. 1 hope that you continue to pub lish and that this contact be Included in your next issue (I worry— 2 weeks after Equinox and still no RFD in my mailbox). I'm your typical case— born and raised in the sticks of western New York. Idyl lic childhood fades to painful social iso lation, and 1 move on to college, coming out and life in the city. I don't hate where I am now, but there is a longing within me to get back to the countryside I love. I am a pagan, nature-oriented person. I try to pay attention to the Creation. When I hike through the gorge to visit a waterfall, or a cluster of pinesap, year after year, I have the additional satisfaction from remembering things that happened here before— there are so many! or remembering stories my father or grand father told me— other things that happened before I was born. I know the fields where the deer con gregate in early spring. I know where to find all the berries, in their season, strawberries to elderberry. I know what smells and sounds to expect, as seasons change. Observance of this progression becomes a spiritual exercise for me, some thing that truly eases my heart. I miss this closeness to the earth, I miss living with the smalltown oral tradition, and so I return every month or two to visit my family. I don’t know any gay people in town— or in the county. The nearest gaybar is 30 miles away. There is no opportunity to meet anybody, gay or straight.' So a non-existing gay community, not to mention inavailability of decent jobs, has so far prevented me from settling in my home territory. In the meanwhile, I'd love to hear from other gay country people, especially those in the Chautauqua and Cattaragus County area. (I'm from Westfield, N.Y.) Don't be alarmed by my 'religious' aspect - I'm just trying to explain what being a West fielder means to me, in its positive sense. I'm hardly a vir tuous person. Of course I enjoy hiking and camping, birdwatching and herb gathering. I'm also a grad-school dropout who's learning French, Spanish, Swedish, and Sign Language. I'm into literature, vegetarian food, do volun teer work for the gay media, and for the Am erindian nations in their struggle for survi val. I enjoy going out to the bars, but I make sure my life consists of much more. So, I close, hoping that RFD is surviving, and will survive. And hoping that if others read this, perhaps I will finally hear from (instead of about) other gay people in Chautauqua County, or any of those other beautiful people out there in RFD-land. With affection, solidarity and good wishes’ Jay Stratton 640 Monroe Avs., #105 Rochester, NY 14607

P.S. Dave Sunseri, I like your contribu tions to RFD, am intrigued by your name are we related?

Growth and Love to You, Kirk Bell P.0. Box 434 Shaw Island, WA 98286

Hi!

Helo and/or love wanted; friend, lover, helpmate and visit0rs too for farm and me in Gold Rush Country of California near Placerville, 3 hours east of San Francisco. Wild and tame animals. Forest, fruit, flowers and lake. I'm 35, longhair, beard, head, Aries. Steve Ginsburg, Peppermint Parsley Farm Box 79, Mt. Akum, Ca. 95656

oyy\ ^ \

e./ c\ a yr\j

And no sissies please.

Dear friends and lovers, farmers, heal ers, brothers and sisters everywhere: In response to Stacy Brotherlover who wrote Sissie Networking in RFD's Win ter issue, it is a dream of mine to share the land which I love, and which, in a very real sense, I am married to. The Dharma Farm, which is a native American herbfarm and yogi yogadham as well as be ing a centre for world community, is lo cated on an island three miles off the coast of Maine. I want more faggots to visit me, and I want to feel free to vis it sister and brother faggots, especially ones who live in the city. I have no chau vinism for either city or country life. It takes some of both to balance me. I need this contact to help keep me open in every way - to help me live in radical understand ing of myself as a queer and to grow thru a process of total self-acceptance - (to pro claim the magic). 1 also want to laugh a lot. A good sense of humor is the next best thing to love. The Dharma Farm is a beautiful environ ment, with woods and bay, gardens to work in, lots of time to play. It is a real asylum in nature, it is a place of real healing — in harmony with nature a person learns easily to channel chaos into creativity. Loneliness does not exist on the Dharma Farm, either, altho' there is always time and space to be alone. The facilities are primitive - no elec tricity in the house. A sauna will be working soon. The Dharma Farm needs people with all kinds of skills— sewing, carpentry, basket weaving, anything that is real and contributes to the simple beauty of living on the earth. Wherever you are, if this sounds good, then let me hear from you. Thanx again to Stacy Brotherlover for urging this communication. Thank you, RFD, for your beautiful work. With Love, Darrell Rolerson The Dharma Farm Isleboro, Maine 04848

It was a houseboat. Dark, and damp with small win dows running along one side. I'd crawl to the window in the morning and watch the tourist boat churn up the trash as it cruised the canal. The boat would rock a bit, as if to reassure me it was still afloat. Kerosene fumes still lingered from the night before; one lamp hung in the main room - a long, low space with matt resses along the wall and another platform three feet above that, and one lamp in the piss room; a bucket kept from view by a piece of blanket tacked to the rafters. When my feet would walk no more or the rain demanded one take cover or my mind Just began to melt, home I'd scurry to my blue and orange sanctuary, always a bit surprised to find it still there. Up top, there were three cushy padded armchairs that soaked up the rain and gave off a warm musty smell in the sun, as they slowly rotted into the deck. Down the hatch into a world so unlike those cute trolley cars that turned In the middle and the well-kept shops and houses above ground. Past the two Moroccans (I think) on the bottom level and that Swiss kid with the cowboy boots. Up top, Texas, Tennessee, Boston and Florida and down at the far end was a group of young Germans. I still remember that young German boy. He'd give me a smile so full of Joy, asking me in as if he'd had his arms outstretched. How many times we passed and never touched, neither quite ready to know that language was no barrier to what we wanted to share. What a perfect place to have really cut loose. So we hit the beer factories and the muse ums and the pickled herring stands. And many pleasant hours spent in an obscure teahouse; down an alley to an unmarked door with a red light over it. Inside, a bright room covered with old Oriental rugs, a neverending supply of Jasmine tea (my favorite since) and banana bread. People talking, smoking, singing - a gentle,open space. Now, I sit on top of a hill in a cabin with no road to it with more years, a bit more boldness, a longer list of things to do in this life, still frustrated, still afloat. There's a strong smell in the kitchen from the turnips just picked and the moon is a crystal white ball tonight. As I sit here like Noah waiting for the flood, I know now that I like to sing, touch people a lot, feel my own strength, and never quite know what I'll do to morrow. Its heaven and hell here on earth, my own gay rollercoaster. , aram box 184a hanuman hill wolcott, vt 05680

We are a group of Iowan* transposed to San Francisco and want to enter a float in the Gay Freedom Day Parade June 24th o f '79. Vh need to locate a tracjujr. We will wear bib overalls and straw hats. Maybe we can advertise RFD In some way also (or maybe hand out copies?) RFD started out in my attic in Iowa City, Iowa. Please let me know if there la a tractor near S.F. that we might use (just a tractor). That will be enough as it Is ao uncommon for a city person to sec a real live tractor here. m , Thanks, Ken Bunch 272 Dolores San Francisco,CA 94103

Hello RFD, I'm relieved! And I'm encouraged! Being gay in a straight culture was bad enough, but I also thought that I was the only gay man In the world who wanted to spend his life homestead-farming. It was an isolating feeling. But, through find ing RFD, I now know that I am not a oneof-a-kind (freak), but that 1 have broth ers. Hurray! I am subscribing, here Is ray $6 . I would like to hear from other Christian gay men who are on the land to be in touch with their experience. But I especially want to hear from soaeone/s who can help me find a working-learning experience with a good mason. Building with stone and brick is one of the skills which I want to master before I look for ray own connection with the land. I am working now with an electrician, and would be open to any sort of labor trading, or communal living ar rangement for the gaining of some practi cal experience (masonry, farming, etc.) I have evolved, and am trying to prac tice in ray life, a sort of radical pacifistic-anarchism; and I look forward to the continuing struggle to forge a new order where men and women are free and encouraged to grow and love and build, as this old or der of competition,hate and destruction collapses in on itself. The diversity of RFD is important, and t never want to become so critical that I forget its value as a means of contact for otherwise isolated people. Maintaining a broad spectrum of readers, and a wide ex posure, are worthwhile goals in themselves, regardless of specific content. Then, the addition of a stimulating 3nd constructive content will make RFD a strong tool for the future. Grow in love and strength. Kip Smith 1314 V. University Urbana, IL 6180l'

J*7 °

BUTTERFLY SEASON

DMT IP.IKG THE TRIBAL KNOT — or MACRAKE MADE EASY ______or HOW I LEAKNED TO TIE MY OWN SHOELACES

Spring and butterfly season comes. Since my greening, I've loved the hunt;

STEP #1 Cut

Seeking and finding your fragile sunlit beauty.

L , . ,, c strands of line and fold each In halt.

With a net of song, steel and silk

1 capture and carry you home.

t remember tielng the tribal knot. It was a coming together from right and left. A wanting to be together. A need to be together. A very exciting time.

Anxious and aching, I spread you out beneath me And gently unfold each kaleidoscopic wing.

1 love your soft resistance, To feel you fluttering in my hands;

STEP #2

The rainbow powder on my fingertips. Loop each strand over the holding cord and pull.

With one Joyful, searching thrust, you're pinned And we shudder our vulnerability together.

And in my wanting to be together, I pulled the knot tighter.

I feel you die, writhing and moaning, Share your frenzy and die myself, a bit.

STEP n _ . Place an overhand knot at each end of your doubled strands.

Blessed spring, both hope and proof of life; What crazy cycle makes me love you even more in death?

And In my need to be together, I pulled the knot even tighter.

Thomas H. Gough___ q

STEP #4 Place the far right at rand over the far left strand and loop it back. And before I knew it, the tribal knot was ao tight, So together, That I had lost eight of where I had come from. STEP #5 If you find that you have tied your strands into an unwanted knot; simply reverse the process and untie the knot by going back to start. And in time I found that untieing the tribal knot involved Reversing the process of coming together. A getting back to the basics of my own life; A return tc the challenges of growth and change within MYSELF. A closer look at MF. and how I relate to those around me. Those I love. I'll have more time for tieing the tribal knot after I ve learned how to tie my own shoelaces. G.B.

VAi.-ING-TUNC

-0

flowet s of evil

(> A SOLAR HEATED SHOWER

you will say you remember me on that last of when froze” stutter through the ice. you will say motion is between us, that vears of speaking to and for each other has its boundaries, word^or meaning or symbol discernible in the ^ Ure beyond our^ain or invisible hatred of departure and that we are its c P ■ i have the odor of your lips next to my eyes implanted in weeds of discontent and wiregrass. i cast off the weig c o h your odor spins into my heart, the ice forces my bands into an arch, a yogic tempo of pleasure goes through them. 1 forget odors and figures i forget the seething power of hatred the seething powe of blueblack wounds and the rush of blood to the temples, our j u y are perilous...but my vapors are mixing with the inf

deep pol# stand, 4 by 8* support warm water tank, snake-like piping on tin root.

