RFD Issue 41 Winter 1984 by RFD Magazine Gay

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A COUNTRY JOURNAL" FOR GAY MEN EVERYWHERE 51*4® $3.50

RFD Is published quarterly on the equinoxes and solstices at Running Water, Rt. 1 Box 127-E, Bakersville, NC 28705. Tel. (704) 688-2447. As you can see, we got the new typewriter going; it's a honey to work with, too. At this point, I don't know why I should be surprised when things asked for start coming my way. They just do. Besides the typewriter, I seem to have an assistant in the offing as well! Maybe we will be able to keep up with the Brothers Behind Bars mail better In addition to other business correspond ence. I suspect that the magic works best when we can clarify our needs and then articulate them as specifically as possible rather than just wishing that things will get better. I'll have to try some more of this especially for Running Water. With a bit of luck, I plan to articulate the vision for Run ning Water in the Sprinq issue. A lot depends on the demands on my time as I am rather over-committed right now. I haven't finished winterizing the porch much less got in wood for the winter. I still have the old car sitting in the front yard (like most of the neighbors). I've been meaning to do some thing about that since July! I know that some folks are amazed at my sense of priorities. But, when one lives on a day-to-day basis as I mainly do, he doesn't always have time to sit down and careful ly go over each item on a list and check things off. I don't have time to make a list. Lest anyone get the impression that I am complaining, I hasten to reassure you that I'm not. I'm just trying to explain why I act irrationally at times perhaps mostly. After all, a 'rational' brain is only half a brain. Whenever I do get a moment to sit and reflect (usually with my morning coffee), I am often a bit overwhelmed with how rich my life is here. I'm certainly not talk ing about money, but rather friends, activities and a feeling of being needed; things that money can't (always) buy, in fact, I managed to take my first vacation In years this fall. I drove up to see a friend in Vermont, and no sooner got back, it seems, than I dashed off to Louisiana for the Gathering down there. Maybe someday I'll be able to travel more and visit more of the 'fami|y'; I'd like to. Speaking of the welcome two new ing. There are and Elet Ion. A department. As bers to AIDS —

family, we have some staff changes that should be noted. We comers: Gerry Kamp in Spirituality and Scott Tuzzolino in Garden now a couple of openings for folks Interested: Country Kitchen special thanks to AI Maupin for his expert efforts with that noted elsewhere, we also lost one of our Consulting Circle mem a sad loss, indeed.

In this issue I think you will find a pretty qood mix of material. Every depart ment is represented except one (not counting the Feature), so there is something for nearly everyone. We have had a little problem with the Fiction, so we ask folks who have sent in submissions to bear with us as we straighten (pardon the expression!) out the situation. We are working on it. In the meantime, we do have some interesting perspectives explored in this issue. I'm often amazed at the natural development of 'sub-themes' that just come together when we assemble an Issue, there is a definite shift to the East in this one as well as mastur bation and youth. I know some folks think we plan this, but we don't.

ISSN #0149-709X USPS #073-010-00 Non-profit tax exempt status under #23-7199134 as a function of Gay Community Social Services, Seattle, Washington.

Managing Editor: Art Director:

Ron Lambe Light

Department Editors: Announcements: Sundance, CA Articles: Kenneth Ha Ie-Wehmann, MA Book Reviews: Woody Black, VA Brothers Behind Bars: Len Richardson, OR Contact Letters: Gary Wilson, MN Country Kitchen: (open) Fey Arts: Franklin Abbott, GA Fiction: (open) Gardening: Scott Tuzzolino, DC Gatherings: Sundance, CA Health: Jerry Stamps, AR Homesteading: Jerry Noakes, TN Poetry: Franklin Abbott, GA Politics: Stuart Norman, NC Profiles, Jim Long, AR Spirituality: Gerry Kamp, NY RFD functions as a reader written journal. Editorship responsibility is shared among the Dept; Editors and the Managing Editor. The business and general production is centered at Running Water in NC.

Weil, it's time to put another log on the fire. Have a snug and warm winter, and Happy Holidays - whatever you are celebrating! We'lI be back at crocus MEMBER: CCLM (Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines) COSMEP (The international Assoc. of independent Publishers) GPA (Gay Press Association) INDEXED by Alternative Press Index,

SPRING FEATURE: The Feature for the Spring Issue will be done in the Ozarks and will stress positive aspects of ageing. SUkWER FEATURE: The Feature for the Summer Issue will be done in Louisiana and will deal with gays living in small towns. Your input regarding this is welcome.

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Adam Chr is te n s e n

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A COUNTRY JOURNAL FOR GAY MEN EVERYWHERE W lNTER’84/5 *41 ST

CONTRIBUTORS! Franklin Abbott .............. 10,11 Paul E. Brown ................... 15 Edward Carlos ................... 32 Adam Christensen .............. 1,24 Cliff C in ....................... 39 Louis A. Colantuono ..........28,42 Mike Coleman .............. 51 Lou ie Crew ...................... 30 Gary Czerwinski ................. 33 Tom Dolan ....................... 44 Michael Mason Esperanto ......... 30 Jamie FloI id .................... 32 John Gill ....................... 10 Michael Glover .................IBC Bill Gouge ...................... 31 Frank Grant ..................... 15 Glenn Halak ..................... 33 Charles E. Hall ................. 18 J im Hennigan ................. 17,43 The Homesteader ................. 48 Thomas Hopkinson ................ 31 Karl ton Kelm .................... 34 Jonathan Klein .................. 20 David Kwasigroh ....... 'll,30,32,47 Ray Latham ...................... 26 D. S. Lawson .................... 32 Joe Lembo .................... 44,46 Light .................. 12,17,30-33 Alejandro Looez .................. 9 Ed Mead ......................... 49 9rik Miller ..................... 22 Mark Morris ..................... 59 Edward Mycue .................... 31 Stuart Norman ................... 22 Les °arker ..... 14 Michael L. Perry ............. 50,51 D. Rich ....................... .45 Len Richardson ............... 26,27 Rita Rose ....................... 32 Raohael Sabatini ................ 12 J im Seymore ..................... 21 David E. Smith .......... 15 Aubrey H. Sparks ................ 32 Jerry Starnes .................... 19 David Sunseri ................... 33 Mutsuo Takahashi ................ 11 Wo Ife Thode ..................... 29 Dan ie I Turek .................... 16 Scott Tuzzol ino ................. 25 Mark West ............... IFC, 21,33 John WheeIer ..................... AO Gary Wilson ..................... 50 Mi kel Wi Ison ................. 52-59 Barry Yeoman .................... 12

PRODUCTION Lay out - Light Typing - Ron Proofing - Richard Front Cover from the Archives

CONTENTS

ADVERTISING ........................................................... 2,51-60 ANNOUNCEMENTS ........................................................ 5-8,9,47 ART ICLFS ....................................................... 15,20,21,40-41 The First All-Gay Bicycle Tour of China by Jonathan Klein .............. 20 Italianate Faeries by Frank Grant ........................... ............ 15 On Choosing New Digs by John Wheeler ................................. ...40 One Gay Man in China by Jim Seymore ..................................... 2 1 300K REVIEWS ...................................................... 10,1 1,49-61 "Gay Men’s Health" (Kessler) by Mike Coleman ............................ 51 "Hardcore Women’s Bodybuilding" by Gary Wilson .......................... 50 "In the Belly of the Beast" (Abbott) by Ed Mead ......................... 49 "No Turning Back" (Mew Society Pub.) by Michale L. Perry ..... .......... 50 "Real Men of 1985" by Gary Wilson ......................... .50 "White on 8 lack on White" (Dowell) by Michael L. Perry .... ....50 BROTHERS BEHIND 3ARS .................................................... 26-28 Homophobic Justice by RayLatham .......................................26 The Letter by Louie Colantuono..... ..................................... 28 Prisoner Resources by Len Richardson ..................................... 26 COUNTRY KITCHEN .............................................................29 Three Recipes by Wolfe Thode ............................................. 29 CONTACT LETTERS ..........................................................52-59 FEY ARTS .................................................................. 9-11 Announcements .............................................................. 9 John Gill by Franklin Abbott ............................................. 10 Mutsuo Takahachi by Franklin Abbott ...................................... 11 FICTI ON Another Steo Dad and the Doctor by Karl ton Kelm ...................................................... 34 Ri ver °ark by Luo is A. Colantuono ................................... . 42 GARDENING.... 4 ..............................................................25 Gardening Vision by Scott Tuzzolino ................................. 25 GATHERINGS ........................................................... !!. 12-14 It’s Hard to See by Raohael Sabatini ...... ..............................12 Summer Men by Les Parker ................................ 14 h e a l t h .................................................................... 8 - , 9 The Anothecary by Jerry StamDS ............. 19 B reakfast of Oriental Champions by Charles F. Hall ................... 18 HOMESTEADING ............................................................... [49 Thoughts on Modern Homesteading by The homesteader .......... 48 LETTERS TO RFD ......................................................... ’’’4 -5 POETRY ............................................................. 10,11,30-33 Assorted Haiku by Louie Crew ................. 30 Choice by Edward Mycue ........................... 35 Debts by Edward Carlos ................................................... . Falling Star by Glenn Halak ...... ....................................... 33 Gift Was You by Jamie Flolid ............................................. 32 He Took So Much by Aubrey Sparks ................. ................... . 32 The Man From California by D.S. Lawson .................................... 32 New Year's Eve '73 by Mark West ......................... ....... ......... 33 Oklahoma by Thomas HoDkinson ......... ■.................................. 31 Pardon Me — But the Night Lasts Ail Evening Bop Bop by M. M. Esperanto..30 Pussywillows by Gary Czerwinski ..................... 33 Sono by Bill Gouge ....................................................... . Star Dance by David Sunseri ........ ............. ............ . 33 Untitled Words by Michael MasonEsoeranto .......................... 30 POLITICS ............................................................. ..',22-24 How to Survive by Stuart Norman ....................................... 22 WRL Southeast Regional Conference by Brik Miller ............... 22 RFD INFORMATION ................................................. inside Covers SPIRITUALITY ............................................................. 44-47 It's In the Bible ny Tom Dclan ............................................ 44 Spiritual Knighthood by D. Rich ....................................... 45 3

Gear RFV, We received a call from David of Van couver, Canada responding to the Homesteading article in #40 dealing wi th rai s ing pigs. He recommends Ra is ing the Homestead Hog by Jerome 8 © Ianger (Rodale Press, 1977, $7.95) as a good source of that kind of in formation. He also suggests that folks feed their hoqs whole raw milk 1wo weeks prior to taking them to market as it cleans them out quite we II. -RL

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# 11

Gear fo fk s , In RIP Vo. 35 (Summer 1983] a sto ry ' ^ mine was p u blished c a lle d "Mafation S u ite Serenade" in which a aacLicat (nam eendenee of b io lo g ic a l ie x it achieved through the ate o(S keta mine. It hat come to mg a tten tio n that ketamine can be a dangerous tubsta n ce. I'm m ix in g now to discourage anybody whose c u rio u s ity may have been xtouted by the stony. There are many true p sy ch ed elics (some of which ane not co n tro l t e d 1 which have a le s s questio na ble track teco td than k eta mine. A fiuathe* note on the p o ss ib le con nection between sexual o rien ta tio n and r e lig io u s vocation. I fin d i t most prod uctive to view th is matter in terms of attachm ent. P ro crea tiv e h etero sexu a l dyads are most attached. This is the b reed er c a s te . Not only do they seek mates but they produce kids which tie s up a g re a t deal of time and energy. N on-procreative h etero sexu a l dyads and gay dyads (ma£e or jjemafe) are so much le s s atta ch ed , bound and yoked than b re e d e rs . One ca ste s p e c i a l i zation of th is group seems to be e ro t ic softw are p rod ucers. Tree ^ o m the sar.ple replacem ent d u ties of the b reed er they c re a te po etry , romance, c lo th in g and s ty le to a t t r a c t mates and g l o r i f y the dyad.

not a d is to rtio n of h e te ro se x u a lity . I t i s not a masked form of homosexuali ty. I t i s an honest to goodness separa te sexu al im print with i t s own a e s th e tic ru le s and rea so n s. One does not have to take out a home stead on which to b u ild a dynasty of f l e s h . One is not com pulsively d r i ven to seek and keep a mate. One fe e ls adequate to meet o n e's own s e x ual needs. Masturbation and fantasy, in th is ca se, is not a s u b s t it u t e fo r another person but the primary medium fo r sexual play. Through a l i g h t s e x ual tra n ce one evokes o n e's female s e l f fassuming i t is a b io lo g ic a l m ale). While in th e past th is sexu al trance id e n t it y has been L i t t l e more than a c a ll g i r l - one may evoke deep er resona nces, d i f f e r e n t asp ects of Goddess and r e c e iv e an education in the dee,p female po int of view. I think i t i s a fun ction of th is so c i e t y 's sexu al re p r e s s io n th at the most, innocent, harmless and pure form of s e x u a lity i s seen as th e most decadent. We d o n 't c r u is e p eo p le. We d o n 't make more peo p le. We are not horny c e l i b a tes. We just, enjoy o u rs e lv e s . To the e x te n t that we c a n 't fu lly consumate th is union in th e p h ysica l body I f e e l that, i t is w ithin our nature to be drawn to s u b tle r and more spacious p la n es. Tor modern fo lk , I b e lie v e that p sy ch ed elic substances are c ru a ia l in th is reg a rd . The p resen ce of t r a n s v e s tite shamanism and an amanita mushroom r e lig io n in old S ib e ria su ggests a c u ltu re com plex in which the two were not only co-occ.urrent but s y n e r g is t ic a lly r e la ted . This is an in t e r e s t in g specula t i o n . Best w ishes, J e f f K leinbard, New York (Ed note: see D. Rich's article "Spiritual Knighthood" in this issue for further discussion of this con cern .)

Even le s s attached is the autosexual monad who im prints his or her cont ra sexual s e l f as a sexual o b je c t . This some times m anifests as gender buck and drag. This, is the le a s t atta ch ed ^o4m o($ s e x u a lity s in c e i t re q u ire s no p a rtn er and produces no k id s. I t is

S tu a rt Norman's ” 1984 - The E lectio n Issues" a r t i c l e (in #40) i s e x c e lle n t , but one statem ent in a t i s debata ble. Mr. Norman w rote, "Even c o n s tit u tio n a lly , g a y s ...h a v e f u l l rig h ts now. Only p re ju d ic e has allowed laws to be enacted which v io la t e our r i g h t s ." I seem to r e c a l l read ing th a t th e US Supreme Court in a 1975 or 1976 ru lin g on a V irgin ia ca se, d ecla red that, th e r e i s no c o n s titu tio n a l r ig h t to have gay s e x . However, th e Court may change i t s mind and someday le g a l i z e gay sex throughout the U.S. Sandra Day O'Con nor has re p la ce d P otter Stewart on the Court, and a s i n g l e vote can swing d e c is io n s . The Supreme Court, r e c e n t ly d e c lin ed to review , and thus in e f f e c t upheld, a s t a t e co u rt ru lin g th at le g a liz e s 'c r u is in g ' in New York s t a t e . Appointees to th e Supreme Court a r e not always p red icta b ly ' l i b e r a l ' or 'c o n s e r v a t iv e '. Richard Nixon appoint ed Harry Blackman to th e Court, but i t •xis Blackman who wrote the C ourt's maio r ity d e c isio n le g a liz in g abortion in 1973. The Supreme Court sometimes r e verses i t s e l f as i t did in 1954 school segrega tio n d e c isio n . According to a June 1984 is s u e of The Advocate, t h e r e a re 26 or 27 s ta tes where p r iv a te , ad u lt gay s ex is le g a l 'th e s itu a tio n in Texas being u n c le a r ). S in c e r e ly , John W heeler, Minnesota

Vear RFV, I have a bone to p ick with S tu a rt Norman, or e l s e with th e copy e d ito r. Halftoay through his a r t i c l e "1984 The E lec tio n Issues" (in #40) the word 'L ib e r ta r ia n ' s ta r te d appearing with a lower ca se ' l ' . T hat's not fa ir. I t 's a l l r ig h t , I g u e s s, to d e s c r ib e the L iberta ria n Party as "econom ically co n serv a tiv e and c i v i l ly lib e r a l" i f such a combination makes s en se to you. But p le a s e , S tu a rt Norman, you should re c o g n iz e th a t th e toord has a wider u s e , and th e r e a re people around who d e s c rib e the ideas of th e L ib erta ria n Party

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" r ig h t - lib e r t a r ia n " {as in "'tight wing") to d is tin g u is h i t from that other lib e rta ria n is m -- w iser, 7 think -- that reco g n iz es the in terco n n ec t ion between human freedom and human l i v e l i hood. The lov e of l i b e r t y is v ery o ld . The notions of buying and i d l i n g land, money, human la b o r, and na tu ral r e sources on the open market, and c a ttin g that freedom, are much more a c c en t. They've only caught on in the la s t few c e n tu r ie s . A r is t o tle c a lle d th e ivagere la tio n s h ip a s o rt of, temporary servitud e, and co n sid ered th e man who was fo rced to l i v e by th is means as a slave fo r p o l i t i c a l pu rp oses. Vante saw th e people who l e n t money a t i n t e r e s t in th a t p a rt o f H ell re s e rv e d fo>i s in n e rs a ga in st Nature -- oh, he nay have put us sodomites t h e r e too, the sch o la rs may s t i l l argue about i t , I can b e lie v e i t , but th e u su rers were d e f i n i t e l y th e r e , not because th ey broke th e taws of the Church or the City but because what th ey diid wa-6 so obviously wrong. As fo r th e American Indians, I'm vert< g ra te fu l fo r your n o tice of Forgotten Founders in the. same, is s u e . 7 want to read Zi now, and I ' l l be s u rp ris e d i f I fin d in th e Iriqu oian philosophy of self-governm ent a concept of land ownership th at perm itted the accumu lation of land as investm ent c a p ita l. Maybe my h is to ry i s o f f on some p o in ts. Check i t out! Or we can bypass the h isto ry and ask a simple q u estio n : i f 7 have the power to deny you food, or water, or th e means to gather the.se, unless you e n te r a co n tra ct with me, is th at a f r e e c o n tra ct? And a re you fr e e ? Forgive th e t ir a d e , S.N . 7 know i t ’ s hard to cover everythin g in a short a r t i c l e . Maybe you see capitalism as 7 do but. th ink th a t i f we could only lim it government, c a p ita l would to p p le. 7 don’ t s ee th e change as coming that way, but then 7 don’ t know how i t w ill come, e i t h e r . And, 7 hope you d o n 't s e e th is as a claim fo r half-ow nership of your word, but as an appeal for co u rtesy . 7 th in k what you say about l ib e r t y coul.d be a ccep ted by most lib e rt a r ia n s { s i c ) , ex cep t that you mention th e m arketplace as i f i t were such a sim ple th in g, so n e u tra l, so obvious. Does i t s e rv e anyone's purpose to obscure ideas l i k e that? Jimmy G r iffin , Pennsylvania

S tu a rt R ep lies: Capital L ibertarianism r e f ers to the p o lic ie s and philosophy of th e L ib er ta ria n Party and movement. Ves, l i b ertarianism is of o ld er usage. There ar e c i v i l lib e r t a r ia n i s s u e s . And, th e r e are n ig h t and l e f t lib e r t a r ia n s and L iberta ria ns on economic and s o c ia l is s u e s .

Ves, modern L ibertarianism can be both econom ically conserva tiv e and c i v i l l y lib e ra l. Perhaps misnomers, but i f one has the rig h ts to honestly earned pro p erty and the r ig h t to deal fr e e ly with fello w humans without s ta t e con t r o l, that i s con sid ered C la ssica l Conservatism. But c i v i l l i b e r t i e s issu es go hand in hand with those -th e r i g h t to a c t and speak fr e e ly , even i f contra ry to s o c ia l mores, with the cond itio n that one does not violate, the rig h t s of another. Sim p ly , economic and c i v i l freedoms go to g e t h e r. But i f th e r e is government c o n tro l of economics those a re con s t r a in t s on c i v i l freedom s. Or, i f m in o rities must, p e tit io n government fo r s p e c ia l recogtvition of t h e ir rig h ts or to gain special, p r iv ile d g e s , then th ey owe t h e i r p o sitio n to th e govern ment which can take i t away. They have given up t h e i r r ig h t s to th e go vernment and are a t i t s mercy. That i s th e s t a t e of rig h t s in our country now. X 1AV 1D M. What I d o n 't li k e is s ta te co n tro l of economics or c i v i l l i b e r t i e s . Govern ment should only be a p ro tecto r those freedoms for in d iv id u a ls , not the s o u rce . But, government is an exp ressio n of the c u ltu ra l v isio n and w ill p ro t e c t that concept by any r e p res s iv e means. So, s ta te so cialism or ca pitalism become re p r e s s iv e r e gim es. Both are f a s c is t .

RED notes with sadness the passing of a friend and associate. David Strykerserved on the Consulting Circle for RFD and was a supporter of Running Water. He was 66 and is survived by two sons.His cheerful and experienced support will be missed.

X 7 know the arguments over p rop erty rig h ts . The a n a rch ist p h ilo so p h er, P .J. Proudhon expounded on "Property is th e ft. Property is l i b e r t y . Pro p e rty i s im p o ssible." These three views a re s o c i a l i s t , c a p it a lis t and a n a rch ist, r e s p e c t iv e ly . It. is o n e's view th a t m atters. But tru ly one is not f r e e i f one has to e n te r in to a co n tra ct fo r b asic n e c e s s it ie s or lu x u r ie s . That i s c o e rs io n .

We had some address problems also. On page 7, the address of the Cor respondence Club (PO Box 27425) should have read: Box 27426. However, mall sent to that (correct) address has been returned. 5o, we don't know where they are. If anyone had trouble gettinq mall to Russ RIvenburq (Contact Letter on page 56) it might be because his town is AFTON, not New York. The 7fP is right, so it may have gotten to him that way.

7 do not, nor did 7 propose to defend p rop erty, i . e . land as investm ent c a p it a l, but 7 do defend the r ig h t of ownership. That is a p a rt, only a p a rt, o f freedom.

7 hope th at answers your q u estio n s. Thank you fo r o ffe r in g the opportunity to dia logu e with you. S tu a rt Norman

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CORRl C H O N S Ihe crediIs on page 1 of the last issue (#40) were reversed. The upper right and lower left photos were done by Thomas Riordan; the rest were by Savlz Schafle.

Ves, th ere i s economic and p o lit ic a l co n tro l by large, corporation and busi ness networks th at a re as re p r e s s iv e and e x p lo it a tiv e as any fa s c is t go vernment or imperial, s t a t e .

7 would a gree that every person has a r ig h t to liv lih o o d , but not given by a government. That r ig h t prededes government. Government fo rc e s c i t i zens to pay ta x es , which i s s la v ery . Then a w elfa re s ta te g iv es some of the funds not eaten up by i t s bureau cra cy and in t e r n a l g re e d to the poor. Thus government rapes everyone and keeps i t s p o sitio n of supremacy.

[RYKfR

JP's letter on page sixty should have been routed through RFD. If you want to dialogue with JP about the Collector's Syndrome, you can reach him through us. We also need to apologize to Don Engstrom for the printer printing his Goddess figures on the back cover upsidedown.

;ATHf - IN'- NOTICE' : The season is beginning, and we would like to notify folks about the many different gatherings happening all across the country (yea, world), but we can’t if folks don't send us the information. We realize that our lead time is difficult to prepare for (see back cover), but we would like to hear from you with your plans.

► NAMBLA << V !

Ml ■

Setting goals for Increased public impact and membership growth, the eighth general membership conference of the North American Man Boy Love Association met in San Francisco this past fall. Harry Hay, Jim Kepner and Morris Knight called upon their Lesbi sisters and Gay brothers to renew thei dedication for sexual freedom and to defend man/boy love from attacks of right-wing idealogues. NAMBLA called for the integration of Lesbian and Gay youth into the leadership of the ^ movement and for a recognition of young people’s rights. NAMBLA, formed in 1978, supports men and boys in consensual relationships. Its educational efforts aim for public understanding of intergenerationaI love, and to defend sexual freedom from harsh social misjudgments and legalized repression. Headquartered in Now York City, NAMBLA has active chapters and affiliated groups in major U.S. and Canadian cities. The host San francisco chapter was formed ^ in 1981.

CHANGING MEN'S ROLES IN A CHANGING WORLD A conference intended to go beyond men's movement issues to the impact of the stereotyped male role on world events Is scheduled for late January, 1985 In New York City. Men and War, Violence, and Heroism are planned discussions. Workshops are also planned on conscientious objection and "missile envy". For information, contact Pat Wilson (212) 598-0958. The conference is to be at the AFSC, 15 Rutherford PI., New York, NY.

■TO BE A MAN SOMEDAY A Cross-disciplinary conference on the nature of maleness from a histo rical, cross-cultural, pyschologtcaI and social science perspective Is scheduled for January 18-20 1985 at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Call: (503) 686-5501.

WINTER SOLSTICE IN NEW YORK Although perhaps too late for most readers to get to, we want you to know about the Winter Solstice Faerie Gathering at Camp Thoreau at Pinebush, NY. It is scheduled for Dec. 21 - 25. You might cal l fo r Information on future events at: New York (212) 2227637; Ithaca (607) 272-7752; Boston (617) 864-9063.

KEY WEST IN MARCH. The Island Circle of Key West is planning a week-long gathering in the semi-tropical wilderness of the Florida Keys from March I through 7. A planned discussion on "What is the Special Purpose of our Lives? And What can we do About it Together?" will be offered. "Bring your unique vision, personal magnetism and bag of tricks for a post primative revel in nature." Write: The Island Circle, P0 Box 4449, Key West, FL 33040.

'TINTH SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE The tenth Southeastern Conference will be held April II - 14 in Chape I Hill, North Carolina. The theme of this year's conference is "Here Today and Here to Stay". Convening at the site of the first SE Conference, the 1985 conference will focus on how far lesbians and gay men have come in ten years and how far we have yet to go. It will feature major speakers, a number of workshops on many aspects of lesbian and gay life and culture, and entertainment. Write: SE Confer ence, PO Box 344, Chapel Hill, NC 77514; (919) 929-4053.

BBSS!

SHORT MOUNTAIN'S RITES OF SPRING The Short Mountain Corporate Meeting and Rites of Spring Festival will be held during April 26 through May 5, 1985 in central Tenn. Primitive camping facilities will be available. Bring your own tent and equipment. For more information write: Short Mountain Sanctuary, Rt. I Box 98-A, Liberty, TN 37095.