Jeffery Beame

Jubal flushes thick grey beard A massive muaclea.

a final

crotch tick check,

towel dry.

tour-cente-a-foot piping leaks on second day'

no showers tonlte—

solar or veathervise.

CORD l

In The T-adltions of Her Fathers

-0

Old Crow is older than the People of the Brown Huts. Older than Manu the Shaman. Oldei than Manu'a father (Some whisper she is older even than Menu's great-grandfather); all of Manu's family have been Shaman to the People of the Brown Huts. Old Crow is older than that. 2. Each morning, sec Old Crow in the cornfields; Old Crow listens to the corn. She knows what the cornfields know. Old Crow sings for rain with her voice that is deep like a bottomless well you have dropped a stone Into: you wait for the stone to sound bottom; you know it will not.... Old Crow's voice is like that. The rain comes and even Manu is impressed. Old Crow owns two eyes. One eye is green, the other brown: her green eye is like a green stormcloud tumbled by the broom of the wind; her brown eye is like the desert beyond the long mountains.... Old Crow looks Into the past and the future. Her eyes are mirrors; if you look into them, you will see your past, your future. Leisha is the prettiest girl in the village. She will not look into Old Crow's eyes.

Jean

LaBelle

-0

The

Kid

kid was chasing pigeons at a hamburger place on a sunny July day. his father came along and picked him up by one arm and dragged him to the umbrella covered table. he threw a piece of hamburger bread crust to the pigeons when his father went away to get napkins.

Xf* Porto

LIVING

David

(EYES OPEN)

Gerry

A QUIET EVENING AMONG THE LEAVES OF GOLD AND BRONZE GUILDED ON THE EDGES WITH SAPPHIRES ON BLUE VELVET. THOUGHTS OF OLD FRIENDS PRICEI F.SS AND SO RARE COME TO MIND LIRE SILK RIBBONS FLOWING ASTROLOGY Q

( untitled )

EARLY OZONE MORNING MET WITH FIELDS OF NEW-MINED SILVER LAID ON THE FOREST EDGE OF CARPET

Q Oh stars you weave a scheme delight Of lovers and life we dream tonight

one firm stroke draws a

ne blast forced a floor through

FEELINGS OF LOVE ARE ON ME ONCE AGAIN THE TASTE OF FRESH APRICOTS QUINCHED WITH PEACHES

Yet through your skies, black holes excite

sinkfull.

So I strive evermore, to become the light.

the roof, Q

John Greenwell

so much to overJEFFERY LEE FORD

Don

Sur.seri

VICARIOUSLY

O—

— 0

T fell In love, vicariously, When

Mystery talked to me

In word. my neighbor Richard got While sunning «< a public dock. He brought home words and rhapsodies. Of what h i s heart did, and his knees, When Romeo came In t-shirt and jeans To talk about romance so hot and obscene. And here In the living room, attentive to his words 1 lean closet to Richard, have I heard all I have heard?

TWINS

Romeo, Romeo, second-hand romance, a woman glistens my bloodstream I took it when 1 had the chance. like sun on open fields of my back

At Richard’s house, his ecstasy

she lightens my blood

Rubs off like a school - girl giggle on me.

redirects the light into my eyes

I fell in love with Romeo's look, Thinking about the strength it took.

I remember the girl

Giggling with Richard revealing it to me:

wandering knee deep in mud

I fell in love, vicariously.

searching for colors in the sand Michael Red I tasted the night we were born White

the winter she reeled In me

Black

arena of thumbnailed stones

a twin lives in me talks to me at night she sings whispers and sings. Patrick Hammer Jr.

■ kC \

The perfume of violets Is so quiet it must be carried by the wind's soft tongue when In one perfect moment the sighs of hundreds of violets the delicate stir of an afternoon breeze commingling in the air I breathe coax my synchronicity q

Frank Abbott Spring 1979

NUCLEAR REALITIES, i w o t Those of us uorKing on the current RPP found this article to be very import ant are! appropriate.' The a u t h o r , Kathy fire, is a lesbian cultural worker (singer i composer) is well as m anti-nuclear activist and agitator. Part II of this article will appear when she has enough money to print it. Your do nations ars solicited. Per address appears on page S. jhs ieeue of nuclear power affects all of us, no matter where we live; the spectre of radioactive disaster threatens all life on the planet. Cur layout headquarters is in a little old log cabin up in a beautiful holier. ~’e have electricity here, a necessity for a typewriter of this kind. We h u m precious few watts, but we are tied in to TVA’s nuclear expansion program nonetheless. We are in the heart of an area destined for development, exploitation, and internal colon isation. This drive will be fueled by nuclear power. The movement to stop the nukes is underway all around the planet; lesbians and gay men will be in the forefront.

I teach a high school class at Exploring Family School entitled "Issues of Power." The subject matter frequently centers in on the nuclear industry: the dangers of waste”disposal, transportation, plant safety, military uses, and the long range social impact of modern nuclear technology and its inevitable entan glements In global military and intelligence networking. This week I'm showing the class films— one on a 1955 atomic bomb exploded and filmed in Nevada as one part in the long and continuing history of military nuclear testing.1 It. depicts the devastation left by Just one atomic bomb, a bomb miniscule by comparison to present day thermonuclear devices. Houses built on the flat open desert were made of a variety of materials wood, brick, rein forced concrete, etc. Mannequins were positioned all over the "set," the scene of what was soon to be a totally wrecked real life-sized "toy" town. The bomb is detonated, the blinding flash of heat thousands of degrees in all directions is followed in an instant by the tremendous blast of the explosion which oblit erates homes over a mile away.

The Harteville Nuclear Plant, shown here as it will appear when completed, will be the largest such facility in the world. The plant is now under construction 42 miles northeast (upstream) from Nashville, Tennessee. We are reminded that this is a small atomic bomb, and in the wreckage we are shown among other debris that the pattern on the dress of one of the mannequins ha* curiously tattooed itself onto the underclothes. The men congratulate them selves aver ,md over, the music rises, the U.S. emblem appears on the screen and the film end* triumphantly. One male student, a visitor from another class tells me that seeing the slim has changed his whole attitude about nuclear power and he could no longer be in favor of it. I am wondering if be will view the films 1 show tomorrow, , Tomorrow I an showing two films on the effects on human life and pjoperty al ter the August 6th bombing of Hiroshima and the double bombing of the civilian populations of Nagasaki three day* later on August 9th, 1945.a They are gruesome films, t am not requiring that any student sit through more of the graphic reall*m titan they feel they can stomach. 1 am not showing the films to be gruesome. I am showing them because 1 feel that they need to be shown. I feel that it is important that: each of us know* what men with atomic and other nuclear weapons have done in their insanity to other living human beings and what our present day nuclear weapons are capable of doing many times over at any moment of any day. In the beginning w# ar» shown the landscapes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, areas that bear a strong resemblance to our own local geography. Then in an Instant, not one timber remains. In Nagasaki, a totally gratuitous carnage in the first place, we ar. told that the bombs "roUsed" their intended military Installation target and wiped out enormous civilian populations. In addition to the thousands who of course died instantly, wt are shown the many thousands more who linger on for two weeks, four weeks, two months with terrible variations of radiation sick ness and who die agonizing deaths and suffer profound depressions and psychic trauma. We see vtmin whose bodies have received the "curious" permanent tattoo of the clothe* pattern*, they were wearing at the time of the explosion, burned into their akin*. babies, wlmin, youngster*, animals, vegetation, no living thing escapes the senseless military rape of the land and life. Throughout the entire film, I have the distinct impression that aside from the purported military "nr .essity*' and accompanying patriotic Idiocy, that what we are actually viewing is the brutal and calculated military medical experiment designed to tent the effects of ionizing radiation on living flesh. Historians would convince us of the moral Imperative and patriotic military duty we had to kill massive populations of human beings who were depicted in U.S. propaganda aa being non-white (l.e. "sub-human”) "dirty japs. But still, the entire tone oi these old films is that of an observation, a documentation, of the results of an exciting experiment. Certainly that is the only rational ex planation for the superfluous bombing of Nagasaki, even if you could twist out a logical explanation for the bombing of Hiroshima. To cloud responsibility, the voice over spouts continuous euphemistic absurdities such aa And three da.,s la ter a second and more devastating tragedy visited Nagasaki"— as if it were some act of god instead of the evil action of godless men that it was and continues to be. I hope that the students will sit through the showing of these films because I want them to see this evil and know it in their souls and despise it and be outraged by it. The hyper-patriotic loyal tv of the mid-forties that was con doned and encouraged by our government included concentration camps for Japan ese- Americans in this (California) and other slates in addition to the common practice of strict curfews and the outright confiscation of property and monies and businesses of Japanese-Aaerleans, On the domestic scene, we now know that the radioactive nuclear fallout from , 1 the testing in Nevada 15-20 year* ago travelled as pinkish-red clouds in air currents over southern Utah where residents are now experiencing a 240a increase In leukemia and cancer .3 447 cancer victims and their relatives have filed for hundreds of millions of dollars in d a m a g e s against the Dept, of Energy, with many more claims expected in the near future. These people who trusted in cue assurances of complete safety by the Atomic Energy Commission would sit on their rooftops to watch the strange clouds pass by while parents delighted in holding geiger counters against their children to see the funny jumping needle. The history of nuclear technology is one of arrogance, deceit, destruction, insanity, fraud, conspiracy ant- death. That men revel in its purity lends fur ther credence to the notion that nuclear technology provides the ultimate toys for the ultimate boys. On April 21, 1979, we learned that there was a fire at the San Onofre nuclear facility in 1968 that was kept from public knowledge.*’ In thAt same day's news we learn that the slogan "Keep the people confused about (nuclear) fission and fu sion" was the official communique of president Eisenhower to the Atomic Energy Commission throughout, his administration.7 The extent to which the citizens of the world have been deceived by the political and industrial profiteers of nu clear technology illustrates the most profound network of corruption, corporate greed and military insanity in recorded history.