<0>£DIBLE AND MEDICINAL WILDPLANT WORKSHOP

)

Dead Straight Films is a collective formed with the aim of using the various communications skills of its members to counteract Jhe increasing ly anti-gay stance being taken by the 'popular' media. Write: BM DSF Dead Straight Films, London WC1N 3XX.

|GAY FINANCIAL NEWSLETTER The first financial newsletter speci fically geared toward gay men and lesbian women, Lambda Financial Advisor, began publication in Novem ber, 1984. The publishers feel that the gay community's investment goals and objectives are different from that of the "straight" family's. Write: Lambda Publishing Co., P0 Box 3569, Jersey City, NJ 07303.

|NUDIST MAGAZINE FamiIies-Naturally is a journal that promotes family nudity and has ex perienced police harassment recent ly. The journal takes a position of positive sex education through nudism for the entire family includ ing children. Subs are $10. Write: The Parent SIG, 2483 Emerson Dr. South, Corona, CA 91720.

ALL WOMAN TV NEWS Next February will mark the third anniversary of "Women Then and Now", a Columbus Ohio locally produced wo man's TV news show. The program is believed to be the only all-female produced show in the country. It can be seen in the Columbus area on Channel 3 Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.

Milo Guthrie wiI I lead an Edible and Medicinal Wildplant Workshop on April O R E - O R I E N T I N G OUR MANHOOD AND RE-OWNING OUR POWER 13 A 14 and May 11 & 12, 1985 in Cannon Co. in Tenn. (about 60 miles On January 25-27 at the Rowe Conference SE from Nashville). The workshop Center in western Mass, a retreat will will be an in-depth introduction to be lead by David Thompson and Doug the identification, collection, pre Wilson exploring "our manhood in terms paration and use of native edible of our individuality, the way we in and medicinal wild plants. It will tertact with others and our connected cover field identification, folklore, ness to humanity and the earth." The historical, macical, and Indian uses retreat is designed for men and will of plants. Pre-registration is neces "utilize the power of ritual and sym sary at $20 per adult; $3 per child bol to embody and deepen our connec including a $5 deposit. Enrollment tions." Write: Rowe Conference Cen will be limited. Write: Milo Guthrie, ter, Kings Highway Rd., Rowe, MA 0136?: Rt. I Box 98-A, Liberty, TN 37095; (413) 339-4216. (615) 890-8008 (message).

O ^ H E GREAT LAKES MEN'S NETWORK O

As an organization of pro-feminist and pro-gay individuals and groups building its own cultural, personal and political network, its members share a commitment to reach their full potential as people - not as men seeking power over others, but as men sharing strengths and differ ences. Committed to building a world free of sexism and homophobia, the Network develops a 01 rectory of members and organizations and Manseript, a quarterly newsletter. Membership is $8 /yr. Write: The Great lakes Men's Network, P0 Box 1441, Madison, Wl 53710.

MEW AGE PAGAN NETWORK

The Mind Science Network is a non profit resource center for the Earth- Q M E I K L E J O H N CIVIL LIBERTIES INSTITUTE oriented religions, Theosophical Paths The Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Insti of Mind Science, and the Pagan Move ment. The MSN is a New Age religious tute has been working since 1965 with contless individuals and organizations association working principally to increase public awareness, respect to defend, strengthen and extend civil and sincere participation in all and political rights and liberties; areas of the Pagan and Spiritual the right to collective bargaining community. The Mind Science Journal and other economic rights; and the will be published quarterly and will right to peace. The Institute is cover a wide variety of subjects. currently concentrating on a Peace Submissions are welcomed. The sug Law and Education Project, building gested donation for a one-year sub a Brief Bank for lawyers, activists, scription is SIO USA & Canada, $15 scholars, and journalists to use in elsewhere; samples are $5. Write: their work. The Institute also pub The Mind Science Nefwork, Box 1302, lishes books on law and social change. O Q U E B E C MEN" GROUP Write: MCLI, PO Box 673, Berkeley, Mill Valley, CA 94941 . CA 94701; (415) 848-0599. Collectif Masculin Contra La Sexisme is a bl-lingua I pro-feminist pressure group. It tries to e x p o s e and coun O'NTENTIONAL COMMUNITY ter male oppression of women and masO N A T I O N A L ORGANIZATION FOR CHANGING cull nlst attempts to stabilize patri MEN Common Spirit is in the first phase archy by puttino "men's Issues" on a of forming an intentional community. par with women's struggles, and gen NOCM (formerly the National Organiza As part of that phase, CS is opening erally appropriating power over women tion for Men) is a pro-feminist, gaylines of communication with 1 ) exist and children. It Is open to network affirmative, male supportive coali ing intentional communities, 2 ) indi ing and exchanqe of material critical tion of men and women. Founded in viduals, especially gay persons, who of masculinism and patriarchy. Write: 1981, NOCM sponsers the annual Nation want to become part of an intentional CMCS, 3945 rue Laval, Montreal, Quebec, al Conference on Men & Masculinity, a community, and 3 ) persons who former Canada H2W 2H9. variety of Task Groups for action on ly were members of intentional com social issues, and the publication of munities. CS is particularly look Brother. Membership dues are $25 per ing for people who have experience year, including Brother. Write: in the legal and organizational as O n ORTHEAST MEN'S NETWORK NOCM, 814 Blackhawk Dr., University pects of a community. Park, IL 60466. The Northeastern Men's Emerging Network The community embraces the following (NEMEN) links together the area from objectives: a retreat house; an al O.C. to Maine. Their newsletter, ternate energy research center; a O A U S T R A L I A N MEN'S NETWORK Reaching Out, is available for $8 /yr. work situation for younger community Write: NEMEN, 906 S. 49th St., Phila Men Opposing Patriarchy is a collec members; and, a setting in which old delphia, PA 19143. tive of men looking at how patriarchy er community members can live a operates in society and individuals. fulfilling and useful life. Write: The collective intends not only to Karl Volk, 43 Whittier, Poughkeepsie, look but also to be active in personal Q n EW HAMPSHIRE GAY MENS GROUP NY 12603. and social change. The main focus of the group at the moment is to set up Monadnock gay men meet weekly on a men's group network, by encouraging Friday evenings. It is a social al O A N T I-SMOKING the establishment of new men's groups. ternative for gay men of the Keene, They produce a CR Resource Kit to help New Hampshire area. For more infor Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) There are 5 men's groups in Sydney, mation, call (603) 756-4226. is soliciting funds to help with at least 5 in Melbourne, 3 in Adelaide their program to 1 ) bring about the and 1 in Canberra. Write: Men Oppos establishment of No-smoking areas ing Patriarchy, P0 Box 366, Rozelle Q n EW Y0RK FAERIE CIRCLE in public places and provide on-the2039 NSW Austral la. job protection for non-smoking em There was an announcement in the last ployees; 2 ) eliminate all unfair and issue regarding the forming Faerie deceptive cigarette advertising and Circle in New York, but there was promotion; 3) make cigarette com O A U S T R A L IAN RETREAT CENTER some difficulty with the PO Box. panies legally liable for much of Anyone interested in the group Common Ground, a rural wilderness the bill ions of do Ilars of death, should write for information address community for gay men and women wel disability and destruction from ed: Circle c/o O'Connor, PO Box 765 smoking. For more information, comes visitors for short or long term Murray Hill Station, New York, NY visits. Write: Common Ground, PO Box write: ASH, 2013 H St. NW, Washing 10156. ton, DC 20006. 302, Kempsey, 2440 NSW, Australia.

The American Psychiatric Association t has called for the withdrawal of a The Food For Peace Program, or PL 480, Public Health Service memorandum that is celebratinq its 30th anniversary directs the U.S. quarantine officers this year. More than $33 billion in f') "medically certify" self-proclaimed U.S. farm products has been distribut homosexuaIs. ed to developing nations under the Act since its inception. This year APA'-, request was contained in a letter the U.S. will spend about $1.5 billion jddressed to Edward N. Brandt, MO, asunder PL 480 to purchase and transport •.itunt secretary for health. The as six million metric tons of food to soc i it ion based the request on its more than 80 nations. December 1973 position that homosexu ality in itself is not i mental dis order. )SAFE DRINKING WATER Iho letter is the second time APA has ^ taken a stand on medical certification Contamination of the nation's drink of homosexuals. In July 1974, the ing water supplies by hazardous Association voiced the same position waste, pesticides and other toxic to the Immigration and Naturalization contaminants “^ses a major threat to public health. Legislation is pendinq in both the House and Senate to reauthorize and strengthen the Safe Drinking Water Act. f PSYCHOLOGI STS ESTABLISH NfW GAY LESBIAN DIVISION In the House, HR 5959 sets deadlines for EPA to establish drinking water fhe American Psychological Associati standards for frenquently detected (APA) has established a new interest industrial contaminants and pesti area division, the Society for the cides, based on the best available Psychological Study of Lesbian and treatment technologies; requires ay Issue",, effective January, 1985. testing by public water systems for Approved by a two-thirds vote of APA heaIth-threatening contaminants not governing Council of Representatives yet regulated by EPA; restricts under in August, the new division marks co ground injection of hazardous wastes; tinued recognition by psychologists and requires states to develop and im the importance of research about les plement groundwater protection plans. bian and qay issues, and of the need to provide better and more approprla te mental health services to gay and le The Senate version of the Safe Drink b i a n e l ients. ing Water Act reauthorization, S 2649 has not yet been reported out of com ust years, APA has passed policy mittee. n Uutions supporting gay and lesbian Civil |hts and the declassification of h< •xuality as a mental illness, ►HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION PROGRAM The new r division will provide psychosts knowledqable about lesbian The US House of Representatives has ‘lay issues with the opportunity passed HR 5358, the Honey Research, e represented on APA's governing Promotion, and Consumer Information cil and will be allocated program Act. It enables the produces and at the Association's annual conhandlers of honey and honey products to finance a nationally coordinated research, promotion, and consumer in formation program designed to expand their markets for honey and honey pro Bl DOCUMENTS ducts. he FBI has released to the AmerJ< The program is voluntary. Before it 'ivil Liberties Union of Southern can be implemen+ed, it must be approv ;u pages o ed in a referendum by two-thirds of locuments demonstrat the agency the producers and importers voting esbian organ!zations for 33 years. The program would be financed by as sessments of up to four cents per About fifty percent of the material pound to be paid by persons who pro produced thus far by the FBI has b< duce or import at least 6 ,0 0 0 pounds blacked out. The FBI claims that of honey annually and would be opera disclosure of some of this material ted at no cost to the government. would threaten current national se Prov is ions are incIuded in the bill curity interests. Documents re tea? under which producers and importers thus far do not reveal any illegal could obtain refunds of assessments subversive activities by the group; paid by them. Inf I Itrated.

►PROPOSED COMMISSION In the face of a four-year decline in U.S. farm exports, there is a proposal for a national agricultural trade and export commission. Tho proposal, which must be approved by Congress, would set up a commissiog made up of members of Congress and representatives of the private sector, to explore ways to boost agricultural exports. If es tablished, the commission would make a preliminary report to Congress next March, as work on the 1985 farm bill begins, and a final report in July 1986. In addition to assessing cur rent farm policy, the commission would consider how the government's economic and foreign policy and international economic conditions affect exports.

►WAR REGISTERS LEAGUE CALENDAR With a moving introduction by award winning activist writer Grace Pa ley, the 1985 War Resisters League Calen dar is a thing of beauty - a summation of where we have been and where we need to go. To order, send $6 (four for $2 2 ) with your name and address to WRL, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012.

►THE '85 LUNAR CALENDAR The '85 Lunar Calandar (Dedicated to the Goddess in Her Many Guises) de picts the thirteen lunations of the year in open spirals from one new moon to the next. The months are named in accordance with the Celtic/ Druidic tree-aIphabet, and each tree is graphically represented by leafrubbings and written lore. The Lunar Calendar gives the times of moon rise and moon set, the lunar transits of the houses of the zodiac, the high earth festivals, with all solar dates included. It also in cludes the basics of lunar astronomy, astrology, and mythology; the effects of the moon upon gardening; and pro vides information on solar and lunar systems through time. It further provides an extensive bibliography, and a new, easy to understand intro duction to the moon and cyclic time. The '85 Lunar Calendar costs $10 plus $2 for shipping. Write: Luna Press, Box 511 Kenmore Station, Bos ton, MA 02215; (617) 542-9057.

MORE GAY MUSICIANS I

BLACK GAY ANTHOLOGY

More gay men are performing original music intended especially for gay audiences. BROTHER is a Chicago based band specializing in blues and Motown music. Unlike other bands BROTHER has no 'lead* musicians. Band members band and blend musical roles. BROTHER'S members include James Geoffrey Dawson, Tyrone Emaris, Jim Lovatte, Steve Marlowe, Tony Terrell and Jon Wildes. For further information contact RKO Productions, 16 North Wabash, Ste. 1212, Chicago, IL 60602; (312) 477-0389/929-9715'.

Manuscripts and artwork by black gay men about the black gay male experi ence in America are being solicited for an anthology. The book, edited by Joseph Beam, a Philadelphia black gay activist and writer, will be pub lished by Alyson Publications, Inc. of Boston in 1986. Manuscripts may be submitted in the following forms: essays and short fiction (up to 5,000 words), poetry (no more than five poems), brief excerpts from plays and novels, Jour nal entries, performance pieces, and interviews. The editor is interested in your experiences of: intimate re lationships, coming out, interactions with family, rural living, youth, re ligion, prison life, aqinq, the arts, gay activism, oral history, the mili tary, and erotica. Artwork in the form of photography and drawings may be submitted (please send copies, not originals). All manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced on 8 1/2 " by II" white paper with the contri butor's name on each page.

N olxxly ta n push back an ocean. It's gonna rise bat k up in waves And nobody can stop the w ind from blow in', Stop a mirxJ frexn growin'. Somebody may stop m y voice from singing But the song w ill live* on and on. You can't kill the spirit. It's like a mountain. O ld and strong; it lives on and on.

SYRACUSE CULTURAL WORKSHOP PROJECT This group publishes lots of graphics In the form of posters, note cards and their annual calendar. For their catalogue, write them at W Y R A < V l E CULTURAL <V*OllKift* P R O T E C T Nt 13217 (319)474 n o

Deadline for submissions is February 28, 1985.

BILL FOLK Bill Folk is a gay singer/songwriter who is performing in San Francisco. He was heard at the National March for Gay/Lesbian Rights and has ap peared at Stanford University and Valencia Rose. About his work in music, he says, "feeling good about who we are as gay men and women is so important. And we must find ways to feel connected. Music is one way I know to help people bond emotional ly." For more information contact Bright Moon Records, 584 Castro St., Suite 317, San Francisco, CA 94114; (415) 864-0475.

As the editor is forming a black gay archive, contributors are encouraged to grant written permission for sub mission of their manuscript or art work to this archive. Only submis sions accompanied by a self-addressee envelope with sufficient postage will be returned. Write: Beam/BGA, PO Box 30024, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

SOUTHWEST GAY PERFORMANCE ARTISTS A call to gay performance artists in the Southwest is being made by A Gay Arts Project. Singers, dancers, musicians, poets, storytellers, art ists, filmmakers, and photographers are being asked to come together to organize, help each other produce works, perform and publish. Manu scripts and tapes will be considered for air on Wilde 'n' Stein (a Gay Radio Program on KPFT, 90.1, Houston Texas). Writings, poetry, and music of concern to the gay experience are solicited. Please send any material to: Mike Mlesch/Wilde 'n* Stein c/o KPFT 419 Lovett Blvd. Houston, TX 77006

JOHN GILL by FRANKLIN ABBOTT John Gill is a poet, editor and publisher. His latest book of poetry, From The Diary of Peter DoyIe, was pub lished in 1982 by the Alembic Press. The title poem is named for Peter Doyle, an ex-confederate soldier who was 17 when he first met Walt Whitman and who was Whitman's companion for six years. In the passages from Doyle's diary imagined by Gill as poetry we see the old poet through the eyes of the young man who loved him. Through his own confusion he watched Whitman as he grew old and sick and died. In these poems Gill shows insight into a relationship that never quite comes into definition. "It's almost like a marriage/and that almost is what kills..." "From the Diary of Peter Doyle" is being interpreted for the stage in New York this fall. The other poems in Gill's new book are mostly personal, often brief. His use of language is masterful and he displays a vulnerability reminescent of Paul Goodman though usually not as angry. 1-1

he's good to me so why do I despair? worked till 2 a.m. and there was Walt waiting, we went on a moonlight ramble through the Capitol, past the White House down the long avenues the streets deserted finally resting on the bank of the Potomac the water shivered with thousands of silver fish Wall started to explain the constellations his voice so deep and tender I fell asleep woke, startled, to his calm grey eyes in the morning light, his coat over me said he got used to sitting up all night with wounded soldiers, his face looked the way an angel's face might, stepping on thorns: full of love and pain and so far away I was jealous, but J_ ain't wounded, I said I got the use of a II my limbs and faculties meaning a joke, he got up kinda hurried called me*"son." embraced me. I went home to bed.

John Gill was born in 1924, educated at DePauI University and UCLA. He moved to Ithaca, NY in 1956 and taught Eng lish at Ithaca College for 10 years. From 1966 - 1976 he edited New: American and Canadian Poetry Magazine and in 1975 established with Elaine Goldman Gill the Crossing Press. At first he did all of the printing and binding of books himself. Last year The Crossing Press published 20 titles mainly of feminist and gay books.

at least I know there's something more to us while you fuss and evade tike a mother hen. I love you, Watt, and understand your need for fame. I was willing, oh, so willing to give and that's what hurts, the body insists on having its way not to break and unravel slowly to the end.

Gill lives near Ithaca on a farm beside Taug Hannock Falls, one of the longest waterfalls east of the Rockies. His poems often reflect life in the country. An earlier col lection, Country Pleasures was published by The Crossing Press in 1975. Of his poetry Marge Piercy has written, "John Gill's new poems are passionate and rough-textured, like roles that speak... His subjects are particularly Ionliness, aging, silence and late thorny love. His strongest poetry is rooted in the body, in the clearly rendered way of country life."

when I got home tonight there was a bouquet of flowers: a bunch of hairy-tonqued iris small pink roses, some daffodil, struck me blank at first but it was Walt, all right.

O O O O O O O O O O O

From the Diary of Peter Doyle is avaiI able from the Crossing Press, P0 Box 640, Trumansburg, NY 14886 for $4.50 plus $ 1.00 postage. I recommend it highly even for folks who rarely read poetry. %

O O O O O O O O O O O

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Night, with downy hair trembling the color of gold, ombraces A pure sleep, a pure spirit, a pure substance For example, pure gold, silver, iron ore Light dug out of the dark earth: diamond Muddy crystal columns, amethyst, garnet A pure idea, a pure poem, a pure death Its innocent mimesis Like the soft roe which, taken out of the pliant belly Of a leaping male salmon gleams a rainbow color Like the corpse of a drowned boy rfsing from the water In the arms of sorrowful water nymphs Like the ancient bronze statue of a god which the wordless divers Tie to a rope and haul up from the bottom of the sea You, glistening-wet, inert Keep falling, or keep climbing Into a heavier sleep, into a deeper sleep--

Childhood dream of flying through space Tom Thumb riding a goose Eleven princes who turned into swans Clever kids lifted to a star Star-shaped confetti Confetti, alfeloa shots Shots to blind the enemy in a snowbalI fight Bow-and-arrow fight, Lord Protector of Bows and Ar rows, arrows numbering eighty thousand Hundreds and thousands of stones flipped from a catapult An artillery, an anti-aircraft gun, machine gun strafe like haiI stones In a kids' war, a shower of pebbles A knapsack hurled off Textbooks thrown out, cards Heaven's jewelry box thrown out Angels who flew away Heaven's forces on birds' wings Hell's army on bats' membranes A great space war that weaves through the stars A great formation that falls burning Dandelions parachute Pollen that flies up in the wind Golden kerria roses that scatter in the wind Kerri a King's generous treat Cakes scattered, bags scattered to the crowd Scattering large coins, small coins Scatter, scattering away Rolling up Iike a fetus Headfirst, headlong Heavy, Iones— ■ , fall!

KaU ^ W J :

by FRANKLIN ABBOTT

Mu+suo Takahashi is a prominent Japanese poet who is gay. A Bunch of Keys is his most recent works translated into English by Hlroakl Sato and published this year by the Crossing Press. An earlier book of translations, Poem-. of a Penisist was published in |Q75 by the Chicago Review Press. A Bunch of Keys contains poems from ,3 number of Takahashi Japanese works. The center piece of the book !•. his 'Ode' a 37 page celebration of male sexuality. Written between 1966 and 1970, Ode? begins with the whole man seen again-.t a tragic, beautiful sunset and then proceeds from toes to groin ("cloves of spices, clouds of flower-,") to flu prick ("a solitary child wrapped in a radiant halo"). There is groping ("bopping down the stairs to the base ment country") and m interlude at the Turkish embassy where "one pushes in the stunning glass door like the entrance to limbo..." Takahashi was born Into a limbo of sort,. In 195/ tap in was at war, the next year his father died and he and his mother were separated. At the war's end in 1945 h*> wrote his first poems. In 1959 his first book was published and he spent nearly two years in a sanltorium recover lr>g from TO. There, through a Catholic friar, he became familiar with ("reek tragedies and the Bible. Takahashi graduated from Fukuoka University in 1902 and moved to Tokyo where he continued to write poetry and became aeguainted wi 1h Yuklo Mishlma. He ha-, published numerous books of pextry, travelled exstnsively, write n for the theater and In 198? received the 20th Rekltei prize for Okoku no Kozo (The Structure H the Kingdom). A Bunch of Keys is available for $6.95 plus $1.00 postage from The Crossing Press, Box 640, trunvinsburg, NY 14886 or in your local bookstore (maybe).

ITS HARD TO

see vvf— ip you're GOlNO V V Ij H tea ^

YOUR E Y

E S

arry and I agreed months In advance to make the pilgri mage from western Louisiana to Roan Mountain in North Carolina to be a part of the Autumnal Equinox Gathering, I said we had agreed months in advance, and since we are both compulsive planners, workers, arrangers, etc., we even had enough money saved to pay the cost of the gaso line. However, one major factor remained to be handled -- the dreary feat of driving 16 hours directly to Run ning Water. What could we do to alleviate the sheer boredom of excruciating interstate travel? Even the cows looked alike. Barry and I finally agreed on a ’game’ where we took on different personalities and created reality out of fic tion. One vignette entailed my simultaneously playing his child, his wife, husband and lover, and maintaining stream-of-consciousness conversation. "How far is it, Daddy?" "I have to urinate." (Intelligent child, of course). "Daddy, your cock is straining against your slacks!" "If you cum in those pants you’ll have to wash them out yourself, buster." "I want a Coke, Daddy." "Coca-Cola, dear; Coke is for your addict father." Barry was to respond to each statement, question or whatever at an appropriate moment with his own fictional character — father, mother, lover, sister or child. This charade was most effective and before we realized it we were on the outskirts of Atlanta. By then, the game was beginning to wear thin, and we ultimately wound up discussing the fate of our Aardvark Follies.

The Aarkvark Follies were created after I complained that the elephants would NOT be able to make it to Running Water with our trunks by the Equinox because they are so big and slow. Further, the camels in Louisiana were on strike as they had Joined the United Auto Workers some years before and they would never cross a picket line during a strike.

sleeves up and commenced cleaning the kitchen and helping Howie prepare Friday evening's meal. I beqged off holding incense at the consecration of the healing dome and chose to go to my tent to think and get some sleep. Sleep won out over thinking, and I awoke at daybreak, donned the synthetic dress and crept into the dark house to start the first of many pots of coffee.

So, Barry suggested that we engage the services of 200 aardvarks to carry my 175 trunks of morning and after noon dresses, tennis togs, formal evening attire, tiaras, jewels, candelabrum, chaise lounges and, of course, my VCR, delicious tapes, monitors and the Apple H e . Well, time was of the essence so the travel people (who advertise in the Advocate) were contacted and the aardvarks picked up the trunks and set off for Bakersville, North Carolina.

Barry arose well after most of the men were up, and I shared a quick knowing glance with him. But, on the Mountain — the problems of the valley are kept in the valley, and I went about getting to know my brothers better — especially Philip. Evening circle was traumatic. I had but one old tattered cotton peasant dress and one pair (out of hundreds) of shoes for the Ball. Gabby lovingly called me Tante Rosa (his Brooklyn Aunt), and while I loved him for the term of affection, I was mortified at having nothing really festive to wear. But in the spirit of true fairydom, I danced, played, etc. until the wee hours and retired — physically alone but in the spiritual company of all assembled. The tent was crowded with my brothers' souls.

The proprieter of the house above Running Water had for bidden the aardvarks from traversing HtS road, so I was going to have to fly (on fairy winds, of course) to and from Bakersville between courses of dinner to change clothes. But, we have always been a persecuted lot, nez pas? Well, all began well. As we pulled out of Burnsville, Barry saw the entourage of aardvarks making their way to Bakersville. I was overjoyed. They HAD arrived. How ever, my glee was short lived — very short lived indeed. Once ensconced at Running Water, I flew over to Bakers ville to the farm where I had arranged for the aardvarks to stay. Lo and behold, their keeper was quite upset.

Sunday morning. Early coffee aqain. Sitting at the table celebrating the sunrise. My glowing beatific countenance met all who awoke and Joined me for their first coffee or tea. Hugs, kisses, and the warm touching of men who sin cerely care for each other were shared. The loving and tender touching continued through breakfast and culminated at the circle in the sun. Some of us were naked, others clothed and all loved. I was q u i t e overcome by my feel ings. Time to part approached and my voice took on a definite quiver and my eyes began to leak. I said my good byes and took off for the car.

Seems as if the aardvarks had plotted a coup and over taken him, stole my American Express card (which I had to give the keeper to pay traveling expenses — chocolate coverd ants and snout mufflers are SO expensive). The keeper registered this dastardly deed with the Bakersville police who convened a posse and traced the aardvarks to the Asheville International Airport, where they had — can you believe? — charted a 747 and flew off to Lima, Peru.

Barry soon followed and we stowed the sleeping bags and packs and took off down Roan Mountain, I was so sad to leave that place that I couldn't even talk.