It was just last year (and only by mistake) that the public gained the know ledge that a nuclear waste disposal site blew up killing thousands of people and contaminating a thousand square miles in the southern Urals region of Russia at the Kyshtym facility in 1958.® Our C.I.A. and the Atomic Energy Commission knew of it at the time, but buried the story so our own rush to build nuclear tech nology would not receive public questioningS The contaminated soil in Russia, bulldozed into fenced-in "graveyards" is growing huge mutated vegatation; preg nant wimin are encouraged to seek therapeutic abortions, and there are signs along the road that tell all drivers to drive through the area at top speed with windows tightly rolled up .'0 The only similar kind of commercial waste disposal that ever operated in the United States was at West River, N.Y. After ten years of faulty operation, it has been abandoned as a total loss, leaving behind 660,000 gallons of highly ra dioactive nuclear waste plus two million cubic feet of solid radioactive waste in leaking containers strewn over thousands of acres." U.S. taxpayers must give 1.1 billion dollars to the clean-up operation.a The horror of West Valley does not end here. Local birth defects and instances of cancer and leukemia are well above the national average. For ten years, the standard procedure was to gather up the local unemployed teenagers, transients, bar patrons, college students and other "expendable" human beings to work at the plant for fifteen seconds to thirty minutes. These "fresh bodies", as they were referred to, were hired to do the dirty work, exposing themselves to highly radioactive materials. In policy, they were not to be rehired for "safety" reasons, but in practice many were re-hired daily and never warned of the consequences/3 To my way of thinking, such behavior is criminal. As the nature ard mentality of the nuclear beast becomes clearer, it too be comes all the more hair-raising to comprehend that the Nuclear Regulatory Com mission (NRC) inspects only one to five per cent of the safety related activities in each nuclear plant and that the rest is left up to the honesty of the indiv idual utilities and their contractors.'^ Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS) are the single most crucial link be tween a malfunction and a meltdown. In 1970, the Aeroject Nuclear Company ran tests on six ECCS models and every test failed. To this day there is no scien tific test data to show that ECCS is a reliable system.'r Every nuclear plant in the country lias all of their cables, including the back-up cables, in the room beneath the control room. There can be and have been fires in this area that can paralyze the entire facility. One of the worst cases of this type of accident happening was at the Browns Ferry facility near Athens, Ala. in 1975. A worker who was looking for a leak with a candle (incredibly, this was standard procedure) set fire to the entire cable system and completely wiped out the ECCS And the four other backup systems.'4* A small hydraulic pump, never intended to pump huge amounts of water, averted a very near total meltdown. Fires are not uncommon. One record, not even the worst one available, is the 200 fires at the Rocky Flats nuclear facility in Colorado, not counting those in the last five years .'6 This site is the sole U.S. manufacturer of plutonium trig gers for the neutron bomb/'* As of 1974, they have had 171 plutonium contamination cases,?°and plutonium Is showing up in human tissue of the local population. In 1976 alone there were 861 "abnormal events" at nuclear reactors, 371 of which were potentially hazardous.” There have been 250 truck accidents involving nuclear wastes just between 1971 and 1977.'33 In one incident in 1977, three horses ran in front of a truck which crashed, spilling 10,000 pounds of radioactive uranium concentrate over a five thousand square foot area, in some places a foot deep.2* Twenty-six of the estimated sixty people who stopped and waded through this material known as "yellowcake" were eventually informed a week later that they should take a shower. Exxon debated for three days whether they would even take the responsibility for the cleanup, but eventually they agreed to, saying an unskilled labor crew would help cut costs. This was even too corrupt for the state officials who insisted that they hire trained health experts. It was a week before anyone from the NRC showed up. Other nuclear (newkiller?) accidents include the three plutonium bombs the U.S. accidentally dropped on Spainffnuclear waste that fell off a Delta Airlines towcart and spi l l e d t h e underground nuclear test that is believed to have touch ed off the earthquake in Iran this past September that killed 16,000 people, and currently, of course, we have the 47,000 fifty-five gallon drums of leaking nu clear waste thirty miles west of San Francisco Bay. Nobody wants to clean lt up, so in the meantime the radioactivity is leaking into the bay area's major fishing grounds every day and there are three foot mutant sponges attaching themselves to the outsides of the leaking drums .*1 ( The Rockwell Corporation, suppliers of a good deal of our government s mili tary hardware, owns the nuclear facility at Hanford, Washington. This site has leaked 422,000 gallons of radioactive liquid nuclear wastes into the ground, which^ threatens to contaminate the Columbia River, the major water source for the regioiH Remember Karen Silkwood?*1 Well, the same company, Kerr McGee hired 100 Navajo men to mine uranium at their Cove, New Mexico site.” From breathing in the radio active radon gases, 45 have developed malignant cancer tumors and 25 have already died from the cancer they received.» The survival rate for this type of cancer

Kerr McGee mines more uranium than anyone else in the world, and, like Mobil and Exxon, they are doing so at the expense of Navajo peoples whose lands and people are relentlessly exploited and left contaminated by the waste products which are never removed from their lands. Kerr McGee has left 71 acres of radio active nuclear wastes at one abandoned mill site alone at Shlprock, where the largest number of Navajo people now live3'” These wastes, which have been left un treated and exposed to the elements, sit sixty feet from the San Juan River, which supplies water for Che people, livestock and agriculture. From this site, Kerr McGee moved to another area of the reservation where they have already built the largest uranium production mine in the world with two more under construction. There are people living in hundreds of homes, schools and churches in Grand Junc tion, Colorado that were accidentally built with radioactive waste materials left over from uranium mining .16 Such "accidents" are not the only cause for concern. In 1961, the NRC docu mented a murder-suicide at the nuclear reactor near Idaho Falls involving a plant worker who deliberately pulled the control rods out of the reactor s core, kill ing and causing the dismemberment of himself and two other men in the explosion. "There was a love triangle consisting of two of the operators and ^he wife of one of the men," explained NRC assistant director Dr. Stephen Handuer. Machines will always be vulnerable to sabotage, and the people who operate the machines will al ways be fallible beings.

GAV5

BLRCK HILLS NATIONAL

A G A I N S T 7N> U K E 5

G a t h e r in g Qf th tfto p iE

l^Htor's Note: The following ie the text of a leaflet distributed at the Seahrook Snoanpment in .W last eumer. Clams hell Allianae, an antinurlear artisans group, erganised the enaampment to express op position to the i'roposed Seabrook Nuc lear Power Plant.

A dependable water supply is obviously essential to the operation of any nu clear facility. However, the nuclear reactor near Palo Verde, Arizona is getting its water piped in from fourteen miles away/*® This desert area is being called "the country's first nuclear park" with plans to build four more plants in the same "park." In her book Nuclear Madness, Helen Caldicott tells us about the two senior military men who fly around continuously over Phoenix, Arizona in eight hour shifts/11 They each hold a key which must be inserted simultaneously into a tech nical device to initiate nuclear war. And then there's the two guys on the tri dent nuclear submarines who have to pull levers simultaneously to ejaculate nu clear missiles. They each have a gun to shoot the other one should one of them go berserk. Thirty of the men who have held this position have teen declared emo tionally unstable and dismissed It really is a madness, a sort of massive criminal Insanity. World govern ments spend twice as much on armaments as on health cere?3 Half of all U.S. scien tists are employed by the military industrial complex.^ Military research gets more public funds than all social needs c o m b i n e d T h i s year, firt.-r Increased the military budget by $ 2.2 billion to a record high of $124 billion while he cut social and domestic budgets by $15 billion.^ Secretary of Energy lames Schleslnger has called for a speed-up in nuclear plant construction f j. In what must be the sale of the century, Brazil con tracted to buy eight nuclear reactors from West Germany for $20 Billion, or one sixth of their entire CNP?*Brazil has sufficient hydroelectric |'vf V ^ power to see it through to “■ 1 the next century and nuclear produced electricity will cost three times moreT* The n one plant they have now was built by Westinghouse and TT'> it's literally cracking up ?0 Also, two nuclear plants in 4 a. l West Germany are similarly falling apart, and, all 4 things considered, Brazil is There** n o t a u n y lr d o c u m e n te d beginning to talk of reduc ing their order to six or maybe two, but maybe more if Argentina follows through on its announcement to build their own nuclear plants in the near future. The name of this game is called "Nuclear power means the capability for manufacturing nuclear bombs." To give bomb production some perspective, consider that the total of all bombs exploded in WWII equals 3.1 megatons.3’' The total of all the bombs dropped in Indochina from 1965 to 1973 equals 6.5 megatons?* We currently have 50,000 megatons of bombs in the world?5 The U.S. has many bombs that have a 25 megaton capacity each. Yet we build more bombs daily. The mistakes have been many, the wisdom sparse, the amount of integrity negligible, the outright lies and criminal neglect beyond credibility in scope, and I for one, do not sleep soundly because of it. It is frightening to realize that we probably only know a very small percentage of what has actually been done, is being done, and is being planned for decades to come. By the way, did you know that the Union of Concerned Scientists in Cambridge, Mass, recommended the shut down of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Facility near Harrisburg, Pa. for safety reasons two months before it became the site of the worst known U.S. commercial nuclear plant accident so far?5? It is possible that at this juncture in history, the construction of com mercial nuclear plants may cease all together for purely economic reasons. Uranium has jumped from $8 to $45 a pound becoming a costly fuel source?^the cost of building a reactor in 1980 will be 2002 of the cost of building one in 1978, poor construction and frequent shutdowns have run up costs into the bil lions, public outcries over cost and safety are beginning to take effect, and the Overall cost of energy output has run 202 higher than the cost of coal and other energy sources?7 Only two orders for the construction of nuclear plants have been contracted for 1979, and many of the ones previously contracted have been cancelled.58 The end of the construction of new commercial nuclear reactors would be a tremendous victory, but in reality we must remember that military nuclear plants are much larger and much more dangerous to us all and will not even by affected by such a victoryP In the end, it is not the nuclear plants that threaten to extinguish our lives but the mentality of the people who profit from nuclear po wer, and who value profit over life every time. When it comes down to the cur rent reality of the nature of men and their pursuit of power and profits, rape energy will often run even out of their own control.40 Perhaps nuclear examples are the most potentially devastating we have to date. However, such corrupted mentality and criminally immoral actions are the inev itable and repeatedly demonstrated conclusions of man's worldwide corporate greed and his insane and unending quest for "death defying" powers that Insure increas ing devastation. If the planet and all life on it is to survive, this rapist in all his forms will have to be subdued.

(T x

/ T

'" W .