Well, I was now in somewhat of a state of shock (let alone most upset that I would not have anything to wear, and I knew that Beautiful Day had a MINK). There was little to do but to cancel my American Express card and fly back to Running Water and the gathering.I

That is, until Barry told me that he was not going to be held accountable for paying for the aardvarks charted 747. The only brjght note in this otherwise dismal affair is that the aardvarks were intercepted in Mexico City at a snack bar where they were eating chocolate covered ants. They were transported to the San Diego Zoo which is the only holding facility for underage delinquent aardvarks, and I was not accountable for the full fare to Lima. I now have a firm resolve to never employ aardvarks again no matter where I go. Elephants may be slow, but they do get there.

I was resolved not to upset the other fairies, but I did tell Barry about our trunks. We cried a little, hugged a lot, and I then dashed off to put on one of the SYN THETIC gowns that I had just happened to throw into my purse right before I left Louisiana. I pushed the gown's

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Daniel Turek "Except for when you haven't." David said. "You've tricked, I know you have. I may have done it first, but you have sleet with other men and you've come home and kept it a secret, but*I need to share it with you. Don' you understand?"

Arc you going to leave? Marc: stared

it him. The question had been asked; the answers had been rehearsed in his head again and again.

"Understand? What's there to share? Do you expect me to sleep with that... with Scott? You brought him here, to our home, David. You're letting him sleep in the workshop, and it's too close to our bed."

"It's room than I can decide today." Marc answered withit blinkina and turned back to prod the logs in the stove, • iding .parks into the flue. "You >m going to have to decide sometime.” quietly.

"Do you want to sleep with him?"

David said

David responded.

"I can just see it — the three of us in bed together. Two men who are crazy about you, and you don't even care how either of us feels."

Mari closed the door of the stove and stood to adjust the damper.

"Marc, that's not true! love you both."

"You are the one who has to make a decision, I told you. It's me or It's him."

I care how both of you feel.

"I can't stand the idea of sharing you with another man. You're my lover... I'm monogamous and you're not."

Thi mol| of birch scented the single room of the cabin. Ouvid sat it the long oak table, Iit by a single kerosene lantern that made his bald head shine in the late after noon darkness. Marc wondered for a moment why hairy chested men seemed to get bald when they got older, tie tvid ill of his own hair, even though it was quite grey. Was hair ill he needed to begin a new life? He turned awry as the tears filled his eyes.

"Marc, you aren't monogamous, you have slept with other men. You're cheating on yourseif if you pretend it isn't true. If I can accept that, why can't you?" Marc moved around the room. The half-closed eyes of the three cats followed him from the hearth. He felt scared and alone. It didn't feel right, it felt empty. He wondered if he was inadequate *+0 satisfy his lover. Per haps he had never satisfied him. He picked a yellow leaf from one of tne plants and put it in his pocket. It need ed fertilizer, but not tonight.

"Mar•. , don't you know that I love you?" "a,vld, don't you know that I love you? We started this ... life ... is boys together, and now we're old men." The tears spilled.

"What on earth do Straight People do?" but David heard.

"Marc, we're only forty. We're not old, we've just changed." David rose and came across the room and touched him on the shoulders. Marc wanted to relax into that truth, the wav he had for the past fifteen years, but he ,tiffened and David returned to the table.

he asked himself,

"Straight People draw up agreements and judges bang-gavels and leave courtrooms. Someone gets the house, and someone gets the cats and the plants. Someone leaves and someone stays. For Straight People there are rules, but there aren't any rules for us, because we're Gay, not Straight, and we aren't married, we live together.because we love each other."

Marc moved to the sink and looked out the window at the unfinished greenhouse where a thousand herbs struggled to survive under plastic. All might be lost. He hugged himself and said, "The first time you did this, I was furious, and you promised it wouldn't happen again. Then came the second time and the third, and now... I don't have the courage or the patience to go through it anymore."

"David, sometimes.. .you are so sure of yourself, it makes me crazy." Marc opened the closet door and took out his old coaf. *

He turned and faced David, the tears running down his face, and his voice was tight and breaking.

"I'm going for a walk."

"You're leaving?"

"You aren't going for a walk alone. thTs now, Marc."

"What is it that I don’t give you? What do you need from me? I've loved you, lived with you for fifteen years... You've been the other side of the coin... I've slept with you every night, except..."

We have to resolve

David's eyes were an eager green that Merc couldn’t resist. He put his coat on the back of the chair and sat down.

He had learned that he couldn't walk away from any situation David would be right beside him until they discussed every thing and reached solutions. He wanted to forget all about it; to pretend that this wasn't happening, but he knew that he couldn't. It had to be resolved, and it had to be resoIved now. "My throat aches." "My heart aches."

Marc said. David replied.

There was a silence, punctuated by the crackle of the birch in the stove. The sound of the last of the leaves falling on the dry ground outside was like a brittle sentence with too many words. Moments hung in the warm air of the room. After a while, Marc spoke. ,!l have to accept it, don't I? I have to acceot the situation for what it is, and I have to accept you for who you are. You're going to do this kind of thing for the rest of your life because it's the kind of person you are. I thought I knew you, but I guess I d<_n't know any thing. How am I ever going to feel safe again, knowing that you — or any other man that I might meet will need more than I can give?" Marc looked through tears that made halos around every thing. "I don't want to be old and alone, David. I wanted to spend all of my life with you. Fifteen years..." Marc buried his face in his hands and sobbed. David got up from his chair and knelt in front of him and took his hands in his own. Marc leaned back and looked away. "Marc, do you remember when you were little? Do you remember when the whole world was no further than the reach of your hands? You didn't care if someone else had experiences, the only thing that mattered were the things that you could touch and see. The whole Universe centered in your senses... truth was whatever you tasted. Listen to me Marc. Look at me. Maybe the world really isn't any further away than it used to be. Maybe all the years of trying to be good enough for someone else... for me... made you lose sight of you. Maybe you thought I could validate you, that you could feel good about your self if I felt good about you, but that isn't the way it is. You are already valid; you already have permission to feel good about yourself because you are here, on the planet. You don't need my permission, you don't need anyone's permission but your own." David reached into his hip pocket and gave Marc a hand kerchief. "We've been together for fifteen years. Fifteen years, Marc, of growing together and learning together. We were boys, but now we are men, and we've both changed and gotten stronger. Look at everything we've done here." David turned his head and gestured around the room. "This cabin, the greenhouse, the sheds and the pond. Look at the plants and the time you spend with them. I'm not jealous of that time, why are you so possessive about mi ne?" "But I don't sleep with them. I don't kiss them and suck them." Marc said.

"Yes you do." David's eyes were like emeralds. "You love them as creatures, you love them as living things. I have watched you pour out more love on them than I have ever seen anyone love anything. I can't do that with plants, I have to do that with people." "It ain't the same thing." the tears had stopped.

Marc's eyes were swollen, but

"Marc, look at the plants. They need your care, but ihey don't need you to tell them that they are real, they al ready are... they don't need your permission to flower, and they don't give you any validation; you give yourself that. You allow yourself to feel good about them, they don't do anything but fulfill their own destiny and po tential. If you love me, it's not because I make you real, it's because you accept me, my reality, and wantshare that with me, to see the kind of flower I am becoming, too." "But I don't want to share you with Scott... or any man." David's eyes softened. It was a prelude to silence. Marc slid off the chair and put his arms around David's neck and leaned his head against his shoulder. "Please... Spirit of the Universe... Don't let me lose this man." Marc's prayer was unspoken. "I think we're talking about two different things here. You're talking about sex, and I'm talking about loving. It's the sex you can't get over, isn't it?" Marc's eyes widened. Maybe tt was the sex, after all, and not the sharing of each other. "You know, perhaps you're right. It is the sex. I've pretended that we had an exclusive relationship, but it really hasn't been, has it? We've always had urges out side of this cabin, outside of our own bed, haven't wo?" Suddenly the air cleared. A light had gone on inside of Marc. He realized that he was hanging on to a part of himself that was not truly his own, but something he had learned. He sniffed. "It won't be easy for me, David. to keep him out of my kitchen."

You'll have

David smiled in the dim glow of the lamp. "This entire cabin is kitchen, it'll be hard to do," "It takes me such a long time to learn things. I'm sorry I'm so slow." Marc lifted David's hands to his face and brushed his lips over them. "It's not easy to learn things for ourselves when the whole world has taught us lies." David brought Marc's hands to his own lips and gazed Into his eyes. The cat nearest the stove stretched and headed for the food dish. This was the way things always were in this cabin; the food dish was always full; the men were always touching each other on the floor. The stove groaned slightly and crackled as two other cats stretched and crossed the floor silently to the dish.

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This breakfast is so nutritious that I get tired of it if I use it more than three times a week. My body just doesn't need any metal element food more than that. Only people who get lots of colds or sinus or bronchial in fections need it more often. Those who have colitis pro blems or get flu will find rice conji very helpful; and if their spleen meridian is working properly, they will really like the breakfast.

This marvel of the Eastern world is very simple to make. First, prepare a basic grain mix: one pound of short grain brown rice, and a heaping tablespoon or more of nd/uki beans or red kidney beans. Second, get out your crockpot or double boiler and put in three quarters cup of water, one quarter cup of rice/bean mix and a quarter teaspoon of finely chopped fresh ginger root. Turn your crockpot on its lowest setting, about 150 to 160 degrees F. or put your double boiler over the lowest flame possi ble. Let cook overnight. in the morning add cinnamon and honey to tasto and it's ready to eat. It Is important not to boi I the grains. lot of the good nutrients in conji.

C H A R L E S E . I I A L L . E h . 1).

day in a shake of Angostura. (Sometimes t add a few hops before cooking for the same reason!. A little popcorn or Hopi Blue corn warms the spirit in the fire element.

Conjf Is the chicken soup of the Orient. It is fed to people who are so ill that they haven't the strength to digest ordinary food. It is a staple breakfast fooa And In the martial arts dojos fschools) of China, it is the high energy breakfast that keeps the students kicking high and punching hard.

Here are some of the variations I use to round out my grain intake among the five elements. These are all re placements for the short grain brown rice. Keep the other ingredients just the same. Oats (metal element) and barley (wood element) have a Scotch flavor. Ttte Scots probably made this as a porridge long before they heard of China.

Boiling kills a

There are many varients on conji. This first varient has to do with a caution for people who get oral herpes or red in the face or who sunburn or run fevers easily. These are indicators of a fire element imbalance in the body and adding ginger and cinnamon is putting unnecessary heat in the body. Instead of ginger, use a sprinkle of cayenne and forget the cinnamon. These people will find walnuts, which help control the fire, a good addition to the conjI.

Equal parts of barley or wheat (wood), millet (earth and fire), oats (metal) and rye (earth) make a more earthy mix with more balance to it, especially with a little corn (fire). I call this the "five element mix." Millet alone is very good for a variation, especially in hot weather or during Aquarius, Taurus, Leo or Scorpio when the seasons are changing. Wheat and rye are a great combination too. With a little caraway seed and lemon peel it's like rye toast with jelly on it. These two grains don't 'explode' like rice and millet do, so I sometimes run them through my Corona grain mill to break them up a little and help them cook softer. Otherwise they take a lot of chewing.

The rice and cayenne/ginger feed the metal element of the body .and help the lungs take in the oxygen prana and Po Chi to create 'getup and go*. The cinnamon helps the fire by creating heat. The beans help the water element cope with the energy rush; and the honey gets the earth element (stomach and spleen) busy with digestion.

Adding buckwheat in the winter creates body heat for those who work outside and want to enjoy cold weather. It's particularly good for arthritics and those with excess water weight.

People who are really sick, and even those who are very well, will get a real 'upper*. Were it up to me, t would put conji on every hospital menu. For those with para sites, conji strengthens the colon and lightly flushes the mucus system.

If you sprout the grains for a couple of days, cook them at a lower temperature, say about 120 - 150 degrees F. Dr. Christopher says the cooked sprouts will still grow if planted.

Now for additional variations of the basic mix. English or black walnuts fresh from the shell zap the water ele ment and make cum thick and lumpy for some people. They help store any excess energy, perhaps in the form of adrenalin. Pumpkin seeds do about the same thing.

Don't forget to chew the conji well. Chewing mixes in the saliva. If you bolt it down quickly, you will miss most of the nutrition because saliva is necessary for digestion. You might even direct a kind thought towards the people who helped you fill your belly. Be good to your food for in the next twenty-four hours it will be come part of you.

If you haven’t cleaned your colon of accumulated crap, add half a teaspoon of psyllium seeds to the stew for an intestinal scrub down.

i want to thank Bob Flaws of the Blue Popoy 'Chi Kung Assoc, of Boulder, Colorado for introducing me to this one. It was a f ine gi ft. O 1984

If you tend to feel blue or feel sorry for yourself, put a dash of Angostura Bitters or gentian bitters on the grains before stirring in the honey. There's a smile all IB

SMOKING ADDICTION — The American Fami ly Phy.LrJ:tn has ported that a smoker's addiction to nicotine may be geneti cally based rather than environmentally caused. Animal ex periments have shown that some breeds of mice become depend ent on nicotine faster than others. Those animals with the greatest dependence on nicotine also had the highest number of neurotransmitter receptors in their brains. The Universi ty of Colorado hopes to develop a test to Identify humans who have high numbers of receptors and thus are potentially susceptible to nicotine addiction.

THE COLD — One of the annoying problems with the common cold is that sufferers keep reinfecting themselves with the cold viruses through the hand-to-nose contact. To break this reinfection cycle, Dr. Elliot Dick of the Universify of Wisconsin has doused facial tissues with a germicide (much like, spray 'Lysol'). A previous study had shown that iodine treated tissues reduced the duration of the cold. Similar results have been seen by frequent washing of the hands during a cold together with limiting unnecessary facial contact.

HOT TUBS — Hot tubs represent a significant source of ski-infections (as do whirlpools), according to the Vermont Department of Health. Most infectious outbreaks reported in the United States were a direct result of Pseudomonas aeruginosa — a chlorine-hardy bacteria. Whirlpools and hot tubs pose a greater risk of contamination than do swim ming pools because of the greater number of bathers per gallon of water. Most of the infections can be d irectly associated with poor maintenance.

PETS — The University of Pennsylvania has reported that owning a pet not only may make you feel good, but also may be good for your health. Petting a dog or cat, or simply having one of these pets in the room with you, can lower your blood pressure. The companionship provided by a pet also can improve the mental health of the owner and may reduce the incidence of stress-related diseases. Even fish provide health benefits. The movement of fish in their tank can be very tranquiI Izing to the viewer and can draw attention away from the pet-owner's worries thereby lower ing stress and blood pressure. One study showed that among heart attack victims, pet owners survived longer than non pet owners.

SAY CHEESE — The University of Minnesota has reported that seven 'friendly cheeses' can help fight cavities and gum disease by keeping sugar from forming a layer of destructive acid on the teeth. The cheeses are: aged Cheddar, monterey jack, swill, brie, gouda, blue and mozzarella. Although beneficial to dental health, these chesses can't protect against the decay caused by other foods ea ten by the indiv idua I.

THE THYROID GLAND -- The Harvard Medical School has reported that thyroid disorders often go undiagnosed because victims show signs of unrelated diseases. For example, hypothyroid symptoms are similar to those of emotional disorders such as depression and apathy. Hyperthyroidism, too, may be mistaken for hyperactivity or anxiety. Persons particularly susceptible to thyroid disorders are those with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or certain anemias. Properly diagnosed, thyroid disease is a treatable condition. 19

FOOD ALLERGIES AND MIGRAINES — The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association has reported that more than 90> of children with severe, frequent migraine headaches recovered from symptoms when placed on diets free of foods which trig gered such attacks. This was the finding of a study conduc ted at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Institute of Child Health in London. Migraine producing foods were iden tified in each child and then eliminated from the diet for periods ranging from 3 to 4 weeks. Most chiIdren were found to be allergic to several foods. In addition to the headache, the non-aIlergenic diet also was found to re lieve the following migraine-associated symptoms: abdomi nal pain, behavior disorder, fits, asthma .and eczema.

Except for the occasional heat, humidity, rain, and bad road conditions, the bicycling aspect of the trip was thoroughly enjoyable. A tour guide on a motorbike made sure we were on the right road, and an air-conditioned van followed behind in case anyone had any difficulties. The pace was leisurely along mostly flat roads, and we could stop at will to rest, take pictures, or buy something from a roadside stand.- There were several ferry crossings to be made, which became opportunities to really make contact with local people. While waiting for the boat, we would investigate the nearby market stalls to see if there was anything cold to drink (a rarity; even the Coca-Cola was usually warm) and to buy the local bananas, which were a real treat. Our presence always attracted a curious crowd, eager to check out our clothes, bikes, cameras and accou trements. They also loved to observe our interactions with the sometimes perplexed produce sellers, who, despite communication difficulties, proved always to be patient and scrupulously honest. it appeared that the government encouragement in recent years of small-scale private enter prise was being well received by the local people, not to mention by hungry American bicyclists!

;n October 2, 1983, ten gay men took off for an adventure on the other side of the world: a tour of China, much of if by bicycle. San Francisco travel agent Peter Greene, who organized and participated in the trip, brought to gether a group as interested and varied as the tour itself: six San Franciscans, a couple from Oenver, one man from Birmingham and another from Washington, D.C., whose oc cupations ranged from floor sander to architect. Three of the participants had formerly been married and had children; one spoke fluent and beautiful Mandarin; two were over fifty and three were under thirty. All were committed to sharing a bicycle Journey through a strange and fascinating land. As one of the participants, I'd like to share some of my impressions with the readers of this publication. Since our return to the States, one of the first questions we are always asked is, what was the Chinese reaction to a group of American gays? The answer: we were treated the same as all Americans are in China, with friendliness and hospitality, and it appears the Chinese either did not realize we were gay, or chose to ignore it. The language barrier and Chinese politeness combined to make it unlikely fhat anyone would ask directly why ten adult men were travelling together without any women, and we decided early on not to make an issue of it in a country where homosexu ality is officaily considered to be a product of 'bourgeois decadence'. This decision, however, didn't stop us from proudly flying rainbow flags from our bicycles and giving them away to our tour guides, explaining that they were GAY flags: Great American Youth!

Which brings up the subject of food, an area of consuming interest to me. First, let me get the negatives out of the way. Being a planned tour meant having to eat at specific times and in specific places, and the menu was always pre-selected for us. And let's face it, it was all Chinese food, some of it the same mundane sweet-and-sour pork we ail can get at our local Chinese restaurant. Hav ing said that, f will now savor the memory of the exqui site Peking Duck banquet in Beijing; the Peacock Platter at the Banxi Restaurant in Guangzhou (Canton), which was an assortment of exotic appetizers beautifully arranged in the shape of a peacock; the glazed fish and roast pigeon and sauteed straw mushrooms which appeared at many meals; and the more unusual items such as chicken feet (deli cious!), various kinds of fungus, and "Dragon and Tiger Locked in Combat" (three different kinds of snake plus civet 'at in a stew — not everyone tried it, but those wno did will never be the same). The food was always fresh and plentiful, and it appeared we always received the best the locai area had to offer. In fact, I'd say the hardest adjustment we had to make was learning to use chopsticks to snatch items from the ever-present lazy susan before someone started the infernal wheel in motion again.

One of the most striking things about bicycling in China is the human contact it involves. Many people are on the roads, but not sealed up in climate-controlled cars: they are on foot or bicycle, or riding in open trucks, and nearly everyone greeted us with enthusiasm as we rode by. Groups of children would shout "hello" and dissolve into giggles. We were a major sensation, not only because we were Westerners, but because of our ten-speed bicycles, which were practically unheard of in China. No matter how impressed the Chinese were by our bikes, though, we were far more impressed by the feats the Chinese perform on their simple but sturdy one-speeds, such as balancing eight heavy sacks behind them as they cycle from town to town along poorly paved roads.

photo by Mark West

Besides the constants of bicycling and eating, our time was spent visiting the major sights of the areas we passed through. We saw beautifully restored ancient Buddhist temples, factories where skilled craftspeople carved jade and ivory or made intricate papercuts, and climbed the hills at the scenic Seven Star Crags to perfect little pagodas overlooking a lake. We relaxed overnight at a hot springs resort which until recently was the domain strictly of high party officials, where each room was equipped with a Marin-sized bathtub, and where we enlivened the recreation hall with a homemade disco tape (dancing together was no problem, since same-sex dancing is common in China, not to mention hand-holding and other physical expressions of friendship). We saw an excellent movie, co-produced by Hong Kong and China, about the Dowager Empress Cixi, which gave us some great ideas for Hallo ween costumes. And we created our own excitement on a few occasions by buying fantastic locally-made fireworks and setting them off in the streets or on our hotel rooftops. Not all the fireworks sizzled, however, and a dud roman candle caused the oldest member of our group to huffily demand it "get hot or go home!" After 12 days of cycling around Southern China, we left our bikes in Canton and flew to Beijing for four days of sightseeing. What a contrast! Cool weather, broad streets, imposing buildings, and more sights than we could possibly digest. Even without the bikes we got plenty of exercise, trooping through the vast Forbidden City, the breathtaking Summer Palace, and of course the Great Wall, which proved to be far more impressive than any of us had imagined, stretching out in every direction over hills ablaze with fall colors. We planted one of our rainbow flags atop one of the highest towers, and as we walked back along the Wall we could just barely see it, holding its own against the winds shipping down from Mongolia. China is going through tremendous changes. The Cultural Revolution, which had a devastating effect on the country's economy, intellectual achievements, and morale, was repu diated only seven years ago. in what amounts to an almost total about-face, the current leadership is encouraging intellectuals, decentralizing agriculture, allowing free markets, and opening up the country to tourism. It ap pears they are trying to adopt a pragmatic path, picking and choosing whatever works from among the ancient and modern Chinese traditions, as well as adopting the best ideas from the West, in a country as vast and populous as China, these changes are not going to come smoothly, or overnight. But in our talks with our tour guides, and with other Chinese we met, it was evident that the people are optimistic about the future. And although the standard of living is far from what we are used to, we saw many signs of progress being made.

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copyright 1985, James D. Seymour (The following is based on a chapter in the book on human rights in China, China Rights Annals, to bo published this winter by M.T. Sharpe, Inc., 80 Business Park Dr., Arrronk, NY 10504.) Naturally, homosexuality exists in China as elsewhere. Old novels and historical documents contain references (not all unfavorable) to gays down through! the ages. Unfortunately, Chinese culture today tends to take a very dim view (of gay life). No gay rights movement has been possible, and the issue is never aired in the media. Indeed, any mention of the subject is extremely rare. One news item (the only one I have seen) appeared in the newspaper of Hunan Province and was broadcast on July 26. It concerns a fellow named Ai Zhuxun, who had been a wellknown figure in Hunan's Hanshou County during Mao Zedong's later years. He was deputy party secretary and assistant principal of the Hanshou Agricultural Technical School. He apparently was a highly regarded educator, having risen rapidly from being a primary school teacher. Hunan radio describes Mr. Ai as "a man of the hour during the Cultural Revolution." He made a name for himself in the province as an advocate of egalitarianism in education. When the leftists were overthrown by China's present rulers, Ai managed temporarily to avoid the problems which many leftists encountered, and indeed was promoted.

We left China on a flight from Beijing to Hong Kong, where we spent a couple of days before returning to the States. Hong Kong was a perfect place to end the trip: exotic and mostly Chinese, but a city where capitalism runs amuck, it provided us with an opportunity to pig out on Western food, go to a European-style disco and a California-style bar, stay in comparatively luxurious hotels, and yet re experience many of the sights, sounds and smells of our China Journey. All in all, the first all-gay bicycle tour of China was an exhilarating experience, one of the great adventures of my life.

But in May, acting on the accusation of a student, the county party committee sent an investigation team, and unearthed the fact that beginning early in 1985 Ai had had sexual relations with male students "on the pretext of showing concern for them and helping them to acquire eligibility for party membership." On June 12 he was 'suspended' and ordered to undergo 'self-examination.' That would have meant making some sort of public confess ion. That evening, he took an overdose of sleeping pills and died. Ai's case was complicated by the fact of his leftist poli tical views. His diaries indicated that he resented the "total negation" of the Cultural Revolution, and that he embarassed Mao Zedong's egalitarianism. His suicide note indicated that he considered his final act a political one, It is small wonder that we hear so little from our gay brothers and sisters in China. To survive, they must remain deeply closeted.

WRL has been around guite a while, in fact, since 1928. The presence of those older folks who could remember be ing left wing during the McCarthy era added needed re assurance for those of us who are getting frustrated after the 'sixties' flash of inspiration wears off and the years roll by. One more point, however. Since Bonzo and George Bush got re-elected, look for Nicaragua to be invaded by US troops before the first of the year. This prediction is based on talking to various people who have been there recently on Peace Vigils as well as a sense of what's going on in this world. The key words here are "Nicaragua No Pasaran" (They will not return). What El Exijente Reagan thinks is that now he has a mandate to rule the world. He fails to remember that the war in Viet Nam was not lost to MIG-2ls but to the bicycle. Watch out, everyone! Will we let this happen uncontested? Is your neighbor hood affinity group ready? Being a pacifist doesn't mean being passive. For more information about the War Resisters League, write: WRL Southeast Regional Office, 604 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, NC 27701; (919) 682-6374.

BY BRIK MILLER "Circle for survival, circle for the right not to disappear into the everlasting night." This song, from the recent Seneca Women's Peace Encampment in Romulus, NY could well have been the theme of this year's Southeast Regional War Resisters' League Conference. Un fortunately held at the same time (October 12 - 14) as the fall Faerie bash at Short Mountain, the conference pro vided at least this reporter with some much needed in spiration to keep on struggling in the face of Ronald Reagan's attempt to militarize the world. t want to get personal in tftis column in hopes you wi II want to know the views of your political editor, t am road about the way politics in our nation is moving, and t'm a bit frightened. So t am asking for your responses. Per haps we can begin a dialogue in this magazine.

Approximately 75 "war resistors" from all over the South (and several from places as far away as New York or Cali fornia) showed up at Camp New Hope outside of Durham, NC for the weekend retreat. While it may seem foolhardy for some six dozen odd pacifists standing around in the pine trees of eastern North Carolina to actually think they could have some effect in stopping Amerika's swing to the right, the main theme of the weekend was Indeed optimism. To quote Charlie Davis from Greensboro, NC, a member of the American Friends Service Committee and veteran of the Woolworth's sit ins in the early sixties: "So the tension caused by the times gives us both cause for fear as well as the possibility for enlightenment among those who are confused."

I have been a Libertarian, active in that movement for most of my political life. My views have that philosophi cal bias. But overriding those are my concerns for a spiritual approach to life. I strongly betieve we need to transcend the politics of the right and left. i share some views in common with Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Capitalists, anarchists, and even Christians. I hold much against all of these idealogies, also.

Also, one got a sense from this conference that we should not be fhat concerned with the present elections. Even had Walter Mondale/Geraidine Ferraro won, the politic that we as determined pacifists aspire to goes totally beyond power and the nation state. Regardless of who got the most votes, our hopes are for something far better than the old politics of domination and fear.

I agree with cutting taxes, balancing the federal budget, reducing the size of government and protecting private in terests, especially the right to privacy. I do not like the idea or the reality of a welfare state which leads to more government interference in private lives. Most of all, I do not tike the idea and abhor the reality of a state, period.

I am neither on the right or the left. I oppose state socialism and state capitalism. Both are oppressive. I want economic and sex: la I freedoms. That translates to freedom for the individual, even to go against social mores. I would Iike to live in a society where there is respect for life and human potential above all else. Ideologies do not matter, people do. Our culture is out of balance toward the coldly rational, intellectual, and exclusively male ego which aggressively confronts the world as its enemy to be conquered. I don’t like it. I hope you don't either. I also believe we are in a position to do something about it. But first we must examine our ideologies.

What do we do now that Reagan has been re-elected? Shrewd politician that he is, Reagan has courted the fundamentalist Christian vote with its dirty politics to give him a large majority while remaining above the filth. We should real ize that the violently homophobic fundamentalist Christians will probably increase their attacks against us. If gay baiting works for some politicians, others may try it, too. That is the danger. We could be in for very hard times. The fundamentalists are using the AIDS crisis as a scare to push for national registry, even death for gays. There is danger from government research on using behavior modifica tion and brainwashing techniques or new drugs on social deviants, criminals. The majority of the people in America are good, not evil, and don't wish to harm anyone. They can be manipulated by demagogues to evil ends. Yet there is a diversity of belief, thought and lifestyle in this nation that even a conserative Republican political sweep cannot reflect or change. There exists a climate of fear and unsureness in the country over economics and social change. That is the reason for the conservative swing.

The gay movement has been caught up in and led by socialist analysis, yet it was freedom of speech and of assembly and capitalist entrepreneurship among gays that supported our movement. We need to examine our political position. In this time of growing disenchantment with liberal beliefs we will have to change strategy and tactics for our move ment. I don't think it is a good time for violent protest. It only creates fear, anger and misunderstanding. The time of separatist politics is over. Once we needed separation to find our identities. Now it is time to come together and to forge coalitions with accepting others in order to save ourselves and keep our vision alive for the world. We can't stop the New Right alone, so we must build better support networks and organizations. We gays are a different people, but we are not superior or inferior. We have much in common with straights of all in terest groups. We should ask ourselves and others, what is the big issue over being gay? We need a reassessment of ourselves and we need to heal the internal separations in our movement, the divisivness and misunderstandings between factions. Now that we are changing and examining our ways of relating due to AIDS, not only can we learn to relate on levels other than sexually among ourselves, but with hetero sexuals as well. If we become frightened we could succumb to seIf-oppression and make a quick leap back into the closet where it's safe and dark. But we are creatures of Iiqht and we shouldn't have to endure that suffering any more. Only if we become disenchanted and disheartened will we allow the New Right to destroy our movement. It's not up to the Moral Majority and other fundamentalists to persecute us. It is up to us to let them or stop them.

Most of the American people voted Reagan another form for economic reasons. They want lower taxes and interest rates, a balanced budget; they don't want massive welfare spending and government doles. But Reagan did not go* his mandate. There were two Democatic gains In the Senate, but It Is -.1(11 in Republican control by only a majority of three. The house lost 13 Democratic seats, but has a significant Democratic majori ty. The current conservative, college-age generation could bet ter be called the 'me generation' than that of the 1960'searly I970's. College students are inclined toward business and money pursuits, demonstrating self-interest. But they are not interested in the plight of others, social issues, not the values of a humane vision for the future. They are strictly now oriented. There Is a selfishness and myopic vision of those only interested in economic realities. That is why they voted for Reagan. Mondale kept a high-toned campaign to the end. He brought the separation of church and state Issue to the fore in the debates and forced Reagan to make a clear stand on the posi tion. If he did anything good it was to force the issues and make all Americans look at our vision for the future. But there is a political realignment occurlng. People are not voting along party lines. It may mean the demise of the traditional Republican and Democratic parties. This year has shown us that the New Deal policies and coalitions are dead. The time may be ripe for real political change.

To do that, we should live as though there is nothing to be ashamed of. There isn't. Let us live our lives with the assurance that we are right no matter what social pre judice or laws exist against us. We always have the free dom to do that, but we must be able to take responsibiIity for our actions and accept the consequences.

Now Republicans have a lame-duck president. Thus the party has lost its leadership and is splitting Into factions seeking a candidate for the next election. Look for Jesse Helms to bid for President In 1988. The homophobic, ultra conservative Senator Helms could get the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and he has promised the voters in North Carolina who sent him back to the Se nate that he will remain on that committee, but many poli tical analysts cannot see him refusing such a powerful and influential position.

We gays already have rights as human beings under the constitutu ion. We don't need special rights. Only if the constitution is interpreted to cover only majority rights do we have a problem. However, there do exist on the law books laws clearly discriminatory to some minorities and 'social deviants' that only by the majority social preju dice could be considered constitutional. The Bill of Rights was meant to protect those minorities.

If Helms isn't instrumental in leading us into World War ill, what can we do politically in a hostile environment? We need not shun the moderate Republicans. Many of them do not like the New Right, and we can influence them. And Gay Republicans will have some influence in their party. Now they have active political organizations with in their party working for gay rights.

So we must worry about Supreme Court appointments. There is the potential for Reagan to appoint three justices, likely to be very conservative, which could affect the decisions of the court into the next century. Even those can be overturned. But if the worst happens, laws can be repealed and new ones passed. The court only interprets 1aw in light of the constitution. It does not make law. With the conservative threat many c i t y ordinances and state laws that offer us some degree of protection could be repealed. Yet there is hope. The recently signed into law anti-violence bill in California would be difficult to repeal because anyone taking the position to repeal it would have to advocate direct violence, not only against gays, but against senior citizens and the handicapped.

We should also work to keep Republicans to their word to cut spending, taxes and big government. Balancing the federal budget should keep them very busy. Do write and talk with your legislators. Even the homophobes should hear from you. Your one voice equals many hundreds of like-minded people if it is received and heard. Remind them that they represent you, too. Beyond that, we will have to organize along grassroots levels to foster our interes+s.

Has there been social overload? Too much change? Is fu ture shock becoming too strong? The current conservative political retrenchment is a manifestation of cultural li mitation on change -- a cultural preservation factor. But do we want this culture to be preserved? The fundamentalists and New Right cannot accept the fastpaced changes. They do not want to accept certain facts of reality, so they want to legislate them out of existence, which can only hide them. Thus there are paranoid attacks on the right of the public to know and against the press in the name of National Security. They wish to censor books and ideas without debate, ft is a defensiveness, a Cold War mentality, and a time of looking for enemies under every bed — scapegoats and traitors — it could be a re turn to McCarthy ism with its persecution of Communists and homosexuaIs. TV evangelists exploiting gullible, fearful people through high-pressure public relations techniques and propaganda for political power purposes represents a failure of Christian ideals. In the- name- of their concept of morality they would destroy others or deprive them of their rights. Those evangelists no longer respect the separation of .huroh and state. They think they are absolutely right and will save the world, yet they are false prophets and charlatans likely to institute the holocaust out of their intolerance and hatred. We shouldn’t hate these bigots. I find it hard to do so, but 1 can fervently hate some of their actions and beliefs. Wo can be assured they will suffer the consequences of their mlsdeods. fhp philosophical issues which lie behind the conservative politics revolve around the concept of the role of society jnd government. Classical conservatives believed in priva cy rights issues — that government should stay out of private lives and economics. And an individual must be recognized on his personal merit and ability. The liberal position is that society should be responsible for the welfare of Ifs people, thus the use of government to force civil rights issues. Yet the result of this is social groups fighting for recognition and a place to exist in society by political power. Should government be used to force social issues and in stitute social engineering? That was not the purpose of government designed in the constitution.

with a myopic vision. A few people moye in and out of positions of power, but little real change is brought about by political process. What changes our culture is new knowledge from individual experience, scientific and tech nical innovation and its use, and economic manifestations. Politics has to adjust to these. But the old ideologies which arose from 18th century thinking cannot deal with the modern reality. They are dangerously obsolete. With the world moving toward one global organization, philoso phical views will have to change. People will have to learn to relate better, show more tolerance for differences, let self-interest and emotional attachment to nationalism go, be willing to give up the confrontational political methods of be!Iioerence and paranoia and change conscious ness away from win/lose thinking. On whether we can do this depends the fate of the world. Faeries need to be truly radical as we are in getting back to the roots of the spiritual. We can be shamans for a culture which sorely needs them. We can heal our culture, but that will mean cultural change which will be resisted because it represents the unknown that is feared, and vested interests and priviledge will be threatened. There are many of us in this country that see a new vision: blacks, Jews, other minorities of color, gays, feminists, non-traditionaI religions — part of the Rainbow Coalition and the 'New Age' movement. Those are our allies. In terest in spirituality is growing among liberals and con servatives for new ways. They want to address social is sues of discrimination and achieve a human dignity for all people. It is the greed, the cynicism and the power mon ger ing of the ruling business classes who stand opposed to this justice. It is not a right or left political analysis, but a question of human potential, recognized or denied. Business leaders will go to any lengths to keep a favorable status quo for their interests. Business growth and profit motive are the all for them, but they do not see their gains can only be short lived. They ignore the earth and rape it, along with humanity. Many of them truly believe that if business prospers, so will everyone else. Theirs is a blindness to human need that runs deep. The vision we have to foster is one of one world, one people inter-reIated, interdependent — a fragile mother who nurtures us and that we have stewardship over. Can we rise to the challenge to accept that role?

Representative democracy in a republic such as ours has a problem of majority rule. Is It fair that 51$ could decide the policy for the other 49$ of the people? And what of minority priviledges? When minorities petition the govern ment for special recognition of their rights they sometimes are perceived as getting special privileges. What haooens is that we have warring social groups in a battle over rights using government as mediator, yet each wants control of the government to assure its security. The current ex ample is the New Right who had felt themselves disenfran chised and pushed out of decision-making. They felt forced to found a coalition to stage a comeback. But if govern ment could not be used to force the views of one group over another, then there would not be these problems of minority vs. majority rule. We should remove some discri minatory and limiting laws and move toward participatory democracy to correct that unfairness of the dictaorship of the majority. Then perhaps it will be easier for people of differing beliefs to live in peace with each other. It is very naive, even stupid, to think that a socialist government will end war. The problem is egoic, patriarchal culture, and no political system or ideology can change a culture — they are products of that culture. We must change the culture, and that means first self-change. It means spiritual growth to a deeper and wider understanding, to looking beyond our culture, to break ties with past ways of thinking, to break through to a higher realm of con sciousness . So much of politics in this country is nothing but public relations manipulation. Old ideas are couched in new terms, but nothing really changes, ft seeks short-term solutions 24

Adam Christensen

R 1 1) WELCOMES A NEW EDITOR TO IT S STAFF Scott Tuzzolino is from upstate New York but is now living in Washington, D.C. Ho has an A.A.S. in Agronomy from SUNY at Coblosktll, NY and has a one year certificate from the programme in Bio Dynamic Farming and Garden ing at fmerson College In Sussex, England. He has also had three years experience garden ing in England, France, and Italy as well as New York state. He Is presently working with a commercial greenhouse operation In Washing ton, DC specializing in herbs and potted house and flowering plants.

BY SCOTT TIJZZOL! Whether we work out of a spiritual impulse or a purely commercial impulse (or a bit of both), a striving towards healing the Earth and all her properties and ourselves (and our faculties) must be sought after in our work as horti- and agriculturalists.

And in the garden, the associations and relationships between all the various plants (be it root, leaf, stem, seed, flower, or herb) must be brought into a new light. The idea of companion planting comes to me as an answer or solution to establish that balance in the plant king dom. Understanding the plants own need to be amongst a 'helper' or companion comes to me as f view the plant relationship in a virgin or untouched wood; the way cer tain species tend to lie together. So too, in a garden of vegetables will the same principle apply.

This arises from developing all of our senses which will come to us when we keep in 'conscious mind' that when working with the plant (and animal) kingdom(s), we are merging with a great Life Force; a biologically dynamic balance between the Earth and sun of which we as gardeners and farmers become accesories to.

ft is from this angle that I wish to begin a series of ideas and practical 'hints' into that practice in life that so many of us gain incredible joy and inner satisfaction from; tilling the earth and growing plants. Not only do I wish to reach those 'sentient souls' who actually communi cate with plants, but also those of us who choose to be horticuIturaIists in the business realm - be it in a green house, nursery, or market-truck farming operation. It is to those of us that I most wish to address because of my empathy in the struggle to transform that part of horti culture which seems to suffer the most from the material istic one-sided approaches and practices.

A balance will be discovered in a natural ecosystem, but in our created gardens, our farms, orchards, meadows, and greenhouses, we can realize that through the forms of our chosen cultures, there has been established an 'artificial system' which we call our farm or garden. Shaped to the needs, our systems become somewhat affected by our own creativity' instead of nature's own 'creative design'. Remembering that each time we take a spade to the turf or a plowshare to the field, we are 'opening a wound' and disturbing a balance that Mother Earth has lived in for so many years. So, a healing approach to our production and design must be addressed.

Future essays and discussions on proper construction of the compost heap, building double and triple dug raised beds, companion planting, herb gardens and theme gardens, bio-dynamics (the philosophy of the cosmic and terrestial influences on plant development and germination) are a few of the topics I would like to see explored and discussed, Perhaps some of you may have some suggestions of other topics to approach, t will surely supply references to any subject I cover. Correspondence is we Icome.

Understanding the basic concept that a farm is a living organism in its own right will lead us to recognize the 'Ormalive and active forces working in nature. For each Particular 'organism' or environment a harmonious balance as to be sought between ail the various factors such as he numbers of stock and the types of animals, pastures, arable fields, ponds, hedges, orchards, and woodland.

PRISONER RESOURCES Compiled by Len Richardson GAY:

The Brothers Behind Bars Program is an outreach to our gay brothers who are in Jail. It has three major activities: I) providing space in 1he journal for a forum of ideas, in formation, and other writings by prisoners and for prisoners; 7) developing ) Pen Pal Program whereby we maintain lists of prisoners seeking pen pals to furnish those interested alon g with some guidelines; and 3) providing prisoners with free subscriptions to RFC whenever possible. If anyone Is interested in writing to a prisoner, please write us for’ the local list and guidelines. It is also a good idea for folks receiving mail from prisoners from the Contact Letters to ask for the guidelines before respond ing. To be sure, there are some real problems and dangers to be avoided, but there are also some wonderful people to meet and correspond with. Wo do try to send free subs to prisoners reguesting them, however we cannot furnish as many requests as we get. Our limit Is 10* of our paying subscriptions, and we have a waiting list. If anyone would like to help us out by of fering a gift subscription ($10) for a prisoner, we would bo most grateful as would be the recipient. Please speci fy whether or not you want the recipient of the gift sub to know your name and address. As with Contact Letters, one can also write prisoners through RF0.

ACLU Gay Rights Project 633 S. Shatto PI, Los Angeles, CA 90005;(213) 466-6739. ACLU Transsexual Rights Committee 31815 Camino Capistrano Suite L, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Dignity Prison Missions P0 Box 18479, Cleveland, OH 44118. Gay Community News Prison Project 167 Tremont, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111. Gay Horizons Legal Services Program 3225 N. Sheffield, Chicago, IL 60657. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) 100 Boylston St. Suite 900, Boston, MA 02116; (617) 426-1350. Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund 132 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036; (212) 944-9488. The Loving Brotherhood The Barn, RD 4, Bo* 293, Sussex, NJ 07461. Metropolitan Community Church 5300 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. Minnesota Gay & Lesbian Legal Assistance PO Box 30224, St. Paul, MN 55101. National Gay Rights Advocates 540 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 94114; (415) 863-3622. The Prisoner Support Committee c/o Jon Wildes, 615 W. Wellington, Chicago, IL 60657. U.S. Missions Gays in Prison Outreach PO Box 6437, San Francisco, CA 94101. OTHER:

As this program is not funded and has no staff of its own, we are sometimes a bit slow in responding to the many letters we receive; please bear with us. The task is overwhelming.

The Fortune Society 229 Park Ave. So, New York, NY 10003. New York Law Group PO Box 1899 Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. Prisoner's Assistance Directory (catalog of state and national service organizations published by the ACLU Prison Project) 1346 Conn. Ave. Suite 1031, Washington, DC 20036. Universal Fellowship Press PO Box 5570, Los Angeles, CA 90055.

There are a number of very pertinant differences between the common criminals surrounding me on all sides and my self. Ask yourself if these basic differences should pre vent me from having legal representation that they can easily obtain:

The letter Just received from a good attorney f hoped would represent me, ends with the comment: "I have not, am not and will not represent you in any of your pending criminal cases, their appeal or any other review.” This Is the third lawyer to turn me down. I became physically ill form the shock. Yet this man does represent murder ers, armed robbers, dope dealers and burglars.I

1) Were there no such thing as prejudice and bigotry in the United States I would not be in prison. A prominent analyst once told me, "These laws are not based on harm done to others.” Even if you don’t believe it, has anyone ever made such a claim about a killer or robber?

I am housed in a maximum security prison, literally the dead end of this state's correctional system under a thirty-year sentence at the age of 69. What did I do to deserve this draconian sentence and the rejection of soci ety? I loved the wrong persons! I took into my home two boys. No complaint came from the boys or their parents. Quite the contrary, they resisted a homophobic detective's questioning until they were forced on the fifth interroga tion to talk -- by threats to jail their mothers for giv ing their permission for them to live with my fourteen year old daughter and myself.

2) In every country of the world, killers and thieves are punished severely. Yet, in many countries of the world the boy lover lives without fear. This includes Scandanavian countries, Greece, Moslem countries, all African and South American countries, India, Sri Lanka, Philipines, in fact, almost all countries but those with the Puritan heritage of England. Some persons express strong opinions that it is because we are becoming feminist matriarchies. •Maybe.

3) Was there ever an intellectual or artistic genius in history that was a murderer or thief. No, I think not! But, many, such as Leonardo daVinci, Peter Tchaikovsky, Henry David Thoreau and Oscar Wilde led a love and sex life identical to mine. We dare to be non-conformists in loving, instructing and protecting the young of our species. 4) Rarely does a murderer, robber or burglar have a decent education or work record. I graduated in engineering from two schools, built projects around the world, have three years wartime service and an honorable discharge as a sergeant from the army. 5) Often the criminal has extremely bad habits including dope, pills, alcohol, etc. I don’t smoke, drink and have never touched marijuana. The boys were forbidden to bring tobacco into my home. A horrifying, mob-lynching witch-hunt is in progress today in the U.S. in the name of child abuse. In actual fact, it is the boy-lover who seeks to protect the young against abuse. Sexplay as an instrument of physical affection is not child abuse. It can be, and often is, of extreme be nefit in that it imparts a strong sense of security from feeling the love of another, older person. The problem comes from the false assumption that the boy is being taught something that Is evil and dirty. Even Sigmund Freud, the father of analysis clearly stated that those who think of sex as something evil and dirty are the neurotics of our society. He wrote, "Among people where sexual activity is natural and omnipresent, there are none of these neurot ic ills." It is to be noted that the hue and cry now being raised against sexual abuse, that which victimized me, is being raised by women writers, TV program directors, etc., even by lesbians who should know better. How could they possi-

bly know anything about man/boy love — its selflessness, Its beauty, and its sacrifices? They don't! Yet, it was pressures coming from such people, all uninvolved with my case, that caused me to be sentenced to thirty years. And, because of their implied power, I am unable to even Iocate a worthwhlie Iawyer who will willingly buck the power of such prejudice and bigotry. They would try to destroy him; they tried to harass my last attorney when he ran for re-election as a congressman on a TV talk show, merely for representing me. The very measure of a country's freedom is in its protec tion of unpopular minorities, not in its hollow campaign oratory. Unless I can find an attorney willing to buck the media propaganda, I cannot receive even the legal defense accorded the lowly robber-kiI Ier or rape-murderer. A young, gay-bashing killer in here even admitted to me that what he lacked when young was a man who cared. He agreed that had he known me as a young boy, today he would not be in prison for murder. No one ever taught him the meaning of love. He has never sensed it, so he has never lived. Hence, he learned only psychopathic cynicism and brutality from his peers. Do I deserve this? For our lovers to be thrown In prison is a sad state of affairs. Hitler would be pleased; Christ would be dismayed. If I am to receive even minimum legal support, it will require that a good attorney see this, agree with my be liefs, and possess the moral strength to buck the present floodtide of false, misleading propaganda. Letters of supprt will be appreciated. Ray Latham, Maryland Penitentiary, 954 Forrest St., Baltimore, MD 21202. Q

T te

jLPU/S.

The man sat in his prison cell. He is a pedophile doing fourteen years for his love of boys. The cell is bare of most prisoner necessities although the man had stacks of brown Manila envelopes from GCN, RFD, P.I,E., and the latest book bound copy of Gay Sunshine. He was grateful to all to them for sending their publications to him. The other envelopes were filled with blank paper and under his bed lay 57 short stories and two uncompleted novels.

A ' ^ O u A N T O o t J O

thoughts of love. th irteen.

Can you advise me?

I am almost

Sincerely yours, John. P.S. I sure hope you can advise me because I think t am a boy-lover, too.

The man hod recently ran a pen pal ad in the Brothers Behind Bars section of his favorite quarterly.

The old man sat sown and wrote the boy a letter. He asked the boy to go into depth on his feelings and why did he think he was gay. He sent the letter to the address under John's name.

A M of a sudden the sound of his keeper's heavy keys rattled in the hallway on the tier outside of his cell door. The key was shoved into the heavy lock where it was rattled around unti I wi th a click and a metal to me tal rumble the door was opened by the floor man.

Johnny has his life together now. He knows he is gay, he knows he is a boy-lover, and the old man in the prison cell has suffered, cried, encouraged and laughed with Johnny for most of the past year as their three letters per month were exchanged. All because the moralist who was sending hate literature dumped the remains of RFD into the trash can behind the apartment complex where he lived. Another thing that really tickles this old man is that Johnny's last letter said that the moral Christian had offered him twenty dollars to have sex with the almost fourteen-year old boy.

"Here's your fan mail, old man." The guard smiled. He usualfy said worse things about this prisoner's mail. "You have your newspaper, this envelope from England, and even a letter today." The newspaper was GCN. The old man looked at the letter. He did not get too many letters, so he waited until the floor man left, then closely inspected where the letter was from. The letter was i small envelope without a return address. It was similar to the kind he got now and then from a sicky moralist with God be your judge literature in it. The postmark was the same - from the Bronx in New York but this letter did not have the stiffness the three other letters of enclosed literature had.

So now I have two letters to write - one to Johnny to tell him this great joke I made up three years ago; the other letter to the moralist. Yes, I have saved his hate litera ture and I am sending it back to him. The joke I am sending Johnny is a typical prison occurance, that I will share with you.

The old man threw the letter onto the writing desk, then settled down on his narrow cot to see what new moral op position his people (the gay community) had going against them this time. Closing the paper with a sadness after reading about the violence from homophobes, the man thought that if only people could learn how to live and let live and lose their selfishness, he would not be here now. Yes, he read about the Swithinbank case.

This young eighteen-year old boy came to the prison; all of the straights had their eyes on him because he was such a beautiful boy. They all had only one thing on their minds - watching the boy's tight pants stretch with each step as he climbed the stairs to the fourth tier. "Where are you celling at, fellow?" people asked the young man.

His mind now dwelled on his own trial by farce that put his w i f e into a mental institution for the past two years because the poor woman could not understand how the man was lied about. He remembered vividly how she jumped up during his trial disrupting the court when lies were told.

One of the pressure

"Three on the top deck." A punk from R & R told them. "He's celling with the 'old man'". "Celling with the old man!" Yelled the pressure person, loudly. "Did you tell him he was going to get fucked by that old man?"

The man then opened the other envelope. The one from P.i. f. helped lighten his heart as he saw something in there that tickled his sensitivity. After he gluttonly absorbed all of the articles out of the contact paper, he went to chow with the letter (without a return address) forgotten on a stack of short stories on his writing desk.

Everyone in the building laughed. This old man is a chicken hawk by nature, but he is not like the old man in the joke. The old man of Folsom was used to getting what he wanted by force. Late in the guiet of the night you could hear the rumble of this quarlsome old voice.

Returning from chow, he walked into his cell to brush his teeth, and the letter was there, just sitting on the cor ner of the desk. Teeth brushed and hair (what's left of it) brushed neatly back in place from the windy outdoors, the man sat on his cot to type a letter of appreciation To B.I•£• for their sending him their publications free. While pulling another sheet of paper from the writ ing desk, the letter that had been put aside fell on the floor and the corner edge of a picture slipped out past the staple to attract the man's attention.

"Suck my cock."

The old man of Folsom said.

"I told you before," the boy said with a sob, "I don’t know how." The man's voice rose with passion and need as he again said, "Suck my cock." Again the whimpering boy told him he did not know how. There was a long moment of complete silence. All of the cons took a deep breath and the night was absolutely silent because they figured this boy was as good as dead.