-a peaceful <^a.ther\r\^ i walk into

On June 17, we carried our banner "Gays Against Nukes" in the Gay Pride march through downtown Boston, and we have brought the same banner here to Seabrook. Why? SEXISM AND ENVIRONMENTALISM — The danger of nuclear power to this society is apparent to all of us here at Seabrook, but we urge each of you to think about what kind of a society this will be if Anita Bryant and the growing for ces being mobilized by a powerful, weal thy and disturbingly popular right-wing continue to mount up victories. The referenda rescinding gay rights laws in Miami, St. Paul, Wichita and Eugene are scary historical events, no less so than America's continued insistence on nuc lear power. Our iuvolvement in the gay liberation and no-nukes movements are in extricably linked for one simple reasonour survival as human beings depends on the success of both movements. Non-gay people have done little to support the gay movement — a fact that sometimes makes us angry and bitter, especially as we live in a rural area far from the sup portive gay community (we don't like ghettoes and we do like trees.'). It is no accident that the views of right-wing militants like Anita Bryant and Meldrim Thompson (the governor of New Hampshire at the time) dovetail on so many Issues. Loyalty to a patriarchal system of values is the common root cause of male chauvinism, the exploitation of workers, the colonization of dark-skinned peop les, the rape of the environment, and the Clamshell Alliance owes much of its success to the anti-sexist consciousness that has helped it resist demands— most ly from ego-tripping men— toward latesixties macho-style violent confront ations, centralism, and political dogma tism. This nexus between environment alism and feminism is nonetheless weak and must be strengthened. We must ex plore the connection between the rapist, the authoritarian father, the wife-beat er and the fag-baiter on the one hand, and on the other hand, those who seek to dominate nature with overly complex "mad scientist" technology, the wasteful con sumption of natural resources, the con tempt for "lesser species", and the idea that "men" and their machines will al ways provide a solution to everything. ANTI-GAY ATTITUDES IN THE ANTI-NUC LEAR MOVEMENT -- Overt hostility to gay people within the Clamshell All lane, has not been apparent to us, though w. don't doubt that there mav be some instances of this, and certainly subtle anti attitudes do exist. GAY INVISIBILITY — There's a gn liberation button that says "How dare you assume I'm heterosexual?" Gay men and lesbians make up about 10 percent of the population; approximately 10 percent of the people here at Seabrook are stay. Most gay people, even today after nearly 10 years of gay activism, do not feel free to be open about their sexuality, even in supposedly "liberated" environ ments such as this encampment. The pre sumption of universal heterosexuality Is a weapon in the arsenal meant to keep us Isolated, alienated, frightened and op pressed. We are told that sexual pref erence Is a private matter that it does n't have to be brought up here, yet open affection by heterosexual couples and soclallzimr in a heterosexual context are commonplace here, while gays are supposed to remain Invisible. Allen Young and Dennis Helmus Millers River Ospreys Affinity Group Butterworth Farm RFI) #2 Orange, Massachusetts 01364

P.O. QOX A508 RRPlD env, S. D. 511W g o s - i i Q - s m — * coalition of Indian rw«.Indian peof»t ion—..nxed to And *topf>ir\q d«ytruet.nc rwdf*r cijclfc•

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTS: ** The Black Hills region of South Da kota, Montana and Wyoming is a "NA TIONAL SACRIFICE AREA." ** Nuclear Energy begins with URANIUM mining. ** Uranium mining and milling consti tute one of the largest health haz ards of the nuclear cycle. ** Over 50% of all uranium Is on Native lands. ** Only 10% of the uranium In the Grants Mineral Belt of New Mexico has been mined. Already many miners are dead— much land and water permanently de stroyed . ** The Black Hills region of the Upper Great Plains is rich In uranium de posits. ** More than 70 polluting coal fired power plants are planned for the western slope of the Black Hills. ** More than 25 multi-national corpo rations are preparing to e.xplolt approximately one million acres of the Black Hills. ** The water Is expected to be gone In 35 years. A desert will remain! ** The Black Hills have always been •acred to tha Native People*. ** The Black Hill* are a beautiful, 2 billion year old formation, guaran teed to Native Peeplea 'forever' by the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty. ** If we are to atop the mikes, we muat do it hers— at tin beg inning--NOW. The gathering will begin Friday in Ra pid City, SD. Contact the Black Hills Alliance for endorsements, support and details. Financial contributions are important to the success of this event.

footnotes

2 8 . N*,k 1 *5| t K*4 ar»*os, o p . t i t . , p . 5P I b l4 . 1. " O p eration Cm " — Do p t . o f Energy (DOR) 2 . "Tha M ed ical t l f w n o f th * A to n ic "Atm i t I W U f J K> " t o d lo t lorn P p i l l or H *n l»r4i Tb* A n * * n Ac c 1 4 * M . m «o | , 1 8 1 , n o ■ 4J01 „ f - 7 4 , A n * r ir * n kom orlo r .Io n fo r tb o AdC a*e*," ) . *A F a llo u t o f N u c le a r F * a r ," I I m , 3- U - 7 9 ; ^ a l U v e - l lt»**d 11. " f l u l lU a m M A ff * lr : f* c*** U n r * * * i l n p P o y w r , C ancer Major itorry in U ta h .'* “tT .> .! . " U u k e n ia U -U -7 8 R ep ort* t e e a * l e d , H Beaton C lo b » , 1 1 -1 8 -7 1 12. "VroHU** M iftln f," A l^ u t T U » . S*» f r s v l « o , 2 - 7 f 13. "Nx«ri«*r T •c n n o lo g y P ut* k * v * 3o« in by Winton* Loftuko 5- 1*44. Wo or I g ar4 4 . “P u b lic Wot To 14 o f M r* a t San 't n o f r e ," tj»» O.tegg, U - ? 7 . I b id . U v . l l . b U In r e p r in t f r o * f.EAB, t o * 3 ) 8 * 8 . S*o R l4 - 2 1 -7 * * f « , C ol . 8 7 1 0 1 ) 7. K W i-U Nav* R adio 4 -2 1 -7 P and L-A^ TU yr#, 4 - 2 2 -7 * 6 . "The N u clear D I m *t o r They f ti& S rt t o T o ll You About,** l7< $•!’ 0 ‘ ?A‘ U 3 - I A - 7 P , *n4 UApced p ta b l* »f.pit. o p . t i t . R e q u ir e , 4 - /S - 7 * I f . "C ovntdovn t o No 11 Aovn,* ! » » « N o jo . b*v Y ork , J-JO -78 Ho N u cioor **oa»s, 1 1 - 7 8 , C*i*bT id ** No**. 10* lb 14 1 1 . “TJ,S. A gre** t o Share C leanup Goat at F a ll* # IhwHaat F a c i l 4 t . Muciaa r yCdiur**, o p . a t . , p . w 4 2 . Fran o op«*<K by Ht I m C a id ir o c t «?* 1 -J 8 -7 P in fa n & l**e i t y V p s t t t * / Xov York T i m * , 1 1 -2 5 -7 * * 1 . I b e U g r H *d**o£, o p . e l l . p . 78 44. I b id . U . l4 K |M f ModfHTMi. H elen C o ld l c o c t , Aetwon f r e e * , 1 3 ? ! , 4 5 . I b id . brook 1 l o o , Mans. p. %o 4 4 . "C art*r Add* 1 7 .2 I I I U m f o r 8 t r * t # * i c m o « i l * * , w f i t l y 1 4 . “A to n ic S a f e ty P ro f tub to A s e a lle d by ftc { e f t t i a t * , ’’ ftpjitoo 1 1 - 1 7 -7 # Glo b * , i l - 2 6 - 7 8 ; «n4 ' V ) m t * e g u la t© r y C o m l M lo r : Dr? 4 7 . For m ere In fo m a t Io n , th o Unitf* o f Co«c*r«Md fc c lTour Own I n a p e c t lo g ,** Gu a r d i* * . 1 0 - 4 -7 $ t a t l r t r In U M b rld **, H***. 1 5 , "Bov On* U t i l i t y (PCAE) H ypes fb*e lo * r P t v o r kempt r f t . * # . " A r o f t l'o 8 u « U « r P t M » U t C*rm*»y « •* f o l d f t a 120 A -74 ; “C oun t4ovo t o Malt, dow n," Ur n , 1 - 3 0 - 7 9 , srul M l H o n VH it* R U p b a n t," f}; . L » u i« Pont M o p a u b , l l - # - 7 8 t r e f e r e n c e in go g u c le a r * e v * , 1 l - T ^ r V M t f f l t a M i l t * k * 8 . I b id . by O lo o n , i t f C p • 12 5 0 . T%* i e t a r r r o * . p c r a p a c t i o * 19 w orth t r y in g t o f o llo w . lb . "Th* lotc l4 « n t »t hravns F e r r y - A la b * * * '* H tgbUM ro t o C o»f l u P .5 , rae-.oatiy okay*d th a « a la o f 2 V lt t i N f lM t M « u 4 l * U f M , u Not U ic > £ p f . t t , m .U -% opt, ! 9 ? J , by « .l*ar powor p ls m fp h u i l t in F ranco t o b« a o U l o Frl«tw !« o f t b * E orth l o Soo Prone ( m o C h in a, f i g * York T l» * » , 1 1 -7 5 -F # ) *ssr«a l a apotvlln* 570 1 7 . 1M 4. M I I l o o to g a t 4 3 ( M c t o t l i n t o t> p *ratl»a by th a r o t* IP . ‘'L cc o l tU c o r d -C io b o i THr*ot • Rm>> P 7o to ***;*•£-.* 1000. (W a M j^ tu n Po* i , 1 1 - 1 1 -7 8 ) P lo n t ," p*ib. Rocky P lo t * A c t io n C rou p, 1*28 5 1 . ” Tha D yu **f' * o f Itba N oclo a r B ala*«•,** A lb ort l o f -aU *1 . C o lo . lo c k M * ll l o t « m o t i o f i * l <m m P lo t * a i - , p . 2 ?, IP 78 •*wi tS*> o u c lo o r f o e Ll t t y ot M *nfor4, , oiv! o th o r 57. I b id . newtorr* o t t h t n o r r * . They to o k b tt. s o • H o t o f 10ft P*»5 3 . Jamr* ic h ia a t t u g o r , c u r r a n t Sat r o ta r y o f l& * r g r , 1875 t o to n vooport* c o o t r o c t o ; tfe o ir A t**1c» Irttorito54. U nion o f Co*jr«rtv«<1 Sc Ism i to t ♦ , r a a b r id g o , H aas. '.lo a o t 4 t v l * l » * *ub < on«r*i:t# l o Moor la g hot*** 5 5 . F lg u ro a * r * f r o * & o lf G cnorol A to n ic in L a J o l la , C a l. I f . **Pi wtc-nlun C onpouonto O r d o r o d -N ^ ir o n WeopaoiM,* T» 5 6 . "A to* P la n t C M t l t o D oub le by 1 9 8 0 ," C r i t i c a l H ass J o u r »— n , 1 0 -2 0 -7 8 n a l . 1 1 -7 1 2 0 . bmtfs o t f o o t , 1 1 -1 7 -7 * 5 7 . H art d a t a l l * a v a i l a b l e f r o « CFAb, 80s 316A 6, San D io g o , 2 1 . “P lo t'a A r*o B o4i«* Y l«14 P l u t o n i c . " TAkifltJlll ca m o y •Jor»v#f, C o lo ., 1 1 -1 1 -7 8 5 * . Afealo** Ai 1 la r v * c io a rfn a h o v .« * I n f o . , 452 * ilc u « t a , San 2 2 . “k a On* U t i l i t y * ’ o p . < l t . b o l t OblApo, CA 93407 2 3 . "Truck S p i l l * R o d lo k c fiv * 0 t*»J .*»,'* CrU f g j l 59 ~Cc»ul*>t down t o Ho i t dow n, ” oj>. c i c . Moa* J o u tm k l. 1 2 - 7 7 , o v * lU M * in r * y t ln t f t * « PAIS, 6 0 . fh * U .S . A m * C on tro l and D iaarm aaont Agone y ha* e a t i Box V4$. I a C o lo . .11055 n a t s d t h a t m ere th an jOO pHAatoaa o f ttu cla a r y t a ld n o 2 * . I b id . t o r i a l ua* boon d ato n a tn d I n to th a ausoaph or* a* a r e 2 5 . N u c |* * r Kotfo + s * , o p . c i f . , y . t o ( io * « o f w *«t« s u l t o f o u c la a r t a s t i n g . THU ha* a p p r a c ia b ty r a l* « d p o r t *4 srvi Nuz 1*4 »*> Spupb C « r o l l« l} t h e w orld w id e background 1 m l o f r a d ia t io n in c r e a s in g 2 f . ”R * 4 to n e t iv * S p i l l 1* I**p* trr> bes * a * it AfAwcy,** can car and U uk am ia w o r ld w id e . THU 1* o n l y ona o f lo o t o n C lo b * . 1 2 - 5 -7 8 naey mxmmpimt t h a t p r o v e non h*v* lo o t i t and a r * lo » 2 7 . "Sovur? S>acl**r T**t f la r o t f f o r fr * n R *rth^u«k«,*' l c g i t f a r <h« m a t o f u a. P o * t , 9 - 2 1 -7 8