The old man picked up the envelope and removed the staple to free the contents of the envelope. He found a nice picture of a young teenager and a letter that said: Dear Louis,

"Alright," said the old man of Folsom, "I'm only going to show you one more time."

i just saw your name In this paper here. This page that was torn out of a book in the dumpster behind our apartment. This says you are a boy-1 over and I am a boy who needs love and advice on my

The following day as always, you will find these same pres sure people condemning the homosexuals, the child molesters, and the P.C.'s, and then you wonder... I I

by WOLFE THODE

SAMBAL GORING BUNTJES

NASI GORING ( f r ie d r ic e )

JAVA

3 cups cooked, cold rice 1/2 cup tiny cooked shrimp 1/4 cup boneless fish in 1/2 4 Tbsp minced ham (opfional) 2 fresh chi lies or Jalapenos I onion 1 clove gar Iic 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce 2 eggs peanut oiI

1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1 tsp cumin (freshly ground, If posstble) 1/2 tsp coriander " 1/4 tsp cardamon " 2 cloves garlic, minced I Tbsp ginger root, peeled and minced 3 1/2 Tbsp liguid coconut oil, or peanut oil 4 cups green beans, cut on the bias, about I" long 6 canned tomatoes, roughly chopped, drained water 1/2 cup, or more, coconut milk ** Indonesian sweet soy sauce, to taste **

Beat eggs with a pinch of sal pour in eggs to make a thin omelet. Turn out and cut into strips. Set aside. Grind chi lies, onion and garlic together. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in wok and stir-fry shrimp, fish and ham. Add rice, soy sauce, onion, chi lies, garlic and more oil if necessary. Mix until color is even and the rice grains are coated. Serve garnished with omelet strips and chopped sea I Iions.

Noodles: These may be any thin, colored noodles. I use spinach, tomatoe and buckwheat noodles from the co-op bulk store. If using different sizes, make sure they're 'done' at the same time. Have them drained and ready be fore assembling the bean part of the dish, at least the first time. Heat oil in wok, add onion and spices, keep It moving. When onions are lightly browned, add beans and stir-fry at full heat for a few minutes to sear them. Stand back and add enough water so that its level is 1/2" to 3/4" below the top of the beans. Add tomatoes and cover for a few minutes. Remove lid and add coconut milk. (How much sauce you end up with will depend on the pitch of the wok you're using). Allow coconut milk to thicken the sauce somewhat. Arrange noodles in bowls. Ladle bean mixture on top. Garnish wi+'j coriander leaves and season with sweet soy if you like. The idea is to retain color and crispness of the beans. Some (Piscevors) may wish to add shrimp or prawns at the stir-fry stage).

TAHU GORING KETJAP SUMATRA

"Note: There are several ways to make coconut milk, all of which are preferable to the tinned product. The easi est is to cover 1/2 lb. of unsweetened dessicated coconut with I pint of boiling water. Let this soak for twenty minutes and press through cheese cloth or a fine sieve, discarding the pulp. If time is a factor, put the mixture into a blender at medium speed for 30 seconds. **Note: If you live in a place near a large Dutch or Indo nesian community, watch for something called Ketjap Bentang marketed by the Conimex firm. If not, you can approx imate this with: 8 fI oz dark soy (tamari) 4 fI oz mo Iasses I 1/2 oz demarara sugar (brown sugar) Combine these over medium heat, stirring until the sugar melts. This keeps a long time in a covered jar.

6 cakes tofu, well pressed oiI for frying 4 or scalded bean sprouts (mung or adukt) 1 medium cucumber sliced (don't peel unless it's waxed) 5 Tbsp dark soy sauce (tamari) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp onion, minced I fresh chili or jalapeno, minced honey, to taste squeezed lemon Juice chopped celery leaves for garnish After pressing tofu for at least a couple of hours, cut into I inch cubes and deep-fry until brown and crispy on the outside. Drain and arrange on a platter. Cover with bean sprouts and cucumber. Combine soy sauce, garlic, onion, and chili. Add honey and lemon juice; mix thorough ly. Pour over vegetables and garnish.

PARDON ME - - BUT THE NIGHT LASTS ALL EVENING BOP BOP by Michael Mason Esperanto copyright 1984 Freemason Word Works NO WORDS OF SELF-DESCRIPTION THIS EARLY IN THE DAY. SUN JUST RISING AND I SO HAGGARD. BLEACHED EYES WARDING SLEEP OFF BUT HOW LONG NOW? PARDON ME BUT THE NIGHT LASTS ALL EVENING BOP BOP. AND BEACONS SHINE DEEP INTO THE DARK. SLEEP SO DEEP UNTO THE DARK. AND FIRE FLAMES HIGH THESE WINTER NIGHTS. AND MIND. ALL SPLASHED-OUT AND WITHOLDING MYSELF : I COME 'TO' OVER THIS PAGE. BIRDS SING AND SQUIRRELS CHURL. ORANGE LIGHT FADING TO ALABASTER SKIES. NOW GREY. NOW MICHELANGELO. AND Alt THIS MARBLE. CLOUDS ABOVE LIKE PALACES AND-MICHAEL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; CANT-YOU-GC TO SLEEP AND WHY? HUDDLED ON THE EDGE OF CHAIR. WIEN EVERYTHING HAPPENING INSIDE ME AT ONCE. PARDON ME BUT THE NIGHT LASTS ALL FVENING. BOP. BOP.

OKLAHOMA by Thomas Hopkfnson (Morn ing) harbour surf sand from a distance I watched cool waters relieving the summer's heat you were collecting cans, chasing gulls along the shore splashi ng dri pp ing moi sture along the inside of your thighs all of vacation ahead of us. (Afternoon) lazy sleepi ng at th irteen tender fragile across my chest telling me about your strict father using the back of his hand to toughen you up angry hurt you wanted to stay. I was afraid for you...and me.

CHOICE by Edward Mycue IN love WE MEET THROUGH CHOICES

(Even ing) quiet gentle knock you waited until the last minute to tell me your family was leaving Oklahoma

IN A LIMBO OF 0+X (CONFUSION) TO CONSECRATE THE present THE ONLY

I think you said... reached out for one last touch, but you were gone. ...a lonely boy on an empty street on a summer night. photographs Images of you running across the grass leaning against the ball park fence, ...when not leaning against me.

TRIUMPH. SHAPED (Morn Ing) the images scatter

BY PASTS WE SELECT

fal I scorched by the sun face Staring haunt Ing without a smile or name telling me you were not a dream.

TO LEARN FROM, ORIENTED/DISORIENTED BY EXPERIENCES

Did you find what you were looking for?

WE COME TO CLINGING Oklahoma... (TO INVIOLABLE PROS AND ICONS)

3ugh we had the whole summer ahead of us

a I didn't say goodbye.

___ LONGING TO PUT OUR FEET BY f a m i l y , SIMPLY CRUDELY... IT IS SO IT IS NECESSARY

SONG by Bill Gouge

TO ACCEPT THE

(1984)

to sIng a Iove song from hunger to sing with ceiling falling on your head and chicken-iIttle running for office

DARK ANGELS TOMORROWS PROMISE WE CAN'T weigh FRENZY IN THE FRUIT. 31

HE TOOK SO MUCH

GIFT WAS YOU

by Aubrey H. Sparks

by Jamie Flo!id

He took so much that was important to me Casually His voice began to sound like ice cubes cracking in my Glass His touch became a Jolt To see him pressing through his tight shirt worn on behaIf of his Nipples.

man loving man, each of us with our secret gifts, magic potions, just waiting to be shared with each other, two minds and two souls, two hearts and two bodies, two men, looking for the key, that connecting energy -,of the you and the me, the we

He took so much that was important to me Casually His voice began to sound like ice cubes cracking in my

been, always knew untiI... i discovered, that •^•,that secret gift i always sought, was ■■ re a I Iy you.

Glass His touch became a Jol t M fi

(1983)

worn

behaIf of his Nipples.

Arcane philosophies Tell us the chairs we sit on May not be reaI, So how am I To keep faith That one who's 3000 miles Away can be real? One whose existence I half wished into being In the first place; Then, the most real thing I know Has an answering machine On wh ich I can leave Messages long-distance.

r $

DEBTS py Edward Carlos He proves we owe nothing as we own nothing, not even what we assess as soul. if decadence is his craving why not take all? Come, sense the rebel in me take my turmoil into yourself. Come. Admit the extravagance of unheeded love.

Photo by David Kwaslgroh

FALLING STAR

by Glenn Halak In the sky, a flamewheel Burned and sparkled over the world-end Of a violet sea. Two strangers on a hill Embraced out of sheer amazement. They are wise. They are floating lights and shadows On the knol I of infinity. The dark danced with the fragrant trees. The Earth smiled ancient and immense. From the hillside, a spark leapt from a campfire with a whirr Into the deep tidal indigo of even!ng. On the plain, cities roared electric waves Against mountain bedrock. But humanity is not solid. It is a moonbeam trickle in swaying grass. If you want you can go up a mountain And watch the sky for a rain of light. It will come while you sIt In the dewy grass under a whispering eucalyptus. Suddenly what you think you are dissolves, A tiny smudge of star in a dark river. Perhaps as you go, a blue vein pulses in a silver wave, Or the seals bark in their caves on the beach. This is neither a yes or a no. It is the weight of wind on a burning leaf. It is the sound of cat dreams under a waxing moon. Whoosh, and there you go, A molten suddenness, Caught in the vortex of a huge world. A

V)V}7-7 i

° V t V _V 'on'

\Ve‘,e \V-t *®S3^° ...c,eL t e e '\ o\ > e ^• oe» e,v it'

*\vAe .rfi " PUSSYWILLOWS

'<,e

by Gary Czerwinski

Winter's nervous fingers unzip The sky and you churn the air thick With gossip like sap fattening Veins from roots newly fondled. Your lips pout gossamer.

\af

V ° 3

<0* * S * x°

v \n|

Foreskin

Of branch pulled back swells Silver, the underside buckeye smooth. Your hungry length thrusts orifice Of sun whose wet warmth teases until, Finally, You burst dribbles of pollen Then shrink, spent, against Thatch of leaf, impotent As August. Old man, spring

NEW YEAR'S EVE *73 by Mark West Tendril led black branches Patterning the sky

Kisses only once.

Like Gothic Iron screens; Fog hanging in clouds As midnight incense in a cathedral... Nature's divine liturgy for The funeral of another year.

2rm^ zo-ir;o>*

A N D THE

|e has never heard of such a thing, much less seen it. Not [as a boy of ten in a small Wisconsin town in the 1920’s. [Of course they think he’s at the movies, and he would be, 'as always on Saturday afternoon, except that when he stops by Alvin's house, Alvin isn't back from duck-hunting with his father. He sits down to wait, and Alvin's mother gives him homemade cookies and root beer. He notices the freck les on her face, and the cracks in the white oilcloth on the kitchen table. By the time Alvin gets home the after noon show will have started, so they just listen to jazz over the Atwater Kent radio, then he goes home. Even though the front and back doors are locked (unusual to begin with) Dad should've remembered he has his own housekey. He needs it so seldom, he forgets it's in his coat pocket until he tries both doors and is on the verge of ringing the bell. Minnie, their hired girl, is at her mother's in the country for the weekend, and Mother has taken the morn ing train to Milwaukee with her sister, Aunt Cora, to do some Christmas shopping. Dr. Pringle will pick them up at the depot tomorrow afternoon in his new Jordan sedan. In the evening they are all having dinner with the Doctor at the town's best hotel where he lives. In the meantime he and Dad have to shift for themselves, but that's no problem because Dad is a good cook. Often he comes home from the office loaded with groceries, pushes Mother and Minnie out of the kitchen, and prepares the meal himself.

He keeps thinking my^ turn toniqht baby which means the Doctor will be staying overnight. Well, maybe he won't be there when they do their dog act.

Dr. Pringle would've driven them all to Milwaukee today ex cept that he and Dad had an important curling match this afternoon. Sometimes Mother and Aunt Cora watch them play, but curling isn't exactly a kid's sport. His mother and aunt aren't all that keen about it either, but Mother goes to please Dad, and Aunt Cora is sweet on Dr. Pringle. At thirty-one she's still unmarried.

"You okay?" Alvin is asking. Holy cow, if even Alvin can see something's up, how can he hide it from those two when he gets back to the house. Not that he's decided not to face them with it, but during supper would hardly be the time. Not when they're having thick Porter House steaks!

He hears water running in the bathroom as he climbs the stairs. Dad never minds if he sticks his head in when he's showering — like when he has to take a leak. Anyway, the door isn't closed all the way. He can see steam rising from the hot water. When he pushes the door open farther, he sees the shower curtains aren't closed either. There are two bodies, not one, standing in the tub. Dad and the Doctor probably got a little drunk to celebrate winning their match, and are trying to sober up before he gets home. It doesn't seem too strange they are showering to gether. There is no shower room at the skating rink, and the kids at school always shower in a bunch after a basketbalI game in the gym. But couldn't they close the shower curtains to keep the water off the floor? Dad is always forgetting to, much to Mother's annoyance.

Of course Mother will have to know. Tattletale or not, it's his duty to tell her. Anyhow she'll see it in his face the moment she looks at him tomorrow. Dad has pro bably been deceiving her for so long, his face will show nothing. "You hear me, Donny?" "Yes, I hear you.

What do you know about sex?"

"What's to know? That's when the guy in the movie gets the girl, only it don't show what he gets."

The splashing water is making enough noise to keep them from hearing him, and the steam is a kind of screen. They are facing each other, not him, and as he stands watching in the open doorway the two bodies seem to become one, pressed to gether, even the mouths. Since the Doctor Is taller, it almost looks Iike a man and woman kissing. But Dad would never bririg some floozy home while Mother is away, if only because of the neighbors. Another man, expecially one known to be their best friend, is okay, only not — not what they are doing!

"I know that, dumbelI. What else?" "What else is there?

Sex i*. dumb."

"So long, Alvin." "Wait a minute, Donny. re Iieve you."

I don't mind listenin' if il II

He keeps going.

Now their positions change. Dad turns his back to the Doc tor and bends over. Like a couple of dogs, he thinks, his legs beginning to shake. They puff and grunt, noisier Than dogs, until the Doctor cries, "Now!" Then Dad begins to groan, the Doctor groans, and it happens — something that ends it, makes them satisfied. He hears Dad say, "My turn tonight, baby," then he backs out of there and returns quietly downstairs.

Alvin follows him. "Ma says you can eat with us tonight on account of your ma ain't home."

His legs are shaking so he has to sit on the bottom step. He remembers something his cousin Roger told him about the theater organist, Mr. Phipps. Something about taking high-school boys to his house. If it were girls, he'd know what for, but boys — ? Anyway, neither Dad nor Dr. Pringle is a boy. Both are in their thirties, Dad further than the Doctor. He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry or throw up. He only knows he has to get out of the house before they come downstairs.

"Well, I don't sleep around, Alvin."

"No, thanks, Alvin. Dad's fixin' steak for us spec, la 1. Bes ides, I may sI cep at my cous in Roger's toni ght." Alvin catches up with him. "Why would you do that? older'n us. You never sleep at my_ house."

He's

Alvin stops following him. "I'd ask you to eat with us, but Dr. Pringle's there." Alvin starts back to his house. "Thanks for walkin' with me. wet."

I'm sorry I got your feet

"You didn't get them wet," calls Alvin. "I got my own goddam feet wet." He goes into his house and slams the door. Donny has to laugh in spite of himself. Who ever slamming a door when you enter a house Instead of leave? Alvin's mother will think he's mad at her of his buddy, and she'll give him hell for saying

To let them know, or not to let them know. He needs time to think, or not to think, he can't decide which. He goes back to Alvin's, whistling for him outdoors, so he won't have to face Mrs. Peters. Alvin won't notice how he looks or acts, but his mother would be sure to ask, "Donald, do you feel all right? Is something worng?" He walks around Alvin's backyard with him. The recent snowfall is melting and the ground is soggy, so aside from gaining some time, all he gets out of it is wet feet. Neither of them will wear rubbers because they think them sissy. Both are in short pants with long black stockings, wear plaid mackinaws and caps with the earlaps turned under. They circle the dried-up flower beds, the empty vegetable patch with reluctant clumps of snow, and stand on the stone wall that keeps the whole yard from sliding into the river during spring floods. Alvin tells him about the mudhole their old Studebaker got mired down in that morning, and how they had to get a farmer with a team of mules to pull them out. For the first time he envies Alvin, whose father takes him hunting while Dad goes with Dr. Pringle. He used to think it was because Mother didn't want him to get started with guns so young, but now he knows better.

heard of when you Instead "goddam.

Donny looks at the Wisconsin River with the blue bluffs on the other side. He thinks how he always liked Dr. Prin gle the best of Dad's friends, better than his own uncles. He remembers when he had the fIu how the Doctor sat up with him the night he was the sickest, so Mother and Dad could get some sleep. He kept feeling his head, then his pulse, and toward morning when his fever broke, he gave Donny a big hug, as If he were personally responsible for his recovery. Now he knows none of It was for him and Mother, only for Dad. Besides curling and hunting together, Dad and the Doctor fish and play golf at the Country Club. Both handsome men, the Doctor is not only taller but slenderer, with lots of blond hair, while Dad is getting thick through the middle, his curly black hair beginning to thin. The Doc tor's office downtown is right across the hall *rom Dad's law office, and since he's a bachelor with no family of

his own, Dad is always bringing him home to supper. Then Mother invites Aunt Cora, which doesn't always please Dad becuase he says the Doctor will think they are forcing her on him. The river is frozen along Its banks, but in the center where the current is strong it flows swiftly, carrying chunks of ice with snow on them. Later in the winter the whole thing will freeze over, and he and Alvin can cross to the other side so long as their mothers don't catch them. That's the kind of secret a boy doesn't mind keeping from his mother. Like the time Dad caught them coming back. Mother was at a bridge luncheon, and Dad was supposed to be in Court all day, only for some reason he got out early, and there he was waiting for them on the river wall. Bawled them out, sure, but he didn't tell their mothers, and even confessed that as a boy he did the same thing. How had this thing with the Doctor started? Mother said she and Dad first met Dr. Pringle at a Knights of Columbus convention in Chicago. They told him how badly another doctor was needed in Caledonia, and in less than a year he was practicing medicine here. Dad used to tease Mother about 'luring' him to town, like Nita Naldi, the movie siren. In Chicago, he said, she and the Doctor flirted outrageously. Now Donny knew how it really was. When he comes In the kitchen door, Dad is already broiling the steaks, and the Doctor is tossing a salad. Both are in slacks and sport shirts, with Mother's frilly aprons tied around them. Like a regular husband and wife. "Hey, there," says the Doctor.

"How was the movie?"

"Lasted awful long, didn't it?" from Dad. He answers neither question, but asks one of his own. "Is it okay If I stay at cousin Roger's tonight?" "All night?"

Dad looks surprised.

"He's got new records for me to hear. playing hockey on Silver Lake." "How will you get out there?

In the morning we're

Is the ice still holding?"

He's prepared for both questions. "If it isn't, there's always the rink. Aunt Grace is taking us in her Franklin." While Dad is making up his mind, Dr. Pringle says, "I didn't know Roger went in for sports. Did you, Don?" He and Dad have the same name, but Dad has always been 'Don' while his son Is 'Donald' or 'Donny'. Mother ar ranged it so, to avoid 'Junior' like cousin Roger's older brother George Junior was called before he got killed In France during the War. Dad still hasn't made up his mind, so he answers the Doc tor for him. "Hockey is new to Roger, but I imagine he's always skated." He avoids the Doctor's eyes, and he'll have to warn Roger that either of them may inquire about his hockey. That's the trouble with lying, once you start. Dad is speaking. "I don't know about your mother, Donald, but if it's agreeable to your Aunt Grace, I don't see why not. Do you, Edwin?" He turns to the Doctor. "N-No," says Edwin, "in many ways Roger has been a good son since his father died. And Iike they say, when the cat's away, the mice will — "

"No, no, no," protests the Doctor. It was a stupid re mark and J_ apologize. Donny knows how much I love his mother." Donny just fumes and says nothing. "Go upstairs and wash, then we'll eat," says Dad as he turns the steaks. Then as if he thinks he's letting his son off too easy: "And never, never speak to our friend Ii ke that aga in!" "Now, now," says the Doctor in his best bedside manner, and Donny doesn't wait to hear more. Some friend, he th inks.

Without Mother here, or Minnie to serve, he expects they'll eat In the breakfast nook, but no, the dining-room table is set with the Haviland china, the good silver, and there are flowers and lighted candles, the same as when Mother entertains. It isn't supper but dinner they have, usually at noontime unless company is coming. Shrimp cocktail, soup, hot rolls, the works. Eating with them is kind of sticky, but the steak is so good, so juicy and tender, he has to enjoy it in spite of fheir questions about the movie he's supposed to've seen. He has to improvise answers they'll discover are wrong if they attend the evening performance. But they seldom go to movies unless Mother drags them there to see Rudolph Valentino or Gloria Swanson, her favorites. They'll pro bably just play poker at the Elks Club with some bootleg whiskey, then come home to have some of the pre-War stuff Dad stashed away before Prohibition. With their dinner they have only the Brenner Bros, near-beer and a light red wine of legal alcoholic content, both of which Donny is offered "a taste," but he declines in favor of soda pop. He doesn't ask about their curling match with Watertown, but they tell him anyway. They lost, which explains their being so sober, but they still go over every play like a pair of schoolboys. This permits Donny to finish his meal without further questioning, then escape from the table almost unnoticed. Until all too soon Dad calls after him: "Donald?

Leaving already?"

He answers from the archway to the living room. "We've got an awful lot to listen to. Paul Whitman, Al Jolson, the Duncan sisters — " "I thought Roger liked only classical music," says the Doctor. "Oh, well, that too. Opera and stuff."

I'm beginning to like it myself.

Dad looks dubious, and the Doctor's eyes lower to his plate. "Your mother will be pleased to hear it," says Dad. "As I remember, she couldn't even get you to go near pritz Kreisler when he played in Madison. Had to take Roger and his mother because Edwin and I were busy." Busy doing what, Donny wants to ask but doesn't. "How about dessert? Only ice cream, but the Doctor got your favorite. Chocolate." "I had some at the drug store after the matinee."

"Don't you call my mother a cat," Donny flares up, "and stop acting like you're her."

"That's why he was late getting home," the Doctor tells Dad.

Dad and the Doctor look flabbergasted, and Donny has even surprised himself. Then the Doctor tries to make a big Joke of the whole thing by laughing too much and saying, "It must be the apron, Donny. I'll take it off if you disapprove."

By now Donny is almost choking on lies. He hurries to get away before Dad changes his mind about letting him go. Not that there's much danger of that as long as 'Edwin* is with him. As for ice cream, Aunt Grace makes her own and keeps it indefinitely in her electric refrigerator.

But Dad frowns and takes a more serious tone. "The Doctor was only teasing, son. You owe him an apology."

Outside on Edgewater Street, where they live, he heads up

"Don't worry, Donny," says Roger. "I had plenty experi ence deceiving Pa." He jumps up. "I'm so bored with this stupid game, and playing records is only fun when you're with someone."

Marquette to Cook, the ’Main' street of town, where on the corner Mother's family home sprawls, cream brick with biq bay windows and gingerbread porches of buff color. Here she was raised with three brothers and a sister, but now only Aunt Cora lives there with Grandma's old hired girl, Bertha. Both Grandpa and Grandma Brenner died before the War, and their sons, like Mother, are married and have homes of their own. Making beer was the family business before Prohibition; since then, only near-beer and soft drinks. Uncle George, the eldest son, was in charge until he died also. Now the two remaining brothers run what's left of the business, and have an automobile agency, the Paige, to increase their income.

"What did Dad want?" "Just checking. Ma does the same thing. I covered for you, and even got myself believing I play hockey." He giggles. If she were home, Donny would've anticipated his mother's calling Aunt Grace, but he thought Dad would be too glad to have him out of the house till tomorrow to bother.

Motner is always saying if only Dr. Pringle would marry Aunt Cora and restore the family home. He could have his office there, and the old stables could be converted to a big double-garage for his Jordan and Aunt Cora's Paige runabout. Wouldn't that be better than living in a hotel and paying separately for office and garage? Dad simply replies there's more to marriage than economics, and any way, it's none of her busines.

"You really can't blame your father, Donald," says Aunt Grace. "You aren't in the habit of coming here without your parents. At least not to stay overnight." "Oh, Ma, lay off," says Roger. "Let's go up to my room, Donny. I had the Victrola moved there because Ma was gett ing s ick of NeI Ii e Me Iba and GaI Ii-Cure i, and I can't stand her radio programs."

Now Donny wonders if what he saw this afternoon is the reason the Doctor is still single. He wonders if men can do such things together and still be good husbands. Mo ther is always praising Dad to everyone, and if she's only had one child, it's because she almost died havtng Donny. Dad said never again would he go through it, which always amused their friends, though Mother said they understood what he meant.

"I'm sure Donald prefers them to all the warblinq," says Aunt Grace. "Do you play mahjong, dear?" "No, he doesn't," Roger answers for his young cousin. "Get Celeste." " I don't imag ine she knows how." "Then teach her or play solitaire. Come on, Donny." pulls him into the hall, to the open staircase.

All the older houses in Caledonia, including their own, are of cream brick, made out of the cream colored clay from the river bed. Likewise the public buildings; the Post Office, Court House, Public Library, not to forget Grandpa's brewery and the Catholic Church, whose high steeple can be seen for miles around the countryside.

"Not so fast," cries his mother. "I wish to ask Donald why he chose this particular night when his mother's away to stay here. And what's this about Silver lake In the morning? Roger always goes to Mass with mo on Sunday, dear. Don't you go?"

At this time of year it's completely dark by now, but there are arcl ights above the principal intersections, like Grandma's corner, to replace the old gas lamp posts. But the next two blocks on Marquette Street are dimly lit, still by gas, though no one had to be afraid of dark streets in those days. The only street crime they ever had was when the local piano tuner shot both his wife and her huckster lover right on his front stoop. Mother said it served them right, so would she think Dad and the Doctor should be shot?

"If you'll only shut up, we'll both go with you," says Roger. "It'll be our excuse for skipping hockey. The only time you got Pa to church was in his casket." "You horrid boy, what will Donald think? poor father was here to discipline you."

If only your

"Come off it, Ma. You don't want him back any more than I. You never had it so good. All that insurance?"

Aunt Grace's corner has an arclight. Now Uncle George's widow, she lives here with just her younger son, Roger. The older boy, Junior, was killed in France during the War, and her two daughters married young and are living in other parts of the state. To be different Aunt Grace has her cream-brick painted red, which Mother thinks shows bad taste, not only altering the brick's natural color but its uniformity with that of the other houses. Aunt Cora says you can hardly expect any more from a farmer's daugh ter.

Aunt Grace draws up to her full and stop caI Iing me 'Ma'. It's back in her chair again: "Tell gle still date your Aunt Cora?

height seated. "Enough, so common." Then sinking m e , Donald, does Dr. Prin Occasionally?"

Roger pulls him up the stairs before he can answer. keep you talking all night. Nighty-night, Ma!" "I’ll be up later with your ice cream," she calls. frutti ."

He rings the doorbell and the 'maid' lets him in. At least that's what Aunt Grace calls her, though Mother says she's Just another girl from the country like Minnie and Aunt Cora's Bertha. Aunt Cora says Aunt Grace is just copying Mrs. Puffer, the banker's wife, who recently added a French maid from Chicago to her household staff.

"She'll "Tutti-

In the upstairs hall Roger says, "I'm sick of her damn ice cream, all flavors. The door will be locked. At fourteen I'm entitled to some privacy." Donny remembers how Roger used to fight with his father. He and his mother got along fine then, two against one. Maybe he misses that fighting, so he fights with her. Don ny is glad they don't bicker like that at home. He gets along with both Mother and Dad. They get along with each other.

"I'm Celeste," the girl announces, blushing and awkward. "You must be Donald, 'Master' Donald I'm supposed to say." She hangs up his coat and cap in the vestiblue, then says in a lower tone, "Your pa called. Mrs. Brenner didn't know what he was talkin' about, so Roger, I mean 'Master' Roger took over."

In his room with its brass bed, bird's-eye maple bureau and dresser, blue-flowered wallpaper, Roger turns the key in the lock. Then to show how strong he is, he lifts Don ny off the floor and carries him to the bed. Not much taller than his young cousin, he's a lot heavier, with his father's stocky body and his mother's small dark head. Dumping Donny on the blue bedspread he says, "Ma wants me to wait till I'm sixteen to go into long pants, but at Eastertime I'm getting the most expensive young-man's suit in town and charging it. I'm tired of being kidded about

"Celeste, what are you jabbering about?" calls Aunt Grace from what she always refers to as the 'drawing' room. "Donald, is that you?" And as he enters; "We're delighted of course, but couldn't you have warned us?" She and Roger are playing mahjong on a card table, sur rounded by all their clumsy overstuffed purple-velour furniture from Grand Rapids. 37

fa t

legs.

Do y o u t h i n k my

legs a r e

f a t? "

Donny doesn’t know how to answer. He never notices boys' legs, though he'-, beginning to notice girls'. Just to say something he asks, "How is Mr. Phipps?" "He interests you, does he? The theater fired him. Caught him going down on an usher in the locker room." He can see Donny doesn't understand, but waits for him fo admit it. When he doesn't, he sits down beside him on the bed. "I guess you don't get a hard on yet. I did before I was twelve. Exceptional, the doctor told me." "What doctor?"

Donny hears himself ask.

Roger keeps him waiting. "I used to get hard in school when we stood up for spelling. The whole class could see. Sister Annuciata was so upset she said I spelt a word wrong when I didn't, so I'd have to sit down. I went to see a doctor to make sure I was okay. Didn't want to go to our family physician for fear he'd tell Ma, so I went to your Dr. Pringle."

mother why he left. than his cousin.

He's probably better at lying even

Now where? Alvin's house, no Mrs. Peters is too smart. Aunt Cora's would be okay if she weren't in Milwaukee. He was always stopping there, it was so close to home, and sometimes his aunt kept him all night, saying it was nice to have a 'man' in the house. But old Bertha would be sound asleep by now in her room over the kitchen. Even if he could bring himself to wake her, she's too deaf to hear the bell. There are his uncles in their bungalows up the river in the newer part of town, but since neither has kids their nephew's age, why would he be coming to them? Dad's folks all live in Oshkosh. He is still holding Roger's drawing. He looks at it under the arclight, wondering if Dad and the Doctor do this, too. Then he tears it up.

Donny gulps. "While he's examining mo l g e t this terrific hard on, and before he can finish I come right In his hand. Well, not exactly. Most of it hit his white jacket." He giggles again, "What did he do?" "Just handed mo a wad of gauze to wipe myself. Are you sure you only came to listen to records, Donny?" He places a chubby hand on Donny's thigh. Donny Jumps up, knowing for sure he won't sleep here to night. "Okay, we better get started with them before Mother begins to wonder." He goes to the big Victrola in one corner of the room, while Donny goes to Uncle George's old Morris chair In another, far from the bed. "i'll play some Caruso. He sings so loud Ma won't hear what we say even if she's at the keyhole. It's chilly up here, so we may as well Iis ten in bed." "You go ahead, I'm fine here," Donny tells him. up to change the records. Too early to sleep."

"I'll be

"We don't have to sleep. I'll get up to change records, so don't let that keep you." As Roger undresses, Caruso sings Neapolital love songs and Donny keeps his clothes on, waiting for Aunt Grace to come up with the ice cream. Roger will have to unlock the door then because he'll say he's just dying for some. The key Isn't in the lock or he'd go now. Roger put It in his pants pocket. His pants are with the rest of his clothes in a heap by his bed. Roger is under the covers naked. When Caruso stops singing Donny turns the record over and rewinds the machine. "I don't suppose you'd know either about browning or a sixty-nine," says Roger. Donny doesn't answer. Not that he's any longer ashamed to admit he doesn't know about such stuff. He wishes he didn't know as much as he does. Still, he wants to keep Roger talking until he can get the key. As he moves closer to the bed, his cousin takes this as an encouraging sign and explains about the sixty-nine. He even makes a drawing of it at one of his bedside tables, the one on the other side of the bed, so his back is to Donny. As he draws, Donny goes through his pockets until he finds the key. He has it by the time Roger turns to hand him the drawing. With ft in his hand Donny goes straight to the door, unlocks It, and is out in the hall before his cousin realizes what has happened. He yells, but Donny keeps going, down the stairs to the entrance hall from where he can see Aunt Grace doztng In her chair, her Philco radio playing music from the Zlegfeld Follies. Grabbing his coat and hat in the vesti bule, he is out the front door. Let Roger explain to his

He has just begun to think they are spending the night at the Doctor's hotel when the front door opens downstairs, and he hears them going through the house to the kitchen. Maybe for coffee or a nightcap. He can hear their voices, but not what they're saying. His door is closed as usual when he isn't in his room, not that Dad will remember. If he should look in, he'll pretend to be asleep. finally they climb the stairs. They speak quietly. He has the feeling they're discussing him, but he doesn't try to hear. His mind is made up about what he's going to do when Mother gets home, and he's not going to change it. It was over a big dish of chocolate ice cream left for him in the icebox right on the ice that he reached his decision. They pass his door to go to the bathroom, but only to pee. They pass again to go to the spare room, next to his. After a few moments of half-whispers, one of them comes out and goes down the hall to Dad's and Mother's room. That has to be Dad. He waits for more footsteps, but there are none. He stays awake as long as he can, then dawn is creeping in his windows. Did they get together? He could probably find out, but he turns over and goes back to sIeep. The second time he awakes there is bright sunlight. He can see it gleaming on the river. His wristwatch shows after nine. When he goes to the bathroom he finds both Dad's door and the spare room's doors open. Both beds look slept in and are unmade. He hears someone downstairs in the kitchen. He smells bacon frying. After dressing quickiy he goes downstairs. Dad is alone at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Proba bly his second or third cup — had his first with the Doctor before he left on his morning rounds at the hospital. He waits for him to speak, but Dad just looks at him. Sur prised or not, he can't tell. "I don't care much for classical music, after all," Donny tells him. "A couple of records and I decided to come home." I'm glad you did, but I wanted you to decide for yourself." He isn't sure what Dad means and doesn't ask. "How about hockey?

You forgot your skates."

He hadn't thought about them once. He tries to cover with: "Roger's going to Mass with his mother. I think I'll go, too. Alone, I mean." "Mind if I come with you? It's been a long time."

Your mother would like that.

He really looks at Dad then, as he hasn't since — It seems much longer than yesterday. "What about the Doctor?" he asks.

Dad's dark eyes light up with his smile. "Thank you, son. it's good to hear you call me Dad again." His voice sounds a little husky and there are tears in his eyes. Brushing them away he goes upstairs to shave for church, and Donny sits down to eat the bacon and eggs prepared for him. So he noticed his son wasn't calling him 'Dad' since -- Even though he was still thinking of him as that. But would he ever be able to forget? That was the thing that still bothered him as he chewed his buttered toast and drank his coffee. Would he always sort of look down on Dad, or would he be able to think of him again as a father to be really proud of. If he couldn't, he could always go back to Ro ger's and let him do to his young cousin what the Doctor did to Dad. He'd have to forgive Dad then in order to forgive h imseIf.

"He'll be back after lunch to take us to the train. Un less you prefer me to get out the Id Paige touring car and just the two of us go." "What about dinner at the hotel?" "We don't have to go if you'd rather eat at home with your mother and me." "Aunt Cora would be disappointed. th ink?"

What would the Doctor

"He'd understand. Your Aun+ Cora will have to get used to not seeing him. He's going back to Chicago. A former as sociate. They practiced together before he came here." "Won't you —

miss him?"

Dad looks straight into his eyes. "Yes, Donald, I will. But I have a wonderful wife and son I wouldn't give up for anythi ng." That was as much as he and Dad ever discussed Dad and the Doctor. Dad knew he knew, but Donny liked to think he simply stopped it of his own accord. He could see Dad hoped he'd leave it at that, and somehow things could go on as before. With Christmas coming and all, Donny was so relieved he could have shouted. Not that he would have told Mother; that wasn't his decision. But keeping it from her this way will be so much better. She will know the Doctor stayed overnight, but he did that sometimes when she was home. To hear the rest, loving Dad as she does — well, if Dad still loves her enough to spare her, can't he? Now there's no reason she should ever know.

Just a few local items. At thirty-three Aunt Cora married the new doctor In town who replaced Dr. Pringle. They're very happy and have completely restored the old f >mily home, which pleases Mother very much.

Roger Brenner entered the seminciry after he finslshed high school. Aunt Grace wanted him to go Into the brewory with his two uncles, because everybody said bear was coming back and they'd make a lot of money. At thirty-nine Mother had her second child with far less difficulty than she had her first. Dad finally agreed to go through if again, though he swore it wouId be the last time. Another boy, fifteen years Donny's junior, so he has tried to be a good elderly brother all these years, helping his sibling -- especially through those sticky pre-adolescent years of ten, eleven, twelve —

He's ready to make concessions. "Dad," he says, "why not let today go on as planned. Let the Doctor take us to fetch Mother and Aunt Cora, then to dinner at the hotel. That way no one will be disappointed and we can all have one last good time together."

IC*«t» (■>—»!H«i!«l i*nmAi1(.»*;*< U«W*

■ he mayor o f t h e s m a ll town o f B u n c e t o n , M i s s o u r i , i s an * p e n l y g a y man. Though g a y p e o p l e a r e n o t s o w e l l a c c e p t e d in a l l o f r u r u r b i a , t h e r e a r e many s m a l l towns and r u r a l areas w h e r e you ca n l i v e o p e n l y and c o m f o r t a b l y , w i t h l i t t l e t h r e a t o f h om o p h o b ia . In a d d i t i o n t o t o l e r a n c e o f g a y n e s s , many w i l l w an t t o t a k e o t h e r f a c t o r s i n t o a c c o u n t , such as g e n e r a l s o c i a l c l i m a t e , p r o x im it y to s o u r c e s o f p o l l u t i o n , a b u n d a n c e o f r e s o u r c e s , and s o o n . Moving t o a new p l a c e i s a b i g d e c i s i o n , and i t h e l p s t o g e t a s much in fo rm a tio n b e fo r e g o in g g a i l y forw ard .

A number o f j u r i s d i c t i o n s h a v e o r d i n a n c e s t h a t p r o t e c t ga y r i g h t s in a t l e a s t o n e a s p e c t , su ch a s e m p lo y m e n t , h o u s i n g , and r e a l e s t a t e p r a c t i c e s . Sm all towns o r r u r a l c i t i e s w i t h s u c h o r d i n a n c e s , a s o f A p r i l , 198 4, i n c l u d e A l f r e d , New Y o r k ; A m h e r s t , M ain e ; A s p e n , C o l o r a d o ; Ch a pe l H i l l , N ort h C a r o l i n a ; Iowa C i t y , Iowa; I t h a c a , New Y o r k ; Mar s h a l l , M i n n e s o t a ; P u l l m a n , W a s h i n g t o n ; and Y e l l o w S p r i n g s , O hio . Some b i g c i t i e s w i t h ga y r i g h t s p r o t e c t i o n s a l s o h a v e some r u r a l o r s e m i - r u r a l l a n d . You ca n f i n d somewhat r u s t i c a r e a s in t h e s o u t h e r n h a l f o f New Y o r k C i t y ' s S t a t e n I s l a n d and in t h e S a n t a M on ic a M o u n t a in s j u s t n o r t h o f Los A n g e l e s .

A J u n e , 1984, I s s u e o f The A d v o c a t e s a i d , " T r a d i t i o n a l l y , o n e o f t h e most p e r n i c i o u s b a r r i e r s ( t o l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t a n t i - g a y d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ) h as b een t h e i l l e g a l i t y o f h om os ex ual a c t s t h e m s e l v e s ; p e r h a p s n o t h i n g e l s e h a s s o f o r c e f u l l y k e p t q a y s c l o s e t e d and s i l e n t . "

The f o l l o w i n g c o u n t i e s , a s o f A p r i l , 198 4, h a v e some form o f g a y r i g h t s p r o t e c t i o n : C l a l l a m C o u n t y , W a s h i n g t o n ; Dane C o u n t y , W i s c o n s i n ; He nne pin C o u n t y , M i n n e s o t a ; Howard C o u n t y , M a r y la n d ; Ingham C o u n t y , M i c h i g a n ; K in g C o u n t y , W a s h in g t o n ; Minnehaha C o u n t y , S o u t h D a k o t a ; Montgomery C o u n t y , M a r y la n d ; N or th am pton C o u n t y , P e n n s y l v a n i a ; and San M ateo and S a n t a C r u z C o u n t i e s , C a l i f o r n i a .

T h a t s t a t e m e n t seems b o t h p l a u s i b l e and a r g u a b l e t o me, b u t i t 2s. n i c e t o know t h e s t a t e s w h er e g a y s e x betw e e n a d u l t s in p r i v a t e i s l e g a l . As o f A p r i l , 1984, t h e y a r e A la s k a , C a l i f o r n i a , C o lo ra d o , C o n n e c t ic u t , D ela w are, H a w a i i , I l l i n o i s , I n d i a n a , Io wa, M a in e , M a s s a c h u s e t t s , N e b r a s k a , New H am p s h ir e , New J e r s e y , New M e x i c o , New Y o r k , N orth D a k o t a , O h i o , O r e g o n , P e n n s y l v a n i a , S o u t h D a k o t a , T e x a s , V e r m o n t , W a s h in g t o n s t a t e , West V i r g i n i a , W i s c o n s i n , and Wyoming. I t i s im p o r t a n t t o n o t e t h a t , a s o f S e p t e m b e r 198 4, t h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e c i s i o n t h a t l e g a l i z e d p r i v a t e , a d u l t g a y s e x in T e x a s i s b e i n g a p p e a l e d and may be o v e r t u r n e d .

The o r d i n a n c e in K in g C o u n t y , W a s h i n g t o n , c o v e r s o n l y t h e c o u n t y 's u n incorp orated a r e a s . The Montgomery C o u n t y , M a r y l a n d , o r d i n a n c e may b e o v e r t u r n e d in a N ovember , 1984, referendum .

The states with some form of gay rights protection are California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsyl vania, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the most comprehen sive statewide gay rights protection, with Pennsylvania the runner-up. These two states may be of particular in terest to RFD'ers, since both have a lot of beautiful, naturally well-watered (as opposed to irrigated) rural land. Where you live and what your neiahbors are like are im portant consideration if you choose to be openly gay in a new area. Certain small cities, such as Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Laguna Beach, California, are much more hospitable to gays than certain much larger cities, such as Dallas and Cincinnati. A Gallup poll in the November 7, 1982 MinneapoIis Tribune reported that markedly greater tolerance of gays is found among the college-educated, younger Americans (18-29 yearolds), Catholics, women, and people living in the East and Far West. Fall 1983 polling by the Los Angeles Times found that the East was the only region where more than half of those polled said they approve of homosexuality. However, another telephone survey of 1889 Californians revealed that the state may be the most hospitable to gay people overall. A majority (58 percent) said they did not oppose gayness while 37 percent said they did. Some of America's friendliest areas for gay men are Provincetown, Massachusetts; Fire island, New York, and Now York City's Greenwich Village; artsy New Hope, Pennsylvania; and the Dupont Circle and Adams-Morgan neighborhoods of D.C. There are significantly more single people in cities and college towns than elsewhere. To learn the sort of small town most hospitable to gays, read the section on "Cities and Towns" on pages 120-125 of the paperback version of The HomosexuaI Matrix, by C.A. Trip (Signet Books/New American Library, 1975, PO Box 999, Bergenfield, NJ 07621).

A warning about high tech came from an organized crime insider-turned-FBt informant who was interviewed on the July 26, 1983 "Our Times" CBS-TV program. To paraphase, he said that organized crime is moving into Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas — anywhere in the Sunbelt where there's high tech and hazardous waste. Irresponsible 'front' com panies in toxic waste disposal which have licenses have de ceived liqitimate major coroorations like Ford and IBM, Will California's San Jose/Silicon Valley area be another Love Canal, a modern-day Carthage, a generation from now? What are the imDlications for the Research Trianqle area of North Carolina, northern New Jersey and other high-tech hotbeds? Other points to ponder: How close is your would-be home to gay resources, such as a Metropolitan Community Church or a gay Alcoholics Anonymous group, if such resources are important to you? Are gay resources fairly accessible, or are they a discouragingly long commute away? What is the short-term and long-term water supply outlook for your prospective area? Is your would-t*> home near a known hazardous waste (including radioactive material) dis posal area? Is your possible homesite oric'narlly downwind from a smelter, paper mill, or other air pollution source: Has 'acid rain’ been a problem In the area? >s your wouldbe home near a nuclear power plant, or ordinarily downwind from such a plant? I hope you have found the above information and Ideas help ful. It would be great if there were a "Gay Places Rated Almanac," and this article may inspire someone to compile such a volume. If the tiny town of Bunceton, Missouri, can have an openly gay male mayor, as it does, then there is hope for rural America and all of America. But clearly, some places are friendlier than others. Suggested Reading:

States of Desire, by Edmund White Gayellow Pages Places Rated Almanac The three worst states for gay men may be Alabama, Missi Findinq Your Best Place to Live jn_ America ssippi, and Utah. These states are the least adaptable to (superior to Places Rated because of customized, social change, reports Martin Cetron in his book, Encounters personalized approach to selecting a place). With The Future. I have noticed news reports of particularly Where to Live for.Your Health, by Norman and Madelyn Carl Is I bizarre homophobia in Oklahoma. (Harcourt Br^ce, 1980). Are there a lot of 'survivaIists' in the area you're think ing of moving to? If so, caution and second thoughts may be indicated. 'Survival ism' as a concept per se may not be anti-gay, but it's quite possible that many, if not most, survivalists despise gayness as a sign of or contributing factor in the perceived social decay and/or Armageddon (nuclear war) they seek to escape. There are many surviv al ists in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, and the Rogue River Valley (Medford, Grants Pass) in southwest Oregon. Water, its quantity and quality, is an important factor for anyone interested in self-sufficiency. The September 27, 1982, issue of People asked water researcher Fred Powledge, "Where Is the water crisis going to be worst?" He replied, "Generally, I would say it's a close heat among Florida, Long Island (N.Y.) and northern New Jersey — not Just for runoff but also in terms of the overall water sit uation." Severe water supply problems also loom for the Southwest Plains, areas near the Mexican border, and much of the Rocky Mountain/Great Basin area. Living near a high-tech factory involves the hazard of toxic waste disposal affecting groundwater. From the May 7, 1984 Newsweek: "Despite its clean, nonpolluting image, the semiconductor business 'provides a complete spectrum of occupatiora I hazards...incIuding exposures to chemicals, gases (and) metals,' writes Dr. Joseph LaDou of the Univer sity of California, San Francisco, in the current iechnoloqy Review." And this: "A 1980 survey by the California Department of Industrial Relations (COIR) found that, in the previous year, 42 Silicon Valley companies had used half a million gallons of solvents and 2 million gallons of acids."

There is also a service called Astrocartography which pro vides a map marked by lines that indicate the best places to settle, based on one's birth chart.

Shawn is a handsome boy of fourteen. He s*t on the front jeat between his mother and father as his younger sisters fight, argue and vie as usual. They do this noisily In the second seat of the station wagon making the only son of this household squirm with nervousness. He had been sitting with one hand gripping tightly to the seat on each side of him since they turned onto this forest road. Shawn sat stiffly, eyes straight ahead as he intently fried to see through the trees, hoping they would get ■here soon. All of a sudden, Shawn noticed the trees melting away into nothingness as a big meadow opens up through the few trees in front of them. Shawn held his breath as his father skillfully maneuvered the big trailer around the last stand of trees and the car edges into the dreamlike clearing.

River Park is lushly surrounded by virgin forest, meaning ih.jf it is a natural clearing of immense beauty, a place so lovely that it's held as an unspoken secret except to and by a select few. The little raod that leads a person Into River Park Is nothing more than a fire brake that wind', into this park naturally in perfect harmony with no lure. It fully surrounds this isolated wonderland full natural splendors. There are few things that stand out Iiko sore spots in River Park, but even these tend to melt into the area in a nature-Iy way. River Park got its name from the lovely tittle river that meanders right through the exact center of the park, and the river is crossed by using a sturdy log bridge which joins the two halves of a natural clearing.

jhawn's fafher immediately hit the brakes stopping them in the middle of the road. "Damn... Your uncle got me again.' Shawn’s father said as two children ran on the side of the road followed by their parents who are out on a nature hike.

Aaron's twelve, he's a naturalist, and he's the son of naturalists who have been nudists over seven years of Aaion s life now. Aaron's been in nature camps before, but nothing he has ever been to before could match the splendid beauty that he feels makes River Park so ideal.

"Look, daddy," One of Shawn's younger sisters said push ing herself between Shawn and his father to point out the windshield in from of them. "None of them are wearing anything but their shoes!"

Aaron Is an only child and he's bored. He came here a week ago with his parents who wanted to get their tans even before the regular season opens this weekend. His father is a real teaser, a trickster, a practical joker who at times makes life very interesting f o r his offspring and siblings alike. This time Aaron feels his father has’ oven outdone himself in what he has done this time. His l (ther has invited Aaron's uncle's family to camp out with them for two weeks without bothering to tell them that they are naturalists.

"I'm sure not going to take off everything." Prudence who is twelve said petulantly. "If we're staying here, I'm staying dressed." "We will have to spend the rest of the day here, sleep here overnight, then we can leave in the morning." Shawn's father said leaning past Shawn to see if it was approved by his wife who silently nodded acceptance to his plan. "Wait until I get my hands on that brother of mine." He said as he got the car and trailer started down the road.

"When are they supposed to get here?" Aaron asked his father. Aaron is jumping up and asking his father this nme question every time a car or truck peeked its grill out of the forest. Aaron has not seen this uncle or his cousins since he was five years old, so he would not know them if they walked right up to him.

They easily found Aaron's father who greeted them with a big smile on his face. "Don't mind the naturalists." Aaron's father said cheerfully. "In this park, clothing is optional. It's a lovely afternoon for swim suits and we have a lovely pool to swim in over there." He said to encourage his nephew and three nieces into bathing suits. He then helped his brother park his trailer next to his Vagabond motor home, and helped him block it even so that eveything inside would work.

"In a day or two, Aaron." His father lied. He could have told his son the truth by saying around noon, but his son is impatient, tense, anxious to get things over with so he could go play or so something else besides sitting and watching the road. Aaron was boiling with internal excitement. He had not soon Shawn since he was a very small boy. He vaguely re membered Shawn, his taller, older, thinner, freckled faced cousin who used to take him places by his hand. Shawn was always very considerate to him since he was younger, but he could not remember any more than that.

"Where's Aaron?" Shawn's father asked after they got his trailer leveled out. "He left a little while ago to explore in the forest." Aaron's father said. "He's been exploring downstream this week."

Aaron is usually playful, active, adventurous and alert, but the day was already starting to weigh heavily on him. Once Aaron was told his cousins would not be in today, he immediately got tired of watching station waqons come in loaded down with camping gear and pick-ups and cars pulling camping trailers behind them as they staggered in from the forest that everyone had to drive through to reach River Park.

"Is it alright if I wear a T-shirt with my trunks, Uncle Paul?" Shawn asked after shaking his uncle's hand. "What happened to the kisses I used to get?" Paul teased him lightly. "Don't tell me you outgrew giving them?" I mostly outgrew giving them." Shawn said giving his Uncle Paul a quick peck on the cheek.

"All of you feel free to wear what you want to or don't want to wear." Uncle Paul said looking around to wave and smile at two naked teen-aged girls who yelled at him as they herded a younger mixed group of children to the natural pool that everyone swims in. Paul was watching his nieces who averted their eyes and giggled, and he noticed Shawn staring at the girls with three buldqes -two of them were his eves. "What a man you're growing into, Shawn. At the sight of the first two pretty girls you see here more than your eyes seem to have bugged out on you." Paul teased his nephew.

Suddenly, Shawn felt he must have breathed too deeply or something because the sleeping boy's eyes fluttered open. Big wide apart green eyes that silently appraised him, judged him, valued him. Shawn thought that even awake this boy is beautiful; that's if another boy can think of a boy as being beautiful. "I'm sorry I woke you." Shawn said standing almost close enough to reach over and touch him. Shawn felt he really had to explain why he was there to this beautiful boy. "I just came from River Park, and I am looking for my cousing, Aaron." "You must be Shawn." Aaron said sleepily, hoarsely, softly. "I'm Aaron." Shawn dropped down on his knees next to Aaron. With an affirmative nod for his answer, Aaron started to move. "No, Aaron," Shawn said with memories flooding back from years before of this little boy he loved so much and took care of when they played together, "don't sft up; I'll sit here with you while you rest a wh iI ■’ longer." He remembered how he used to have to rest next to Aaron when Aaron had to take his naps years before. "Shown," me?"

Aaron .aid softly, "why don'1 you rest next to

"Naked like you are?" Shawn asked unsure of what to say. The boy from years before always demanded that Shawn do everything he had to do to keep him from being cranky. When he was put down for a nap In his underpants, Shawn had to lie on the bed in his underpants with him.