4. ibid.

ffitr

12. Ibi4.

Gay Awareness and tine F irst mericans Tn reviewing this article >je uere able to appreciate it only idth careful readiny but tie tire spent in doing eo more than regarded us with w one! interest ing perspectives. The opening paragraphs, however, propose that homosexuals revresmt a p m tuple entity which is in exclusive possession of certain super ior -."-Vi vneesee. - >r put ’ieking of this article should should not necessarily be ta'’en as giving assent to these or related hypotheses. the staff of RFD Dear Fairy Brothers of RFD: This week TIMF. magazine (Issue of 4/23/79) suggests that perhaps heteros may be able to learn things from Gays. And Denis Melba'son, of New Orleans' Pink Triangle Alliance, writing in the GAY COMMUNITY NEWS of 4/21/79. says, "Gay people alone are in a unique position to show heterosexuals how to commun icate with each other." Indeed, we are in such a position. Basing ourselves upon our lifetime ex perience in - first dreaming about - and then gloriously learning to relate to that beloved and equally-loving other who is subject to me even as am subject to myself, we are calling upon Humanity to expand its 50,000 years (out-of-date, as Margaret Mead was so often wont to exclaim) experience from seeing everything in subject-OBJECT terms to perceiving in subject-SCBJECT relationships. Heteros must expand their comprehensions from person (subjects) thinking objectively — thinking subject to OBJECT (in a nutshell, thinking opportunistically aggres sively, competitively, and nearly always in terms of self-advantage) — to think ing subject to SUBJECT, equal to equal, sharer to sharer, to thinking in terms of loving-healing. Humanity must expand its experience to thinking of another not as object (to be used, to be manipulated, to be cajoled or jawboned, to be mastered, to be CONSUMED) but as subject (as another like him/her self, another self to be respected — to "be appreciated -- to be cherished). Natural selection, early on in human evolution, set into the evolving whirl a small percentage of beings who appeared to counter-balance the tendency to subject-OBJECT thinking characteristic of the emerging Human conformity. Humanity, thus, would be wise to finally give consideration to these deviants in their ranks... the Gays, to begin to grant the GAYS the peace and growing space we will need to display and further develop, in communicable words and models of activ ity, the "gift" — the singular mutation we GAYS have been carrying so unfalter ingly and preserving so passionately, even over the not-infrequent centuries of persecution and despair since the Great Mother Nature breathed the first incan descent spark into our primevals. For the Gift, of course, is that ANALOG CON SCIOUSNESS through our Gav Window b£ which we perceive the world in subjectSUBJECT Consciousness, IF WE WILL BUT GRASP IT, FLESH IT OUT, EXERCISE IT AFFIRM ATIVELY 1 We must recognize that there is a QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCE between Hetero soc ial consciousness and GAY social consicouaness. And our first responsibility must be to develop this Gay Consciousness to its deepest and most compassionate ly encompassing levels. This wilt require, or course, the re-working of all pre viously levsloped system's of Hetero thought. Among other things, this will re quire that all the data we previously have gathered concerning Shamanism, Magic, and the service of Gay People in native cultures - such as the Berdache, or the "®«n who chose to dress as women" as Indians saw us, must also be re-examined, reworked, and re-organized along subject—SUBJECT evaluations. Which iB just * well - because, In failing to perceive the lethal subject-OBJECT character I no.t t r a d i t i o n a l l y - e v o l v e d Berdache Ritualism and Priestcraft, Gay Scholars ive misled brothers and slaters of vulnerable Minorities and have toxlfied -ternse'i'veTat precisely the moments when we desperately need the most crystalie of clsriflestions. , _ . ... For example - there if a wrong which Gay Anglos inflicted upon Gay Americn Indian# which nee is righting. First, in order to do this, we must lay down □me background. In the 19th century. Traders, Missionaries, Diarists, Lthno□gists, and - in the early 20th century - Anthropologists, noted that many if o* most Native American Societies afforded an accomodation, where not indeed a itual validity, to sobu expression of Berdache "Medicine or sex-changing , i ian practitloning. Berdache, aa expendables, undertook spiritually dangerous tr al responsibilities - such as securing and bringing in the Sun-tree for the un dance, such as calming - taming - and beneficially re-directing the spiritally-explo*.ive dynamic of recently-taken scalps. The European hetero,lalevolved limitations on such perceptions were such as to impede any observer from iscernlng any more than — in a given situation -- (gasp) 'such creatures ac uallv DID exist.'" (yechu) It was frequently noted, by such women Anthropcltglsts a# Mathilda Coxe Stevenson, Ella Dcloria, and Ruth Benedict, that -n given Plain# Iribe# and Bands -- Berdache often had "husbands'. While the

Berdache himself, always attired in women's clothing end appointments (a common Dakotah expression was "fine possessions like a Berdache’#"), was usually honor ed and respected, the Warrior-husband was derided and ridiculed and sociallyvilified all his days. Yet no hecero-Male observer EVER pondered, let alone thought to investigate, WHY the Warrior-husband was willing to endure^this daily torment all his adult life." No hetero-Male ever conceived of asking "who was he (the Warrior-husband). . . .really?"' Certainly no hetero observer ever DREAMED of inquiring as to who did what to WHOM at sight when the fires were out and the tipi-flaps were down........ until, of course, the ceremonial Ilf® had disappeared, and such vestiges had been obscured forever in the mists of His tory No one ever asked even the simplest things an* Gay could have thought of — 'because all the suhJect-GBJECT-relating hetercMales arrogantly assumed they knew all there vsa to know.* Paul" Radin and Robert Lewie, Anthropologists who specialized in observing and analvzirg the religions of the Native cultures, both have speculated that the religions of roost Native-American Culture Groups had r®«R®d . and had begun to decline in validity, perhaps 100 to 200 years before the invading Pale-Face Destroyers begar to recorf, such encounters. As a result, we have no way to know WHY Berdache rituals evolved the way they did,....we know only IHAT they appear ed- wav they did. We know also that when Che Native-American cultures failed to rally'‘piritually after the dreadful massacre at Wounded Knee, the hetero-male -defined spiritual consciousness of the Plains People foundered. As tue ritual life of the Native Americans stagnated and stultified on thei’- miserable reserr

vat ions, Ceremonial functions and Ceremonial Inter-relationships lost any stat ure they previously may have had in terms of social or spiritual viability. And because these Native-Araerican cultures were oral cultures, when the Ceremonials vanished and the Rituals became irrelevant, the memory of these no-longer-func tional inter-relationships vanished with them. Joseph Interrante, reviewing a British publication in the Book Review sec tion of GAY COMMUNITY NEWS for March 1979, takes Arthur Evans' new book WITCH CRAFT AND THE GAY COUNTERCULTURE to task for mistaking various societies' rit ualized allowances of homosexual p actices as meaning that they equally had a tolerance of homosexual behavior. He (Interrante) says," But the fact that a society allows same-sex-acts during some religious rituals in no way means that the given society accepts homosexual behavior outside these rituals", (my emph asis, hh). This sad truth became poignantly clear during the course of the tra ic confrontation between the Gav Magazln* RFD and the Mohawk Native American Newspaper AKVESASNE NOTES in the summer and fall of 1977. Maurice Kenny, a cityHopi, (of "Tinselled Bucks", GAY SUNSHINE, issues 26/27) notwithstanding. . . . with the 50-year-lapse between the Ceremonial round of Ritually-appointed days of the Traditional Indian life, and the spiritual degradation of mid-Centurv Reservation Indian life the Native-American hetero-Male has been stripped of his ritual dignity to reveal that underneath the veneer of tribal consciousness he is as homophobic as is his Red-neck Oppressor on the other side of the fence. In The summer of 1978, Mike Myers — speaking for AKWESASNE NOTES — said that his people disagreed with the arguments that Gays even existed at al^l in NativeAmerican cultures. "We have asked", he said, Traditional People of the Nations most often cited to us (Navaho, Sioux, Cheyenne) if gays existed in their cult ures. In all cases the answer has been NO." So much for the social memory of rituals once respected when the cultural structures have collapsed! What then of the article in GAY SUNSHINE, Issue 26/27, which Had given young Gay American Indians in Pacific Coast towns such hope and such vision? Was it all a fiction? No . . . it was true for one hundred years ago! Perhaps flashes of it still existed in the realitv of ancient memories in Indian Sacred Men . . . . such as Wovoka, the Ghost-dance Prophet pursuing the 85th of his 92 years, when he blessed the writer, then a shy kid of 13, in the Summer of 1925. . . . or in the mind of Black Elk, Holv Man of the Oglala, when he told John Neihardt in 1930 of the spiritual duties and responsibilities of the Winkte It is only fair to say that for the average Native-American hetero-male Brave living on Reservations, and perhaps currently on welfare, the orally-fur nished memory of Ceremonial Personages and their functions has long-since van ished. But the Traditional People questioned by Mike Myers of Akwesasne, what of them? Should they not have remembered? Ah — Here is the crux of the delimna. The Gay People, whom Mike Myers would have known about from their mag

azine RFD, were people who performed "acts" and who conducted themselves in pointedly unHetero w a y s ........ acts and wavs for which neither the Mohawk Soc iety nor perhaps the Navaho, Sioux, or Cheyenne, currently OR traditionally "had a tolerance." Mike Mvers will have questioned the old Traditionals about people performing acts when the old Traditionals will have remembered such peo ple ONLY BY THEIR CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS. Had the Gay People of an\r of these cultures ever achieved liberation from the hetero-male-domination of subjectOBJECT consciousness, this betrayal of Tribal memory need not have occurred. But in such cultures, where the absence of a written language mitigated against the development of such philosophical reflections as thinking about thinking about thinking, the discovery that you were a subject-SUBJECT perceiver in a subject0BJECT world was totallv out of reach. Native-American cultures were not the only societies wherein homosexual con sciousness was misperceived and misunderstood by subject-OBJIXT-serving Hetero Wisemen and Priestess Medicinewomen. Spiritual Elders, in all parts of the world, regularly tailored (when Indeed they did not literally mutilate by mis conception) homosexually-insplred revelations to fit paradoxical crises which had arisen in Community R i t u a l s ........ all the while nastily and noisily abhoring any evidences of homosexual behaviors in un-ritual, or anti-ceremonial, con texts. In Hebrew — as well as, for instance, in other orally-transmitted cult ures Such as Aztecan — Society (both of them flagrantly brutal examples of pat riarchal expropriation of earlier raatrilineal cultures), such appearances of homosexual behaviors (outside the daily and calendrical conformities of ritual and ceremonial contexts) could be understood — in subject-OBJECT reality on ly as ANTI-social compulsions. . .therefore BLACK (as versus White or socially reinforcing magic. . . .therefore Sorcery. The punishment for Sorcery (person al and therefore anti-social opportunism, or Wizardry, in all such tribal soc ieties was swift and total obliteration insuring that the soul, just in case it might chance to get itself reborn could never again find refuge in the. givenSociety. In Greece, writing leaped from its origins as a Polis-administration tool to being employed as a recorder of religious practices - plays, Odes, Hymns, Sagas, and the like - in the 8th Century BC, and the development of philosophic thought and reflection pressed hard upon its heels. Yet even here mispercept ions of Gay Consciousness were equally tragic. For all the great Hellenic advan ces in scientific speculation, in geometry, and in philosophy, Plato - r.o differ ently than the Spiritual Philosophers Pythagoras, and Parmenides, before him looked through his Gav Window in subject-SUBJECT fashion and never reali-eJ that, rhe young Hetero students attending him were capable only of subject-OBJECT vis ion : Plato thus never realized that the> would never comprehend the particular penetrations of his subject-SUBJECT thought. The widespread and totally-respect ed homosexual-bonding between young mature men and adolescent boys, characterat least 15* of Greek public life (85* of the population being slaves or bond people to whom such relationships were totally forbidden) was perceived, lament ably, even by the great and presumably-Gay Law-maker, Solon, only in typica et ero-male subject-OBJECT reality. . . . the presumably affluent socially wellplaced Lover and his younger and beautiful Beloved! However we avid subject-0BJECT-breathing Fairies night wish to read it otherwise, the Greek bonding exper ience never developed beyond heterosuxually-oriented Paederasty. Subj ectOBJECT! , Oh yes, there are splendid breakthroughs to be made in the application of subject-SUBJECT perceptions to teen-age sensual awakenings. But the misapplic ation of traditional Greek subject-OBJECT male-bonding, so popular in Gay jour nals currently, is not zbout to move the issue forward with ■?.n. great eign,.*cance. Oh, there is so much to be re-examined and a whole World to be put straight. Will you join us at the end of summer, in a Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies (details elsewhere in this issue), to begin the process? With Gaybrotherlove, Harry and John

Hitching up from Aloe Community in w.C. to Dowell town, Tennessee to help Lith this issue of RFD, sharing the ex perience with Bruce. For me this is my [first chance to really see the innards 'of Tennessee. Some of the land lias so much attraction that seeing it stirs ray needs to settle and take root. 1 can iaagine how the beauty might change to other forms in other seasons. Spring will change to summer; the change will be gradual and smooth, all oart of one cycle. Tennessee blends smoothly into

.Package Store, giving us good feelings ito take with us as we left. All were rich treasures, objet trouv£, of the road. All of our experiences, however, were not so gay. Sitting by the road outside of Srai thville, taking a break and letting our thumbs rest for a While. It felt *;ood to sit and enjoy the moment, unconcernei with the cars going by. It was enough

For the next half hour or so we £ w e r e questioned about where we were comJ t ing from, going to, who we were visiting ■^why, our ID's were checked and our idenpttitles radioed to a computer to see if it approved of us being free. Before it was over three cops had gotten into the A act and when they were done with • were simply told now

jThere was no "Thank you for your eooperlation" or "Sorry to have inconvenienced •you," we weren't even told what it was jail about. We breathed a sigh of relief Iknowing it could have easily gotten worse; •but also we knew we had been violated. i j This incident was relatively minor I (but even small wounds can leave perma nent scars | We weren't hassled for being gay, ' but for some other no less nonsensical ] reason, maybe to feed a sick ego, but we 1 were hassled. Status, greed for power i land money, ignorance, etc are what the [beast of oppression feeds on. If it must poison our planet with the egesta ! of its factories and power plants to ac- ' hieve its desires, it will try to do so. I If children's minds must be poisoned In- I to acquiessence, that will be done. Sur- I

beast which survive wholeness of lives to extract their ain1era Is and energies.

]

| We live so much of our lives according to boundries which we have been taught to |think are really there. We approach poc- I pie and other groups as if we were approa-j ching a Ienneset, an Oregon or a Mexico, thinking of boundries and looking for dif-j ferences... boundries started by forgotten! people in faded history for obscure rea sons. Still we shape our 1 W e s to fit in-J to these unnatural limitations, livlne ourj

Clancej

Dear RFD: This letter is in response to your #18 Winter Solstice 1978 issue, which I picked up last week. The last time I saw RFD was over 2 years ago and these cop ies were over a year old. This was when I was helping a friend pack his belong ings for a move from Chicago to Minnea polis. His name is Maya (Mark Matthiessen) and said he worked on RFD in Iowa. I have lost contact with him. I had writ ten twice to you in Wolf Creek, Oregon, but received no reply. It really made me feel great inside to read all of the articles. I feel very close to the ideas, dreams, opinions, etc., presented. I have wanted to live in the country for the last 4 years. I 'came out' while going to school at SIU in Carbondale, Illinois. I graduated in forestry (with much horticulture know

ledge as well.) 1 practiced my major for one summer in the Cook County (Chicago) Forest Preserves. i did not want to work for some big executive timber corporation. Nor did 1 want to be the only faggot for hundreds of miles if 1 became a forest rangeF*. While growing up In a partly rural area outside of a Chicago suburb I had always been interested in plants and animals while other boys were busy kill ing each other over a pigskin, or softball, or cruising for "chicks". But now I feel more alienated in the city where there are thousands of gays. A year ago I put my foot down and stopped going to bars. The whole scene is so distasteful. The cigarette smoke burns my eyes and leaves my skin, hair, and clothes smell ing like an ash tray. I just don't re late to the gay urban scene anymore. I dor*'t sniff "poppers" and could care less what the latest is from New York or San Fransisco. Although 1 do not dress like a "sissie", I don't conform myself to the macho or tres chic disco look either. 1 really enjoyed seeing the story about the wild area in British Columbia and the story about herbal medicine. Normally I dislike poetry of any sort. Not only did 1 like some of your poems, I act ually could relate to a few of them in a real way. But what blew me away more than anything was the book review about witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture and the Druid calendar. On my own I have been studying Eur opean history. In particular I am inter ested in the pre-Roman and pre-Christian period, srd the Middle Ages. This is only the tip of an iceburg. But what RFD means to me is that I AM NOT CRAZY.' and confirms that I AM NOT ALONE.' I am taking my bicycle on a trip through Europe. I leave Chicago June 29. T plan to visit a reconstructed Iron Age village in Denmark, along with any remaining pagan sites such as Stone henge. I will do my best to spread the RFD network around the world. Thanks for everything. With an extended hand, Bill Allsopp until June 29: 1015 W. Dakin St. Chicago, 111 60613 Dear People at RFD: We are working on a book about long lasting gay relationships, of 10 years or longer. It is planned as a series of anony mous Interviews done over a period of two years, covering a cross section of the coun try. It will prove that it is not so uncom mon for gay men and women to choose to live together for many years in long lasting com fortable and loving relationships. If any "■— of you, or your friends in your rural com munity would be interested in a taped inter view, or would like to answer some written questions please let us know. ■

Love, George Vye 6 Stewart Grossman 393 St. Pauls Ave. Stapleton, NY 10304

Dear Brothers and Sisters: I am one of a large number of gay men and women in the hills of Southern Vermont. I would like to invite anyone trav elling this way to come and visit. I live in a small house I built with the help of many friends on a hill just out side Brattleboro. As I frequently travel around New England to sell the artwork by which I (almost) support myself, I would like to ask anyone interested to write first to make sure I'll be around at that gener al time and to get directions, without which it could be difficult to find me. At the same time I would like to so licit invitations for a trip a friend and I will be making in September and October. Much love, Burr Box 16 Marlboro, Vt. 05344