"Where did you say Aaron went?" Shawn asked guickly tug ging the front of his T-shirt down to hide the buldge in his swim suit. "That way." Paul pointed, still grinning at his nephew because he is really glad to see them after all of these years. Aaron had walked downstream to a nice sunny clearing right on the river bank that he found in yesterday's explora tions. He headed straight for it as soon as he could. He was feeling tired, drained, and he laid down to sun and rest, to wait jitterly inside for another day to pass be fore he would see his cousins again. He still was not able to think of anything special that he could really remember about Shawn. Shawn slowly, carefully, went in the direction his uncle had pointed out to him. He walked next to the river near the edge of the deep woods. He walked up a little knoll, next to the sharp cut bank where the river has worked for years to straighten out. then, he walked down into a copse of trees. Shawn did as his uncle asked him to do, staying in close to the river as he followed it downstream. It took him a little while to get to the secluded grassy sun-filled bank right on the river's edge. As he moved in closer to see this lovely little spot, he noticed a completely naked boy seemingly asleep in the sunshine. He was lying sort of on his side with one knee pulled up for balance, modest ly covering his privates as he slept in the luxurantly lush looking grass. Shawn moved closer to where the sleeping boy lay. He did not wish to wake the child but only to see him better. Shawn noticed the boy's lonn dark hair, some gently flowing over his ear and cheek while the rest of the boy’s hair flows under his other cheek to make a pi I low between his cheek and the lush grass. The sleeping boy's lip- wen slightly parted as he slowly, shallowly breathed through his mouth. Shawn was exci fed to v o that this boy's seem ingly familar body is totally tan, healthy looking, giving Shawn a feeling that he would like to reach out to hug him as he had hugged his younger cousin years ago when he took care of him.

"That's up to you, Shawn." Aaron said waking up mor>' and more as he talked to his cousin. He watched as Shawn pulled his T-shirt over his head, then lifted his bottom to slip down his swim suit, freeing himself from the flannel category and Into the naturalist category. Shawn tried to cover himself with his T-shirt after he got his trunks off, but not before Aaron could see he was .almost hard. "Well, what do you do when you're naked in the park," Shawn asked with sdme slight embarrassment when he noticed his younger cousin smiling at him in a sympathetic way, "and you get a bone?" "Nothing," Aaron told him, moving fais modestly covering leg into a more open position to expose his own boyhood. "No one pays any attention to you even it you do have a bone on." It was a lovely sight to watch as two boys lied side by side together, one approaching puberty, the other barely past. Both rolled onto their tummies to look over the edge of the little grassy bank into the water that rushed by below them. They brought each other up to date in the seven years they had not seen each other and told secret things about how they felt...... It was a beautiful sight for me to see as I circled above them on eagle's wings as I watched two boys who could have been brothers fall deeply in love with each other agai n.

I got twenty years. That ain't bad.

My pal got ten.

Anyways, that's when the shit hit the fan. Didn't nobody support us no more. Preacher said we musta misunderstood his message. Misunderstood my ass! If you ask me, he_ oughta be in here, not me.

We coulda got worse.

riome of them queers wanted me killed, wanted a death sen tence. Can you believe that? "An eye for an eye" and all that. If you ask me, they got a helluva nerve quotin' scripture.

All them big shot preachers oughta be in here. If I'm guilty, they are guilty. I mean, they inspired me. *

Anyways, the jury recommended leniency. Said we didn't know what we was doin'. Said some big shot preachers put us up to it.

God knows, I'm no fag lover. But I have had time to think. If there's one thing I got plenty of now, it's time.

I'll admit we was inspired. We was aimin' to do God's will, y 'know. We really was. I ain't lyin' to ya.

I got ten years for killing a faggot, and I'm pissed. 'his preacher tells me the Lord is down on guys sleepin' with other guys.. Says they should be killed.

You know this preacher goes round preachin' how disgus ting fags is? How they make God vomit? You know the one I mean. Anyways, he says God wants 'em dead. That's what AIDS is about, he says. It's God killin' off the queers.

Well, that's fine with me. But since I'm here I got time to read the Good 8ook myself. And it's down on a few folks the preacher man didn't mention.

We used to kid around, my pal and me. You know, say things like "Let's kill a queer for Jesus." Stuff like that. To tell the truth, I got sick of hearin' it. Fig ured somebody oughta do somethin'. I mean, these queers was gonna take over if we just stood around and watched.

Like preachers. Preachers with pimples! Check it out. It's in the Bible. It's In Leviticus. one of the books wrote down by Moses. Says right in Leviticus that preach ers with pimples should not be allowed near an altar. Nobody with a broken nose should be a preacher either. And nobody with scabby skin. You don't have to believe me. It's in the Bib Ie. Check it out.

Anyways, we just come outa this meet in' where we had a high ole time praisin' the Lord and Ronald Reagan. We had a few laughs, too. Any time somebody says "San Francisco" I Just have to laugh. I can't help myself. The idea of 1 city rur by faggots iust about cracks ~>e un when it doesn't make me mad as hell.

Nobody blind or lame or female could preach. Even a mis shapen testicle disqualified a guy for the ministry! I'd like to line up all these big shot preachers and check out their balls. See how many of 'em shouldn't be allowed anywheres near a church.

Think about it. An American city that's run by fairies! Fairies is downright un-American. Fairies is out to destroy the United States of America. Preacher says so. You better believe it.

'here's a lot more. Like the Lord wants us to eat grass hoppers but not rabbits. Crickets is good eatin' but not snails. And, o'course, the Good Book is down on pork.

Like Preacher says, "Sodomites got no rights!" (A Sodomit's a fairy, he says.) They ain't got no right to live. God wants 'em dead. That's what the Preacher says.

Heaven help ya if ya cuss yer ma or pa. The Good Book wants ya killed for that. And all us guys is supposed to be circumcised. .You know, cut. And we can't go near a woman who's havin' her period.

So when we spotted these two queers on the bridge, we figured we'd give It to 'em square. Give 'em a hard time, maybe teach 'em a lesson. Straighten 'em out, so to speak. We do it for Preacher and for the Lord.

Oh, yeah, the one about adultery. Let's not forget that one. Anybody dumb enough to get caught committin' adultery is supposed to be killed. If that one was carried out, there would not be many of us left alive. Including the preachers. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!~

Would kicked both their asses in the water, but they re sisted. Fought back like you wouldn't believe. I mean, they were vicious. So we only got this one with the ear ring. A good dunkin' was all we intended. We didn't mean for him to drown. How was we supposed to know he couldn't swim? He musta hit his head on an abutment or somthin'.

Amazing, the stuff you can find in there if you look hard enough. Stuff the big shot preachers don’t never talk about.

I used to figure they been 1o school. Bible school. They must know what they're talkin' about. I looked up to 'em. Now I know. They can't be trusted. They're only singing part of the song. See for yourself! Ain't One of 'em been to see me since I got locked up. It's like they never had nothin' to do with me. Yeah, I've had time to think. Want to know what I think?

And I've had time to road.

W ||, come of them old time preachers was so mean and so arrow, their congregations just had to split up to get ;wjy from 'em. From other Christians that was burnin' 'em i- :i stonin' 'em, and puttin' out their eyes 'cause they didn't all read the Bible the same way. Hard to believe, ain't it, that folks'll kill each other over how the Good Book oughta be read! I read about this thing called Fascism, too. It has some thin’ to do with a few folks tel Iin' the rest of us what to road and how to read it, who to screw and when and how. I ain't got much use for it.

I think they are a bunch of power trippers. They know us folks pretty well. They know what scares us. Mostly it's stuff we don't know much about. Like sex. And what hap pens when we die.

Somebody said if Facism ever comes to this country, it'll probably look like a Bible wrapped in a flag. I'm beginn ing to understand that.

They know what scares us, and they scare us mere. To get a grip on our lives and our wallets. That's what it's a 11 about.

If you see any big shot preachers, send 'em down to see me. We got a few things to discuss. And if you see that poor kid's parents or his friend, tell 'em we did/i't mean to hurt nobody. We just meant to do God's will.

Yeah, I been thinkin’ and I been read in'. I ain't all that smart, and I ain’t read everything. Not yet I ain't. I did read about these big shot preachers in the olden days, though. You know, when America was just gettin' started.

Copyright by Tom H o l m '84, re-printed by p> rrr>i .i - I author. (Ed. Note: this article wu . written prior to the tragic happening In Maine.)

or me, a higher sp irituaI consciousness has resulted from a raised consciousness of masturbation. I understand spirituality as a recognition of inner balance and a dropping of the illusions that foster dualism. My dualisms were: Believing that I needed a special part ner to feel good about myself sexually. Feeling compelled to collect sexual experinces, i.e., sexual materialism. Attaching myself to an achievement motif in sex. I have come to see these as the sexual illusions learned early and subtly in my life. These illusions inhibit spiritual growth.

The oriental masters see spirituality as a return to this pristine experience of non-dual plentitude. It Is the reclamation of child-like wonder, the ease that allows us to be so permeable to our experience that we become one with it. I never thought this was possible sexually, but now I know that it is. As long as what I need is outside myself, it can never be enough; as long as what I need Is not outside, I am enough. SeIf-nurturant, joyful masturbation can engender this consciousness. It is a declaration that we are adequate, that we have the sources of power and pleasure within our selves. This is the self-esteem that sets the psychic scene for seIf-transcendence and divinity..

|n recent years I discovered mastubation as seIf-befriendln9* I came to enjoy my own sexual company! My preference changed to wider appreciation of others and especially of myself. I feel needs now, but not neediness. My sexual collecting changed to serenity and openness to my exper ience, without having to engineer it and without a feeling of compulsion. My goal-orientation in sex has been trans formed into letting go and effortlessness in sex.

In ancient times, the penis was adored as a god. God gives life. The penis gives life. The fertility equation Is s imo Ie .

•ly earlier experiences had been based upon a sense of scarcity, a lack in me that could only be filled from without. The more recent experiences grew from a sens °f plentitude; I have and am Enough.

Osiris, in Egyptian mythology, created the universe by an act of masturbation. The pharoahs who were revered as gods, and who had the power to oive or take life, wore the symbol of an erect serpent on their headdress.

The Israelites in exile fought the Pen i5i/Fert iIity reli gions of their neighbors. Their story of the lost Fden this Penis/Serpenr/god a villain.

Also, it remains rill during sex while the penis and rofum move. This fools t o m e like 'reliability'. It ■ center of aeeessltofIi+y and so feels protective.

It is important to note here that to the pagan ancients, the male penis was not a gay or female fetish. If was object of universal devotion, radically connected to the continuance of Iife on this planet.

I" fiort , I '.,•(• pubis- hair as an epiphany, a Garden of f'J(jn, i aldon Fleece. If does not cause spontaneous ' r- • as 1 simple fetish does. It is a locus of meditaIion.

The penis Is still such an object. How? Straight men tTisJf penises, They may not seek other men's pen isos •is pleasure objects, but they do have a curiosity about them. Interest and desire are really two ends of the Same spectrum!

A, my sexual esteem grows, I Iike this feeling. A little hair has become a node of many warm realities; it is sarament a I, a visible sign of a mu 11 i- Ieve I Ied reaIi ty. Leonardo Da Vinci says in one of his notebooks: "The penis has often a life and intelligence of its own, separate from man, and it would appear that a man is in the wrong in being ashamed to give it a name or to exhibit it, seek ing rather constantly to cover and conceal what he ought to adorn and display with ceremony as a ministrant."

Another feature of penis-veneration directly links us to masturbation. Many of us have gone through a long night of feel ing hotly obsessed with sex and the penis — or more precisely 'cock'. I do not mean horniness. To be horny is to desire sex. Such desire can be fulfilled by sex. I am referring here rather to a voracious obsession with cock. It is not a desire for sex but a physical, emotional and soiritual desire for union. It cannot be fulfilled by sex because it is the fulfillment of_ sex. It feels like an insatiable and overwhelming desire that throws us off balance. Actually, it is the mortal side of immortal longings. It is the deep wish to be one with the source of sexual power within and outside ourselves. It is thus too enormous to be satisfied; it is enormous enough only to be a god. It is the Holy Grail, the ancient symbol of balance and compIeteness. Even one night of desire like this can be painful in the extreme. The pain comes from mistaking the insatiability as a defect in us. I have found that masturbation changes this. Prolonged solitary or multiple masturbation is a ritual that draws in our projections and relaxes us into the farther reaches of our sexuality. It does this by putting us in touch with a destiny and a quest at the same time.

To worship something is to acknowledge its gift dimension in our lives. To love the genitals and to enjoy them is to appreciate them as a gift. There is power, freedon, and grace in such a gesture. It Is an invitation to take a step beyond ourselves. This step is transcendence, ecstacy, divinity as the apex of humanity,

How does this happen? We can never become Cock, but we can go beyond ourselves through it. Masturbation validates us as sexually rich. At the same time it is limited. It is thus the point of contact of the mortal and immortal parts of ourselves. It does what God does: it becomes One-With-Us.

I always feared there was something deeply wrong with me for loving the penis. I thought my interest was irrational before I knew that the heart has reasons unknown to the mind. I worried about how particular features of the male genitalia arrested my attention and held my interest spelI bound. For example, pubic hair on a smooth body is more than a simple patch of hair to me. It fascinates and excites m e * IT is a fetish, and yet more. I see it as an ab stract reality: it seems 'sudden' since it appears on the body full-grown — as if from nowhere. It is thus a burning bush, holding a vision of something else, beyond sexual satisfaction.

Psychological maturity must happen in a realm that is ours alone. Masturbation is a most appropriate rite of transi tion to sexual maturity. Most of us learned to mastur bate on our own, not with our parents. Thus it was a crucial part of our individual unique development.

.•Down to Forth, The Jason Journal by .‘Ron Goettsche and Bob Fogg. "This is •‘ ■ new :je for you. Tin- se tson has • .. hanged. Move- now into the freshness ‘.of that new season." "We are encouriged to read all of Down to Forth! .■You will bo richly rewarded! It is .•of the highest quality— comparable to .' fhe Seth mater ia I..."— RaIph Walker •'of the Loving Brotherhood Newsletter. ‘.(See review in #39). Order from: Synerny Publishers ($6.95) PC, Pox 1826s !• . . Denver, CO 80218

To believe that it is wrong to masturbate is to impugn our own maturation. Yet many of us were taught to despise and avoid what we most enjoyed. To love masturbation after such conditioning is to be making a strong choice in favor of freedom and our own personal evolution. It is a choice for self-care instead of one for submission to the furies of self-doubt and self-abnegation. It pushes out the limits set on us by those who feared our burgeoning sexual powers. Masturbation without guilt, but with joy; reverence for Cock without gu iM but with excitement; these are the hallmarks of sexuaI-spirituaI kni ahthood. This brings us to one final sense in which the penis is a god. It abides through our personal history as uniquely ours. We are creative with it. We redeem ourselves with it. We go beyond ourselves with it. We are supported and enriched by its pleasure and potential.

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Robert deRom wrote in Sex E n e m y: "We may assume, on the basis of nt lithic art, that man has long been fascinated by hi- own penis. Its extraordinary capacity for erec tion, its independence...set it apart from the other or gans of the body. Thus the phallus early became an ob ject of worship... It was on account of its magical power that the phallus (was worn as the) fasc inum... It attracted the glance of stray beholders... From this aspect of the phallus cult are derived the words 'fasci nate' and 'fascination'." Fritz Peris, the founder of Gestalt Therapy, suggests that psychological wholeness demands the ability to go with one's fascinations. Fascination with Cock is a crucial feature of sexual wholeness.

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To follow this fascination, is to be in search of the Holy Grail. Masturbation is the Hero's journey. Go for it .

An Open Letter To My Christian Com munity, My Family, And My Trlends This is part of a series of personal testimonies which merge biblical faith with ray experience, by Donald Batman. For people wrestling with fundamenta 11st, evangeI IcaI backgrounds this pamphlet and the series could be helpful in resolving conflicts. Order from: Evangelical Outreach Ministry PO Box 7882 Atlanta, GA 30357

Photo by David Kwasiqroh

We recently received several publica tions of interest to readers. Please order them from the sources indicated and include a SASF. HOMOSEXUALITY: What the Bible Says and Does TOT Say! An excellent, cogent pamphlet by Rev. Gilbert H. Lincoln. Good for general reading and for dis tribution to other churches and places of worship. Excellent spot for be ginning Bible study on the subject. Order from: MCC of Nashville 131 15th Ave. North Nashville, TN 37203

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TH O U G H TS O N M O D ER N H O M ESTEA D IN G by

THE HOMESTEADER 'Ye more or less homesteaded since 1966; that is i owned my own place and eventually paid it off. I did not make it off the homestead, but worked full time in a factory, fh*' homestead provides most of my food and a nice private Pi air to live. You must after all, live somewhere, and I prefer to own my turf. Cancel led rent checks don't make ) sound investment.

Also, there would possibly be a good demand for custom hatching of eggs, especially ducks and geese which have less disease problems that upland fowl. Again, check your local laws. I also know of some people who do well rais ing puppies ("registered pure breeds only"). You might operate a kennel or boarding service for vacationing pet owners.

I feel the key to successful homesteading today is to live close enough to a place of employment for dependable in.<me to pay off the land and allow the money to experiment with different projects. These would be learning experi ences to see what you are most suited for. Some things that look like fun and profit turn out to be neither one.

All these things and more may work for you. You must suit your enterprise to the land, buildings, and skills as well as the free hours you have avialable. There is no free Iunch. I have observed that 99% of the people that will buy farm raised poultry want it dressed and the I% that want it live want to buy cfieap. If you are willing to dress all your poultry, ?t wlI I sell well. If not, you have a pro blem.

Also, if you live close enough to a decent employment irea, you also are close enough to potential customers of whatever you decide to produce for sale. If you are too inaccessable to get your product to market, the cheap land Is not worth the price.

With all the publicity about chemicals and organically raised foods, there are lots of possibilities. But, all are dependent on what you and your land is suited for and what the best potential is for local sales.

In my case, most people didn't mind driving 10 miles to work, but I was willing to go 25 miles. So, I found land for half the money but still within reach of my job. I could afford more hind there as there was less demand for the building sites there than the surrounding fields which the neighbors wanted to add to their holdings. On the advice of my agricultural banker I did not buy equipment but have my neighbors work the land on shares since they already have the equipment and were farming right beside my place. As I can afford it, I will get my •wn chore tractor and some grain wagons, etc. But at first, it's been more Important to repair and upgrade the build ings and water lines and rewire where necessary. One item I did buy was a stock trailer which gave me something to lend to the neighbors who lent me tractors or whatever.I

I would recommend that if you raise any kind of livestock, it should be pure bred and registered. That is, after you raise some cheap critters to see if you like the species well enough to keep it around full time. After all, if you decide that you hate hogs, you can ship that first batch of feeder pigs at market weight at four and a half months, but if you invested in a registered boar and sows, you will take a beating shipping them to market instead of raising seed stock for resale. Excess pure breeds can always be shipped for market after first selling the best ones at a better price as breeders. Crossbreeds are only able to bring market price. r'ou may also be able to get above market price with a private customer if you feed your critters with natural feeds instead of concentrates. There are so many vari ables I don't think I can put all of it down. That Is why I am using hogs as an example.

I have noticed most of the neighbors are willing to help out if you have an emergency, but I would not overdo it since the full time farmer has more work than most people real! ’«>, and you will soon wear out your welcome. How ever , if you are able to help in some way, like tailing lambs or stacking bales or some chores when he goes away, you will fit In your new 'community' better and be more accepted. I found that I had to 'train' my neighbors not to drop in on me unexpected since I work nights a lot and must sleep when they are up and about. You have to adapt to whatever your own situation demands. Yes, I think i could survive on this place, but I want to live a little better than bare survival. Some skills that couid bring a jood cash income would be custom butchering or sheep shearing. You would want to check your state and local law on any homestead business before investing very much in equipment.

The same could be true of any edible livestock. As for poultry, the cheapest to raise are the geese and muscovy ducks. ihey are able to do most of their growing on grass and need only starting and finishing rations of grain. Tame ducks can be expensive and literally eat up the profit. Regarding chickens, there are breeds and crosses for every purpose. If your goal is for a fast growing bird to market quickly, get the commercial broiler crosses, “'to pure breed comes close to their growth, fed the same way. That is, full feed in confinement. 4S

CcnXZnue.d on page 60

ternative is being completely broken. And he notes that "in prison there are many broken men." Much of the kill ing, he concludes, "is done in order to Iive respectably in prison. Moral self-defense." One thread running through the entire book is the sexist concept that dominates every male prison culture - the importance of being a man. Thus if you don't act this way or that way "you'll suck every cock in the cell house to 'get along'." So while Abbott is able to articulate about all these things on an intellectual level, in the area of social values he, like the overwhelming majority of his peers on the inside, retains much of the value system of his captors. This is esnecially clear in matters relating to sexual expression with members of the same sex. According to Abbott's value system the prisoner's goal is "to be a man." And being "a man" isn't something that's biologically determined, but rather a quality that must be repeatedly demonstrated - often through acts of murder committed against other prisoners over usually small and ego related matters. At the opposite pole from being "a man" is being a punk. Abbott sees someone as "reduced to a homosexual." He correctly notes the quality if Iif. for homosexuals in many prisons is that of "a slave, a chattle slave." He goes on: "The majority of prisoners I have known - something like ninety percent - express sexual interest in their own sox." Like most prisoners, however, he is "hesitant to call this homosexual." This is because of the prisoner fostered illusion that only the passive participant is gay, an illusion he subscribes to because "nopisoner really respects a homosexual."

i the Belly of 1he Beast, Letters From Prison by Jack Henry Abbott Random House, New York 166 pp. Jack Henry Abbott is a state raised prisoner who at 37 years wrote: "Since age 12 I have been free the sum total of nine and a half months." During the later years of this period he spent a considerable amount of time study ing philosophy and politics, an avocation that enabled him to better understand the destructive nature of the prison experi ence. Abbott expresses an insightful perception of what prisons do to people, but he could not internalize the meanings to the point of reaching logical conclusions - that being the need to consciously organize against the source of his oppression. In other words, he could clearly identify the nature of the problem but was unable to actually fight against it in any kind of significant way.

It would have been more interesting if Abbott had dis cussed this issue in terms of his own experiences and desires, rather than in the verbago of the exisitlng prisoner value system on the subject of homosexuality. But if he were able to do that he probably would not have been out "defending his manhood" through the medium of murder. Abbott sum*, the chapter up pretty well: "You don't comfort one another; you humor one another." Y eah , and that's a real sad Iimitation on a segment of the population that already suffers so much.

In prison, he says, "You are only allowed to submit. Agreement does not exist (it implies equality). You are the rebellious adolescent who must obey and submit to the judgement of 'grownups’ - 'tyrants' they are called when we speak of men." From there he gives us a look at the dark side of state-raised convicts.

I'll skip that chapter in which Abbott rationalizes his use of narcotics and other drugs. Abbott terms his use of heroin "theraputic."

"The model we emulate is a fanatically defiant and alienated individual who cannot imagine what for giveness is, or mercy or tolerance, because he has no experience of such values. His emotions do not know what such values are, but he imagines them as so many 'weaknesses'."

In the section discussing Abbott's political development he says that "if anyone wants to know why prisoners are so attracted to communist and subversive literature, the answer is simple: "The communist press always tells the truth in reporting events in prison and describing con ditions." Later he adds: "Communists always behave as anyone would expect real people in a real society to re spond to one another."

Regarding the prison staff he concludes: "There are wardens and prison guards in my life for whom the very notion that I should forgive them is insane. A warden, a President Nixon, a Fuher Hitler will never be one of us. History demands this, not just the human heart. In my own opinion, wheelbarrow therapy would best suit those who have lived so long on our labor."

Shortly after his release, Abbott stabbed i waiter to death during an argument outside a New York restaurant. What kind of communist is it, I wondered, who would murder a member of the working class over what amounts to an ego related incident. So much for the lone individual who thinks political theory alone will be his or her salvation. Theory is a guide to action, and without appropriate prac tice it is on Iy so much dogma.

On the tiny amount of unobstructed floorspace, he says: "If I were an animal housed in a zoo in quarters of these dimensions, the Humane Society would have the zookeeper arrested for cruelty. It is illegal to house an animal in such confines."

Abbott's ample insights into the weaknesses of the system arc demonstrated when he says, tell "America that as long as it permits the use of violence In its institutions... men and women will always indulge in violence, will always yearn to achieve the cultural mantle of this society based on swindle and violence. When America can get angry be cause of the violence done to my life and the countless lives of men like me, then there will be an end to violence, but not before." Beyond such insights, however, Abbott has no answers. He is at hearl demoralized by the enormity of the task that lies ahead. This is clearly reflected in the section of the book on racism,

Where Abbott does best is where he’s talking about prison ers and the day-to-day reality they must survive in the atmospheric pressure. In the chapter on inmates he discusses the almost constant fear and tension that "wraps itself around your brain Iike a steel vise." "If you iove life too much or fear violence too much," he says, if is only a matter of time "before you become a thing, no longer a man," He continues: "The only thing a con vict respects in another is moral strength. That's all it takes to kill a man." Abbott believes the object is to survive imprisonment with dignity and sanity, the al

"Every leap in the direction of prison reform is preceded in prison by a period of racial unify among a II prisoners.