Dear Folks, Yes, the mag is changing as new and different energies come forth creating each issue. In comparing past Issues (I have all copies) I find the mag lean ing more towards the abstract. In the past I have found more articles written with a down-to-earth slant — stories about growing up in the country and stor ies about living in the country. A lot of the abstractions I now see in the mag relate to city-urban concepts. I hope you can include more articles and grap hics on country faggots living and doing country stuff away from the big city. from where I'm coming, the good parts of the mag fall under the headings of Letters-to-the-Editor, Collective Statements, Contact Letters, Prisoners, and Conferences. The not-so-good parts are headed under Politics, abstract sex ual graphics, and Heavy Philosophy. You are doing a good job. The sheer nature of what you are attempting to do will always be subject to a high degree °* critique from all fronts. Keep the spirit high. I want to praise all for having gotten the mag out every quarter without fail since issue number 1 _ Autumn 1974. With you always, Fred Scott P.0. Box 52 Cazadero, Ca. 95421

MEDITATION R ETREAT A meditation retreat focusing on gay ness and spirituality sponsored by Be ginner's Mind, a Zen Buddhist teaching and meditation center, will be held June 29-July 1. The retreat will be located in the country near Carrollton, Georgia and will be co-led by Frank Abbott and Pat de Sercey. The weekend is planned to be a quiet time for centering as well as a cime to explore nature, community, gay spiritual traditions, tantra, and zazen meditation. There will be a charge for the use of the facility, food and facil itation. The fee is negotiable to an ex tent. Write for information /reserva tions. Fran[c Abbott 1422 Iverson St., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30307

July 12-15, Magickal Gathering for: Magickal People at Lake Holiday, Indiana. Cost $15/person 13 and older, $7.50 young er people (under 5, no charge). Contact: Midwest Pagan Council— Festival Registration 1519 Kenilworth Calumet City, IL 60409

GATHERING OF THE TRIBES June 17-21, pagan conference and festival at Unicoi State Park in Geor gia, cost $55/person, accommodations avail able at $46 for 4 nights.

Gout a.t ;

Khuddlwn Gave Church of Y lyiwyth Teg Hoy f t T 2 , Campon S t a t i o n Athens, GA >0602

COEDRN ERITH MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL June 22-24, seventh annual gathering at Pagan Sanctuary in Northern Califor nia. Camp-out weekend, cost $5/adult, $2/child. Contact: Holy Order of Mother Earth Box 982 Ukiah, CA 95482

The Gay Speakers Bureau of Boston announcea the publication of two informational pamphleta, "The Gay Experience: An Annotated Bib liography" la a list of about 30 hooka, per iodical*, pamphlets, and audlo-visual», which provde an introduction and general overview of lesbian and gay topics. The bibliography which will be periodically updated, Is direct ed especially to heterosexual persona who want to know more about gay lifestyles, and to gay people who are in the process of "coming out". The resources were selected on the basis of their quality, ease In finding, and for their broad general interest. "Some Things You Should Know About Homo sexuality" directly confronts some of the ma jor myths and misconceptions about lesbians and gay men, and presents basic information about homosexuality and homosexual lifestyles. It also contains a short: list of resources which are available for further information. Although both pamphlets are primarily Reared toward a non-gay, New England audience, they will be of interest to both gay and non gay people anywhere. The Gay Speakers Bureau hopes that their pamphlets will be useful to other public edu cation groups and services, and invites in quiries into quantity rates and rights to reprint. A sample copy of both pamphlets is available (send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Gay Speakers Bureau, P.0. Box 2232, Boston, MA 02107).

IDENTITY HOUSE— Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Peer Counseling & Groups; Rap Groups; Free Walk-In Counselling, 544 Ave. of the Americas, New York City 212-243-8181

Would you like to be listed in the National Directory of Alternative, Femin ist and Radical Therapists? Do you know someone who would? Send a self addressed business stamped envelop to Pat Henry and Judy Browder, P.0. Box 2064, University Station, Lawrence, Kansas 66045. Please respond by July 1, 1979. THE POETIC FRIENDS NOSEGAY, an illust ated Anthology of Gay Quaker Poetry coed ited bv Steven Kirkman and David Mur phy is a limited edition chapbook. $3 each. Make out checks or monev orders to Steven Kirkman, 355 W 85th St.,#69, N Y NY 10024.

► W iiM ti*J Mimk*) J«u*.uf»e»u of \V«#iera Affv ».

THIRD ANNUAL PAN-PAGAN FESTIVAL

»»<K>r fiK u r r

Why W as Heaven... The ie«l clay hills between Indian '•fells and LaCrang** were as common as Sunday in church. So Jason just sat back In the greyhound bus seat and looked at the people In front of hi*. Be would close his eyes sometimes, and try to remember what the bus was passing by. He was good at that. He knew the highway by heart. He could tell fro® the railroad tracks that Edgar White's store was on the left, and the sharp curve meant that they were at the Troup County Line. LaCrange was just fifteen miles aheadHis first trip without someone tagging along. Jason looked around. Peo ple in front of hi® — all talking in those hushed tones people in buses talk about whatever they talk about with. The climate control coolness, the greyblue tinted windows, the voluptuous seat, trapped him away from his surround ings, and the hum of the trip camouflaged even the voices in the seat in front of him. He had a secret place. Like at school or the theatre — balcony seats against the wall, the top bleachera — places where he could be alone. Safe. Even in crowds of people. I "Look at the little preacher," Ellis laughed as Jason ran toward the opened cardoor, "Come on, Rev'n, let's go." It was his fifteenth birthday. Overdressed. He'd been waiting on the porch when the car pulled up. He waa almost out of breath as they took off. "How long’s that movie at the Jewel, El?" Jason looked around. "1 got to be home by nine." "What's the matter? Your Hama going to take your teddy bear away If you ain’t?" Ellis gave Jason a dirty look. "Besides, we thought we'd take you somewhere else tonight, Jason." The boys in the back seat snickered a little. Jason sat for a minute. "Where we going then?" — Jason let a sick little giggle — "It ain't too far, is it?" "You'll sec soon enough, Rev," Ellis looked at Jason sideways and grinned. "I bet the Reverend here ain't even kissed a girl," Ellis laughed and turned to Jason, "Have you, Rev?" "Sure," Jason lied, "a couple of times." "That all you done?" "Yeah," Jason shrugged, "1 could have done more, but I didn't want to." "Shit, Preacher, you ain't even had a chance," Ellis jeered, "even if you DIO want to!" "I did so, if I wanted to, 1 did!" "Well, Jason," one of the boys said, "We're going to SEE what you can do. Mae Lynn Scott's going to give you a tumble this very night — " "1 he Hell she is," Jason Interrupted, "I ain't doing nothing like that." "Course you are, Kid," Ellis smiled, "We all are. Old man Scott's gone to Randolph County, and Mae Lynn's been cooking over low heat ever since 1 left her this afternoon. Besides that, she nearly creamed when f told her you was coming. She thinks you're the cuteat thing in long pants!" Ellis giggled, "All the girls think so," he said, "Hell, the only time they're all at school is on the days you're the model in that damn drawing class of theirs." Jason had just watched — fascinated — vhii. the other bova threw their clothing about the room. One-hv-one, they <*»rb took up where the other'd left off, and Mae Lynn never bothered to get up at all. "You're g lug up next Rev," Ellis scratched at hia chast. Sailed. Jason left, and walked home, excited. Over and over he pictured the boya. He saw each on* waiting hi a turn, getting dreaaed. He'd never fait quite like he had Just watching them that night. Nobody ever asked Jason to go anywhere again. At school, boya started calling him names. The news had spread quickly. Jason hadn't known what the names meant, at first. He soon learned. He learned the day he saw a picture drawn on the bathroom wall with hi a name on it. Jason had stared at the picture, but then had done a strange thing. He traced the crude pencil lines, •lowly, with his fingers, and began to feel the same excitement he had the night of the via1f. From that day on, people could call him what they would. Jason paid no mind.

"W* are now entering LaGrange, Georgia," the bus driver said. "Connec tions for Columbus will load in twenty minutes." Jason sal up as the bus pulled in, then waited for it to empty. He walked into the lounge and ordered coffee, then changed his mind and got a coke. And Just sat the time away watching the ice melt. "All passengers for Columbus, prepare for loading at Gate Four," the voice called, "Last etutnee for Columbus — " "Thanks," Jason mumbled over the counter. "That one's mind was a hundred miles away," one waitress said to another as he walked toward the double glass doors and soon was snuggled into his se

ll The notebook. Jason had bought a secret notebook after achool that day. And that night he started something different. He would sit on his bed with that book, drawing. First he drew a picture of himself like the one on the toilet wall. He drew Ellis over and over, the picture almost always the same. He would become nervous. Excited. Then slowly he would relax and into the night would sit and stare at the drawings, rubbing them untii some of the pages wore thin. And Jason wished. He wished the things he drew could be more than just pictures. By the time he was seventeen, the notebook was almost full. There were pictures of schoolboys he had seen in the showers. There was one of his brother, even one of his favorite teacher. Each could awaken excitement, but none of them like the picture of The Man. The Han Jason met. He'd "Been sixteen for only a little while when it happened. The day the picture almost took life. He had been walking from the county line back ho®**. The noon heat had taken off his long-sleeved white shirt and tied it around his waist. His body glistened. "Want a ride?" "Hey, kid, DO YOU WANT A RIDE?" Jason looked around, noticing a shiny new car for the first time. ”1 just got to go as far as Indian Wells," the boy said, finally. "Get in, then," the man laughed, "I'm going right through there." Jason stared at him as they drove. It Had been a long ti«e since anyone had shown him kindness. The man's smiling masculinity was unavoidable. Ano ther exhibit in Jason's nighttime book. "I'm glad you came by, Mister." "Call me Jim, kid," the driver said quickly, "I just hate to see a fellow

have to walk in that sun." He was friendly, Jason thought, friendlier than anyone "I wish we could keep on driving. Even past town." Jason grinned, then slid his hand across the seat. His body was shaking as his fingers reached for the driver. It was almost electric when he touched Che man's trousers. "Watch it, kid," the man said angrily, "I ain't going for that." Jason had left his hand in place, until the man had slowly, firmly shoved It back across the sest. "Maybe you'd better walk, boy." The driver stopped the car. Jason wiped a little tear off his lip. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. The door slammed. "Tell you what," the man softened a little, "if you want to do that stuff, kid, go to the bus station in Columbus one day. You might find some friends there." The car was soon out of sight. Jason had hurried to his notebook that night, drawing the picture, care fully perfecting each detail. He smiled at the finished work, tunning his fingers across each line, as always. He slowly raised the notebook to his mouth, leaving a small wet spot where his fingers had been, and watched the dampened paper wrinkle and dry. Jason started saving for this trip the next day. "Go to Columbus," the man had said, and Jason added dreams of his own. Soon Columbus, Georgia be came more than any city could ever be. Just like people who would be singers or actors or models dream of Nashville or Hollywood or New York, Jason dreamed of Columbus. Soon the boy Imagined the city to be a place where friends stood on every corner, where love was in every room. People he could be with rather than just draw pictures of.

ill "We are now in downtown Columbus," the dri ver said, "We will enter the terminal in three minutes. Please collect all hand luggage, and — " Jason heard no more. He saw only people gathered under the bright streetlights and lined in front of the theatres. He watched the move ment, and heard the sound of the city in which he would find love. Jason walked into the station. His eyes be came accustomed to the brightly-lit place, and he began to take stock of the people. There were old men sleeping on benches with their bot tles wadded into brown paper bags, and mothers with their children. A lot of stray people. Leaning against the wall near the outside door. They were young, smoking cigarettes, even dressed similarly. Using some kind of sign lang uage — raised eyebrows, small smiles, hand gest ures — to almost any man or boy who looked their way. And each was exciting. Jason noticed one boy in particular. Blond on top of a seemingly endless supply of muscles sausaged into white tee-shirt and faded denim. They stared at each other until the stranger tugged at his partially-unbuttoned jeans, smiled, and walked toward Jason. "You looking for spme^^j ^ ^ ” The boy‘tS;i§~Jas6n’¥s age, perhaps~even a" b"ft" ~ younger. Jason just stared, saying nothing. "You want me to show you around?" Jason nodded. "Come on, then," the boy laughed and walked toward the door, "My name’s Billy, what's yours?" "Jason" — and he followed his new friend — "1 came here to meet someone— " "Anyone special?" "No — not reallv — just someone — " "Well, you came to the right place'' — the boy took Jason's arm — "I’m somebody, and I’ve been looking for some fun — and you'll do just flne." Jason followed the boy through the dirt al ley, around the corner, through the splashes of streetlight. "I got a room down here." Billy smiled. They disappeared into a dimly-lit doorway. ROOMS FOR A DOLLAR A WEEK. "Come on in, Jason." Billy put his arm on the boy's shoulder, then ran it down his back. "You're going to have the time of ycur young life tonight," he smiled, then winked. What happened that night was Just enough to confuse both boys. They barely touched each ether and said almost nothing. Jason just sat with Billy's arm across the sofa behind his shoulders. He imagined Billy contorted into his nightly drawings. But Jason didn't HAVE to imagine— Jason KNEW he didn't have to imagine— anxious reality was sitting on the sofa beside him! But for some reason, allowing the thine to become real took away the Joy. The excite ment of watching was gone. By morning the bewildered bovs had fallen asleeo, head-to-head on the couch. Hilly was still asleep when Jason left the room in time to catch the ten o'clock bus. Church bells were ringing and almost no one was standing in the station as Jason climbed on the far-from-crowded bus. Ee settled Into his secret place, barely noticing anything as the bus be gan to speed around the mountain. He was just remembering. Then he started the picture. For the iirat time, he began drawing outside his secret nighttime studio. The envelope that had held his ticket was quickly transformed into canvas, the pencil stub ir his pocket into palate and brush. Jason drew carefully, cat ching his new friend as he imagined he would look, as he imagined he would pose. The faded jeans disappeared end the tee-shirt was stripped away. Jason drew himse’f, his golden body contorted as it first had been on That bathroom wall. The picture was nearly finished — Jason's breath came more quickly. His pulse began to race. More exciting than any of his nightly rituals. Finally the picture was finished. Slowly, for miles. Jason rubbed the work, carefully tracing the lines until his finger wss black with the lead. He couched his body, feeling excitement ir. his gioin. Pis eyes blurred, and he began to sweat. He touched the picture with his tongue, savoring the erotic taste of dreams. He tore all the blank paper away from the central drawing, licking it again and again until the picture was just a grey blur. Jason, tremb ling, laid the scrap of paper on his tongue. As it started to melt, he began to chew, choking a bit as he swallowed it. The satisfaction was indescribable, as though the dream was now a part of his self. > It was dark when the boy finally got home. He slid quickly into bed, and had barely begun to nod sleepily when he started and took the notebook from its secret place. He took the book of drawings, each more bizarre than the one be fore, and looked with fondness at each. Then with that kind of carefulness with which little boys pull bandaids off, he deliberately, one by one, ripped the pages out. Kermis ,ii tott rrust 2601 Wes* ••rn Pkwy. O • Fla. 1280’

Built So Far Away

A Call t o

Gay B r o th e r s

SPIRITUAL CONFERENCE FOR RADICAL FAIRIES It's In the air. Heard everywhere. At the World Sym posium on Humanity the talk it about "New Age Politics”— beyond Left and Right— a synthesis of the political and spiritual movements of th» past two decades. Sitting in the Xlva at Lama, high in the Sangre de Cristos Mountains of northern New Mexico, Ram Daas talks about the need for "conscious beings” assuming responsibilities for social and political change— a radical. Circle of Dharma. In the holy halls of academia, the temple prostitutes are whis pering about a "paradigm shift"— something new is happen ing in our Society with more and more people living and perceiving their lives differently— and they haven't fig ured out yet how to contain it. Deep in Oregon's lush Umpqua forest, at the annual fairy-like gathering of the Rainbow Family Tribe, late into the night people talk about the merging of political consciousness and spiritual consciousness— an interest in healing society rather than championing exclusive claims to "rightness." *

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"The term 'spiritual' represents the accumulation of all experiential consciousness from the division of the first cells in the primeval slime, down through all evolution, to your and our latest in sights of Gay Consciousness just a minute ago. What else can we call this overwhelmingly magnificent in heritance— other than spiritual." Harry Hay *

The gathering is to be called, among other names, "A Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies." It will be held over the Labor Day weekend, August 31-September 1 & 2, 1979 The conference site is a comfortable ashram located in the beautiful Sonora desert of southern Arizona— Don Juan coun try— near Tucson. There will be a conference fee of $50 to cover the cost of vegetarian meals and other incidental exoenses involved in putting on the gathering. No one will be denied participation in the conference because of in ability to pay

Does all of this -political/spiritual ferment have any relevance to gay men? Is there a gay vision of New Age society? Is a "paradigm shift" in gay consciousness also manifesting itself? The answer to all the questions is: YES! And many gay brothers are feeling the need to come together... To share new insights about ourselves; To dance in the moonlight; To renew our oaths against patriarchy/ corporations/racism; To hold, protect, nurture and caress one another; To talk about the politics of gay enspirItment; To find the healing place inside our heart; To become Inapirator/Listener as we share new breakthroughs in how we perceive gay consciousness; To soar like an eagle; To re-discover/re-invent our myths; To talk about gay living/loving alternatives; To experience the groundedness of the calamus root; To share our gay visions; To sing, sing, sing; TO EVOKE A CREAT FAIRY CIRCLE.

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The Call goes out to all who know that there is more to us than hetero-imitation. To‘all who are ready to move on. To all who have broken through and are ready to share those breakthroughs with your fairy brothers.

"New Age politics is a politics in which we learn to assume personal and collective responsibility for the ways we treat one another, and nature, and ourselves. A politics In which we assume this responsibility not out of a sense of grim duty, but oo-t of a sense of real, virtually un tapped possibility." Mark Satin A

The Call goes out to gay brothers everywhere— poet, Su fi, musician, revolutionary, shaman, heretic, community or ganizer, farmer, artist, healer, city dweller, Buddhist, dancer, magician, political activist, yogi— whoever you have become since the last time we came together.

Pre-registration is required. In order to pre-register, simply send a note with your name, complete address, and ohone number to: SPIRITUAL CONFERENCE FOR RADICAL FAIRIES, P.0. BOX 1414, LOS ANGELES, CA 90028. A $25 deposit is re quested with your pre-registration. More detailed informa tion about the conference schedule and logistics will be provided to you upon pre-registration.

"Come forth, o children, under the stars, And take your fill of love! 1 am above you and in you. My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy." A. Crowley A A A Anyone interested in receiving additional information about the conference or getting involved in the organizing should connect with one of the following contact persons: Harry Hay X Circle of Loving Companions P.0. Box 656 Alcalde, New Mexico 97511 phone: (505) 852-4404

Don Kilhefner % Gay Community Ser vices Center 1213 N. Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028 phone: (213) 876-5953

Celebrations 8

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7HFAST CELEBRATION A celebration for rural gay men and gay men moving toward rural life will gather in northwestern Massachusetts on the weekend of Fall Equinox, September 21-23. Join us in food, song, dance, and general gaiety. For more informa tion writes Bruce Penrose Rta. Si Potsdam, NY 13676

BUCK HILLS NATIONAL GATHERING The Black Hills Alliance is call ing a Black Hills National Gathering of the People— a peaceful gathering and walk into A National Sacrifice Area, July 6, 7, 8. Contact the Black Hills Alliance, P.O. Box 2508. Rapid City, SD 57709, phone: (605) 348-5127, Look elaewhere in this RFD for more infor mation.

NORTHWEST GATHERING A Rural Gathering of Gay Men in the Pacific North West is being organized to establish connections for both Rural and Urban Gays. The focus of the gath ering will be to network ourselves, ex change information and knowledge and a celebration of our lives. We would like to see a sharing of our skills and talents; Music, Healing, Carpentry, Theater, Farming, etc. Scheduled for early August, our plan is to have interested people con tact us by mall before June 15th, or as soon as possible. Shortly thereafter, vou would receive a newsletter contain ing specifics, i.e., location and a di rectional map, schedule of activities, dates, what you'll need to bring, etc. People interested in performing, giving workshops or demonstrations should in

clude a brief description of what they would like to do and the approximate time.it would take. People interested in assisting might also state they have available energy to donate. All the above should write to: John Rizzotto X Cam? Blossom for Boys 4664 1st Ave. N.E. Seattle, WA 98105

PLANNING MEETING— JULY 14, 1979 FOR THE FIFTH SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE OF LESBIANS AND GAY MEN, to be held at Vanderbilt University Campus near Sarratt Cinema at 1 pm. We hope to hold SEC5 in Tennessee. We need a location and people to do all kinds of work and support. Contact Jeff Ford, 3206 Hummingbird Dr., Nash ville TN 37218.