"We wore .ent to prison to be broken. "It is not in accident that wo all too often find our• >< i 'I ■ onf i ic ft---wi Ih othQf pr tsoners, " rhl‘V w ,,!! to kill one another; so long as wo aro m m 'for irui one another, we are making it easy for the prison regimes and the police to hold and destroy Abi.oM in see that "the authori ties want the white pr ison ers to change their ways and 'come back into the fold of white law-abiding society.' That's the message and it's elear as a bell." Abbott (who is half Irish/half Chinese) say, whites will have to "stay close" and "defend" each other "so long as it is not understood by all races of prisoners that it is to their adv ■in:h then," he adds, "mutual destruction will be their led. He says this harmony can "never happen" because the cop. will "always see to arranging our lives in prison with an oyo to keeping us at each other's throats." In other words, ho seems to be saying that there is no hope of ever achieving victory because our captors are too qood at manipul ating us. BuiIshi i'

1ho las1 s f - g n l f l i at fairs, and like the i f does not warrant a prisoner, still cling v iewpoi nts,

■ H o n of the book deals with fon } chapter on drugs, it is so muddled very serious reply. Tew advanced to the bankrupt Maoist political

To s u m up then, Abbott, a confused victim of America's prison system, became less confused with his adoption of progress Ive politics. Unable to Internalize or to put those p!)h,i ' ioto concrete practice, and unable to rise above 'he destructive, super-macho value system of the convict Culture, he merely wound up being a more conscious and articulate version of what the state raised him to be > "fanatical|y defiant and alienated individual." UOOOUu

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0 0-0-0_o _o _o a o „o _ojd„o„o^ o„ojd„o „o „o _o o o o o o o o ^^ If M ' s bodies you're Into for your 1985 wall calendars, Mil . u ifi fir''! of the sum,' >1,1 ■,,■ft ike, you might pick up > 'upIe of unusual offerings! M Men of 1985 or !l<r'1, Women's Bodybuilding. These don't necessarily go together — I iust happened to pick them up for review last time I was at Running Water. They are both unique, funny, id thought-provoking in their >wn right, and more so when considered side by side. 0 ink.,_r_.< Women's r'.odyhu i Id inq features , natural ly, photos M w o m e n w h o have won various bodybuilding events. In this field that has been dominated by men for so long, this pub lication stands out for a couple of reasons; it demonstrates the amazing forms the human body — female in this case — an achieve with directed training, and it shows these wo men atone, a nice change from the "ff f-but-stiI I-d e c o ra tion" 1ma<jo women bodybuilders are often prof rayed as. None here are accompanied by men. I wonder if that's the reason for the appelat ion 'hardcore'. A woman doing something for herself rather than for a man is serious about it. Yet that term fits in other ways as we I!. These are not your ' • ' ' is any indication. Rang ing from smooth hardness to we I I-defined-tono-beserk, these images are powerful, whatever else they may be. Not a fan of bodybuilding, | find the tanned, oiled, awkward poses its champions are required to assume to be puzzling and sometimes downright silly. Seeing women in these positions does nothing to change that opinion, except to enchance their grotesquerie beyond odd to sexist and almost obs-one. I enioy the variety of tumbled feelings elicited by these pn t . I'll admit that muscular bulges intrigue me, and the combination of said bulges with rarely-seen images of women, oasted-on grins, m d everything from softfocused illure fo harsh dramatic lighting result in a confustng gamut of emotional response each time 1 flip through its pages.

Aril ion't ask mo how it ra tes an the correctness scale; y at ouI ! argue that one. These are images of strong wo rn, n, yet th emphasis is on their bodies and their physical appearances. They border on the erotic, nearly the pornosraphi , yet there is no suggestion of overt sexual con tent. By simply covering faces or ofher small parts of the anatomy, if is easy to imagine some of the subjects of : >• WeH-baT it men. The yellow bikini of Bev francis, World's Strongest Woman (dare I call her 'Miss October'?) looks ludicrous — she has shoulders and lats to rival Schwartzennegger. Hardcore Women's Bodybuilding is available for $6.95 from Sterling Publishing Co., 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. A M in all, i found Real Men more to my liking. Fortunate ly, this is not another of the nauseous offspring of nongun he-ea ting fame, but a serious collection of real men, replete with pot bellies, polyester, and glasses only Clark Kent could love. Call them hokey, call them stupid, there is something engaging about a pictorial celebration of Everyman doing the things he's always done (or wishes he could anyway). !rom the flabby nude imp cavorting in the daisies on the cover (he shows up again in May) to the laughing valentine clad only in hearts and flowers, these >re familiar images of the men in all of our lives, those wf_'° Mi k e most of us) don't quite cut that image of perfec tion so often foisted on us by the media. We'll cheer at the 98-lb. weakling kicking sand on the hunk in July, and recognize the familiar man in September; popcorn, can of Bud it his elbow, sweaty t-shirt, knobby knees, sitting in his naugahyde recliner. it's World Series time. 'lie one that brings tears of sheer del ight to my eyes is November's child. Pale, skinny, glasses and acne, bright fed union suit, he regales his audience of hundreds of tur keys with a song and a concertina. This one is not famili ar, but it could be; he reminds me of lots of men I know. if you've ever sat in a group of task-oriented men and wondered if they/we will ever learn a more humane way of seeing the world, or even develop a sense of humor, you'll enjoy this. The picture of the "Real Men Board of Direc tors" is a nice tguch, clad as they are in black socks, bow ties, and boxer shorts. Reaj_ Men of. 1985 comes from Real Men Production of Los Angeles, CA. No price given.

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AH I Ft ON BLACK ON WHITT

by Coleman Dowel I The Countryman Press, PO Box 175, Woodstock, $14.95 (cloth) 251 pp.

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White On Black on White is a difficult novel that is both beautiful and abrasive. Not only is the book difficult in the complexity of plot and character (not an easy read, but many buried gems for the careful reader), but also in Dowell's disturbing and insightful writing dealing with racism and cl ass ism through the framework of sexual ob session. The book explores racism in full spectrum, from the most blatant forms to the more subtle. The subtle forms will cause many readers to shudder with recognition. Dowell does not write coldly of these sexual obsessions gnu of racism, but with a driving narrative and an under lying tenderness by which he has created a book that is truly moving. he book begins with two men, one white and one black, a writer and an ex-convict, who take a house together in he country. The tale involves their jealousies, obsess ions, and love in a direct and emotional level. It is alfT-'St rainful, much like being an uninvolved observer of a lovers' fight or family argument.

From there the story goes to a white woman, Ivy Temple, that the writer meetr in New York, ivy, like the writer, has an obsession for black men. Her tale is told in a careful, analytical stylo. She tells of her first re lationship with a black man, and on to her total dedica tion to her obsession by which she is almost lost. Her strange salvation through a childhood schoolmate, a black man, sets the perfect, positive feel for the book's final dialogue.

GAY y:y's Hj’AI, ;,H - A •Hi IG; TO hit A Ii '■ .Yr.r-W AND 01 Hf_R SfYUALLY TRANSMITTED DISLASLf. by J.>nnne Gassier, M.D. Harper & Row, 10 C. 53rd St., New York, NY 1002? $7.95 (paper) 166 pp. The fact that this book was written by a woman shouId not stop any gay man from reading and re-reading it. The author has produced a vehicle for learning the necessary basic understanding of and knowledge about AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and other SFDs (Sexually Trans mitted Diseases) so simply and clearly yet completely that the reader feels as though (s)he has had a crash course in taking responsibility for their own and their sexual part ner's health.

The dialogue delivered by Cayce, Ivy's redeemer, distills the views of racism and cl ass ism given throughout the book into a concise, and often tender message from a black man to his white friends. And Cayce works you, works you hard. Dowell is not only a fine story teller, he also educates and reveals. He has taken the novel format (a format which has suffered mediocrity over the years) to a higher realm that brings insight. Dowell excites and depresses the reader. He also gives you a view of racism that is enlightening. It is a view that encourages the reader to explore and discover the stuff of life, that many faceted experience in which we all dance. —

The book opens with an overview/expI aination of AIDS and goes on to offer information on symptons, diagnosis, methods of treatment, and possible preventive measures that can be employed for a variety of diseases commonly found among sexually active gay men. The reader also finds information about what to expect during a medical examination, approximately how much to expec t various STD tests to cost, a fine glossary of terms as we II as an excellent resource of clinic., hot IIrvs, and referral enters.

Michael L. Perry

The author has provided her readers a valuable addition to their home reference library. This is definitely one of those books that you will still be reaching for in five years to obtain quick and simply stated answers to every day STD questions. 'O u n 1'

...................

....... ^ T O X O X c

NO TURNING BACK: Lesbian and Gay Liberation for the 80's edited by Goodman, Lakey, Lashof, & Thorne New Society Publications 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143 $7.95 (paper) 168 pp.

In the droves of books on the liberation and the "where we are at now" genre, this book shines. It is remarkable that so much information given in such an accessible format, and in an organizational tour de force can come in well under 200 pages. This book is a concise, well balanced overview of the Lesbian and Gay liberation movement thus far, with some insightful and inspiring strategies for the future. B O O K COLLECTORS BOO K READERS

The main thrust of this book with feminism and androgeny as the axis of all liberation movements is a breakthrough for Gay liberation literature. This ideology has been stressed by the Women's movement and several writers of Gay and sexuaI/socia I concerns (June Singer, Betty Dodson, Purusha), but largely ignored in the mainstream and male dominated Gay liberation organizations. The patriarchal types of governments and societies, the necessity of op pression as a means of control and dominance is clearly stated by the authors. No Turning Back traces patriarchal ploys of control from social conditioning to chemical dependency, and offers ways in which we can fight back in our day-to-day lives.

BOOKS FOR GAY PEOPLE • RCTION • AUTOBIOGRAPHIES • POETRY • BIOGRAPHIES • FIRST EDITIONS • OUT Of PRINT • HARD TO FIND

Our fiction and poetry have homose*ual or lesbian characters and themes Biographies and autobiographies are about gays And authors may tie gay or straight and of the 20th Century Our speciality is hardcover books And catalogues are free, mailed First Class m envelopes For the current issue write

BOOKS BOHEMIAN PO Bo* 6246 Dept Rf(j Glendale. CA 91205

The book is interspaced with quotes and anecdotes to fur ther illustrate each idea and gives personal insights about our lives, our struggles, and our sexuality. The book is an effective call for awareness in our daily lives be it with friends or family, at home or at work. A call to awareness to speak out against misconceptions, hetero sexism, classism, and all the areas that keep us apart and at odds in a society that is obviously not working for all concerns. Awareness and education is the key to the con tinued fight for all personal freedoms, and No Turning §ack illustrates this clearly and beautifully. —

i t i o

o f cTfye W h o l e Q a y C a t a l o g featuring thousands of books for gay men and lesbians, their families and friends Our new lOOpage W h o l e ( f a y C a t a l o g brings the world of gag and lesbian literature as close as your mailbox O rd e r Y ou r Copy T o d a y !

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F ro m L a m b d a R ising , T h e W o rld 's L e a d in g G a y & Le s b ia n B ookstore. (Discreetly pa< teamed.) Please w ndm e V>e W h o le Q a y C a t a l o g . I enclose S2

N a m e _____________________________________ A d d r e s s ___________________________________ _______________ S la te _________/.ip

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H iring D ept RF 2012 S S treet. RW Um kda

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Vear Frlen ds, l am $8 and liv e -in very ru r a l Vex•nont. I own my own home and a sm all n(pce of fand though I am c u rr e n tly ?<v<ng about f i f t y m iles away whose cmplot/ment has taken me. I lea d a l u l l and a ctiv e F ife but fin d m yself <.n need of a permanent, casing r e la tio n sh ip with someone who snares my in c lin a tio n . 1 (oy e outdoors - hik in g, s a ilin g , s k iin g , b icy clin g and simply absorbing the natural wonders that are a lt around 1 enjoy ch a llen ges and tunning c re a tiv e ideas into r e a l i t y . H you have similari thoughts and would tik e to g e n tly shose with each o th e r I took forward to heating from you. In hope, > b i l l 0 |$ Vermont c /o RFV

CONTACT YOUR FFILOW RFD RFADFRS RFD prints contact letters free of charge. We also provide a free forwarding service for readers who wish to remain anonymous. Just give your address as "c/o RFD", and we will forward your mail. Of course, donations are always we Icome! Please condense your letter to 200 words or less. Spelling and punctu ations will be corrected as needed for clarity unless you specify otherwise. It helps to be positive in Stating your interests and pre^e Jp0Ces- Saying 'no' to any partiCU$ r trait or characteristic may unAcessarily offend a brother. ^he |pro+her Behind Bars pen pal program is a separate service pro vide! for our readers to make c o n fat t iwi fh prisoners. You may want fo wifte us for suggestions regard ing writing to prisoners before re sponding to prisoner responses t o your letters. S ? “

Potato Block Prints by

7 completed too years of a fin e asts major in th e la te 6 0 's 6 ea sly 7 0 's ; t a le s on a welding sch o o l. 7 have been a self-em p lo y ed , self-s u p p o rtin g a r t i s t / c r a fits man fo r almost ten yeass. 7 have tsa v eled and liv e d in much of the US and fin d m yself back on the. ea st coas*. 7 have, had a six -y ea s re la tio n s h ip which has l e f t me f e e l ing good about myself and gay l i f e .

Veas RFV Readers, Mu wellmest g re e tin g s to a l t . My name -t-5 Jim. I am a gay man in my ejxsly SO’ s . My h e i g h t 'i s 5'S" an d'I weigh 160 l b s . I am health minded and a c tiv e with a s o lid medium b u ild . My hais is lo n gish and blond. 1 have, a c lo s e ly trimmed beasd and moustache and ju s t a t i t t l e hais on my c h e s t .

I nave, an indoor, booth, working and S e llin g t i l l Chsxstmas. To It owing that I plan to take a much needed bseak to tra v e l, work, and s e l l a t a le is u s e tu pace. 7 s e l l a t a r t and era f t shows, fle a markets, m alls, s t r e e t f a i r s , s p e c ia lty shows and do ivholesa te and custom work. 7 am in t e r e s t e d in hearing fsom those who may be a b le to h elp me with inform ation about th ese as w ell as p la ces where I may be welcome and work such as a r t i s t

co-ops os communes. I am In t e r e s t e d in planning fo r the comming yeas as we.il as th e w inter. Also, 7 would l i k e to v i s i t with othes RFV seadess along th e way and can o f f e r lesson s os a handcrafted item in setu sn fo r yous h o s p it a lit y . I'm not looking to fre e lo a d os fos one n igh t stands, sath es to make fsien d s and s e e new p la c e s . I am s tra ig h t- a c tin g and appeasing, but by natuse deeply gay, not tsyin g to tool anyone. At times I'm vesy serwous and s in g le minded, but in g e n e ra l easy goin g. I'm in t e s e s t e d in yoga and m editation and would lik e to take mose time fo r both. 7 enjoy sending and lea sn in g new s k i l l s . This wintes I ' l l be teaching m yself a irb ru sh paanting. I ’ ve neves been in the jfast lane and have liv e d both in the country and su sa l suburbs. A s en se of psivacy and soom fo r gasdens ase impostant to me. 7 would tik e to fin d a s p e c ia l some one, a man who wants a monogamous re la t io n s h ip . I ’ m a t tr a c te d to men on the ha iry s id e , t a l l e r os as t a l l as I am with a medium os husky b u ild , a p o s it iv e , loving outlook, a more na tu ral l i f e s t y l e . Age does not mar te r as much as f i t n e s s , p erso n a lity and c h a ra c te r. 7 work hard and would U ke to channel i t into something b esides a ren ta l., j f you w rite also in c lu d e a photo. I ’m not ju s t looking fo r casual r e la t io n s h ip s ; no p r i son m ail, p le a s e . I w ill be leaving *Jew J e r s e y on Jan. 1. Please send any correspondence, th a t w ill a r riv e l a t e r than th at to me a t RFV so i t w ill be forwarded to me. James M. Carson [b efo re Jan. U Box 946 Tuckerton, .VJ 08OS 7] c /o RFV (afterw a rd s)

1 do n ’ t let ma dlsa b it It y <1e t l >i t he m u of having a good time with my Cover - when 1 fin d him and he wants me. In le a t h e r , with lo v e,

Hello, How 1 got h ere d o es n 't mattea , but i t s iliA.ee years now, and I haven't cottoned to big c itij l i f e . I'm in a Mew Je rs e u town which Is p a rt oft th e Mew Yo>ik City m etropolitan a rea . Would l i k e to meet, someone (20 to 40) who’ s I n t e r e s t e d in e sta b lis h in g a ru r a l l i f e s ty le -- to g eth e r. How ru r a l probably depends on th e employment s itu a tio n . Kind of a lo n e r , I'm 33 years old, 6 ’ \" t a l l , and weigh 175 lb s . I ’ ve a strong e x e r c is e ha bit and am f i t and good lo o k in g. D on't have e x c lu s iv e ly good h a bits, but I tr y (as 1 b elie v e most of us d o ). 1 have a Master of Science d e g re e , enjoy my jo b , and do not expect fu r th e r s ch o o lin g . T here's more of c o u rse , but i f any of th is s t r ik e s a cord with you, maybe we should ta lk . Send photo i f you can, and ta lk lo t s about y o u r s e lf. Things around h ere are le s s and le s s s a tis fa c to ry . I t would be n ic e to make the move with somebody. Hoping to hear from you,

Ron Ve. Pasquale 20 Croton T errace *312 Yonkers, MY 10701

Dear RFV re a d e rs , I am a medical stud en t liv in g in Mew York, 50 years o ld , 5 '7 " , 165 lb s . with a dark beard and moustache. I tik e computers, canoeing, Alan Watts, and S t. elsew here. I'm looking for a guy in the country J can correspond with and v i s i t o c ca sio n a lly - someone who (lik e me) is c h e e r fu l, am bitious, Independent, and Strong. Please send a photo or a good jo k e. Best w ishes, Rick Goldberg 215 E. 26th S t. H Mew York, MY 10010

Hel t o ! My name is Michael and I ’ m 19 years o ld . 1 liv e in a very ru ra l area In Pennsylvania. I'm looking for frien d s from Mew York, Ohio, West V irg in ia , V irg in ia , Mew Jersey , Maryland, Penn sylvania or some other nearby s ta t e . All w ill be answered. 1 am a ra th er a t tr a c tiv e 5'10" t a l l , 150 pound masculine guy. T have li g h t brown hair and g reen ey es. My body is n icety b u ilt and very much covered with h a ir. I lik e guys who are sincere, ca rin g , warm, p a ssiv e, smooth bodied, slim , and monogamous. Please be c a rin g . I'm unemployed at p res e n t, so a SASE or even a stamp would be a p p recia ted . I ’ l l respond r e g a r d le s s . Write to me today! You’ l l be glad you did'. S in c e re ly Your Mew Friend, Michael Parker c /o W .J.P. PO Rox 177 Taoof)4 Creek, PA 15441

w w 1 am a 55 year old t a i l , husky mate (11-12-49) seeking a mate or partner to share a ru ra l l i f e to g e th e r. I c u rr e n tly own a la rge home in a 4ub urtxin community and would tik e to move In with someone who has a ru ra l home or fin d someone in t e r e s t e d in find ing one to g e lh e r . 1 am w illin g to provide labor and/oA fin a n c ia l help on would accep t the same from another.

Chris Wilson of Mew J e r s e y c/o RFD

For more inform ation p lease c a ll on w rit e : Hello Caring Guys,

Guys! I need a mate r e a l l y bad to be with me at. a l l tim es. I'm t i r e d of being alone.. 1 l i v e in a handicapped a p a rt ment. I have a bad case of p h le b itis -- c e l l u l i / i s , in my r i g h t le g and have to go to Houston, Texas fo r a bypass o p era tio n . I am w heelchair bound. I am 58, 6 '6 " t a l l , brown h a ir and eyes, into S/M 'orange hanky l e f t ) . Reew Top fo r v ery long tim e. Looking for Bottom or Top as mate. But w ill adapt to being Bottom fo r Top (or Bottom) t h a t ’ s wearing these, clo th es in bed and sometimes to a gay bar at night., when we both go out to g e lh e r : 1! 7) 3) 4} 5! 6) 7) &i 91

wearing black le a th e r ja c k e t wearing black le a th e r chaps or pants wearing black le a t h e r gloves wearing black en g in eer boot 15-17■ wearing black le a th e r cap wearing m irrored shades wearing le a t h e r co ck -rin g and black le a t h e r jo c k -stra p

Are you looking fo r th at ’ s p e c i a l ’ someone OR ju s t wanting to meet some good new carin g frie n d s ? WELL, so do I!! So then go ahead -- drop th is s in c e r e and caring guy a li n e today!! I AM th a t guy, my fr ie n d !! I am a GWM, goodlooking and young looking a t 28. 1 stand 5’ 11" t a ll, brown h a ir / ey e s , mustache, slen d ertype body, and weigh 158 pounds. I enjoy meeting new people and w rit in g . I'm honest, very fr ie n d ly , and a ffe c t io n a t e . I am s tra ig h t actin g and appearing and I'm not into drugs, a lco h o l, or smoke. I'm very roman t i c and I love to cudd le, hold, touch and kiss a l l algh t lo n g !! I 'v e many I n t e r e s t s from music to g e ttin g o u t doors and long walks in the country. ALL WELCOMED to w rite me and look forward to heading from Send your photo too and when wer I ’ l l send you a 'sm iling o f me. PLEASE w rite ME r e a l soon, Ken York PO Box 8457 P ittsb urgh, PA

15220

w ill YOU. 1 a n sshot'

Joseph Lachac 140 Chestnut Drive Richboro, PA 18954 (215) 564-0716

N O R TH E R N LA M B D A N O R O C P /P O B 9 9 0

CARIBOU, MAINE 04736 USA GAYHFN 8 TESBTAES, HOP”!’?.?!' MAINE 8 NEW BRUNSWICK. SOCTAL GATHERINGS, VENDING LIBRARY, MUTUAL SUPPORT IK *HIS P"PAI ret; n n . membership - $11 pee YEAP; NEWSTETTER - $10 YEAPIY. 2 0 7/896-5888, WED. 7-9 PM.

KENNETH E. DeVOID, JR B I d . M Ed.. M A C P Counseling Psychologist To The Gay Community Walpole, NH (603) 756-4226

movie and d in n e r. I'm a c i t y boy with country hopes. D etailed l e t t e r and ohoto i f a v a ila b le , would be g re a t . Ray of V irgin ia c/o RFO

Mf/ Dear Fellow Readers, I am a r e s id e n t o f the f i r s t sta te oj the unton, Delaware. Although I l i v >. a ith in th e c tty , my h ea rt always dwelta outside. of, th ese c o n fin e s . I have done my time a* an activ l& t fo r 'Gay/Lesbian L ib era tio n ' and now am enjoying * e lf-e x p la n a tio n . I am 26 yean* o ld , but matured be yond the scope of th is man-made con vention of measure. I am gen u in ely handsome on the e x t e r io r and t r u ly lov ing, g iv in g and warm-hearteA, ca pable of much more in t e n s it y than I have been allowed to demonstrate fo r the men that 1 have met u n t il this tim e. My in t e r e s t * in clu d e herbalism , music (e s p e c ia lly c l a s s ic a l, le s b ia n -fe m i n is t , and the eras of the 2 0 's , 5 0 's , and 4 0 's ) , w ailing (both po etry and p r o s e ), gourmet c u is in e of a l l na tio n s , animals and nature. T am a servant of the Goddess and liv e w ith out the standard dogmas of organized r e lig io n s , a good l i f e , to th e b est of my a b i l i t y in not harming the other liv e s of th is p la n et. I am seeking to share th is world with someone s p e c ia l who is of similar, temperment as myself. Age, ra c e , e tc . pose no boundry to th is re la t io n s h ip i f the person is honest, down to earth and sincere, in t h e i r own d e s ire to share a l i f e with another mate w it l ing to do the same. 1 am a romantic and would tik e to hear from those men who f e e l as I do about love and l i f e . Let u4 g e t to know one another. Remember that ' nothing ventured, nothing gained.' 1 w ilt respond to a lt t e t t e r s r e c e iv e d . In peace and lo v e, Nightshade of Delaware c/o RFD

WWW1 1 am 40 {took 50 1 with auburn hair and beard, hazel ey es, 5 ' l l " , hairy c h e s t . I would lik e to g e t to know a man who wants a p a rtn e r, 6' or * , b e tween the ages of 25-40. While I am p a ssiv e in bed, my appearance b e lie s it. I am good looking, honest and a f f e c t i o n a t e . I have various i n t e r e sts from c la s s ic a l music to blue g ra ss , a r c h it e c t u r e to gra p h ics, Old Testament to Jung, Autobiographies to S c ie n c e F ic tio n , cuddling to li g h t SSM. I enjoy country walks, love country d riv e s , shopping a t a road s id e stand, going to the c i t y fo r a

Dear Friend, Hi, 1 am a gay neighborhood-bound agoraphobic. I am unable to g e t out to meet with my peers fo r frie n d sh ip or p o ss ib le re la t io n s h ip . Unable to r e lo c a t e and my family d o e s n 't know I am gay. My agoraphobia does not cause any th re a t to anyone. I am 26, 5 '9 " , weigh 168 l b s . , have dark brown hair and a tig h t brown beard. Would be most in t e r e s t e d in meeting people in my a rea . I liv e in the Fo rest C ity /Sp inda le/R ather fordton, North C a ro lim a rea . A ll mail w ilt be answered the f i r s t day r e c e iv e d . Hope to hear from you. Barry Logan Rt. 2 Box 691 Fo rest C ity, NC

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28045

2V2

Dear Frien ds,

I am a GWM, a r t i s t , 5 ’9”, MS*, 49 and bearded. I l i v e in a small town about 65 m iles ea st o f R aleigh, NC. I d o n 't smoke or do drugs; I’m almost a v eg eta ria n . Soon 1 ' l l be a b le to buy land in southern V irgin ia upon which to s e t t l e with a l i f e compan io n . My in t e r e s t s a re p a in tin g , s c u lp tu re , reading (biography, h is to ry ), music (c la s s ic a l, fo lk , ro ck , o p era ), ca ts, p la n ts, gardening, home cooking, more c a ts , snugglin g -- the old -fa sh io n ed country L i f e . I’m looking fo r someone who has passed through the experim ental f i r e s of youth and L ife and i s ready to s e t t l e down. Someone who wants to work hard towards developing a har monious, l i f e l o n g , monogamous r e la tio n sh ip based upon lo v e, mutual r e s p e c t , ten d ern ess and honesty. I f you’r e healthy, trim (or not so trim ), have long h a ir, a beard and would enjoy being a t home with your, lo v e r - - or i f you fin d y o u rself in a s im ila r boat on your ioay through the looking gla ss -- l e t ' s c o r r e s pond. Send a l e t t e r t e l l i n g of your s p e c ia l enthusiasms and i n t e r ests so we can begin to know one an other. A photo would be n ic e . I hope to hear iron any in t e r e s t e d RFVers. Alt l e t t e r s w ill be answered. Love and peace, John 8. o f North Carolina c /o RFD

297

Renaissance House Box Vflage Station NY NY 10014 929-7720 A twoks dtscfeel!y by fus! cl.es mail your name kept sti city confidential Tobst a business oKptnt/.tfian at lot further urfomution send skimped ‘ .xldtessed bu-.»nev; si/e envelope Please contact us lor prees outside the USA In Canada order from Glad Day Books S48A Yonge St Toronto Ontario M4Y ?A6 416 961 4161 (check tor prcesi Ask us about GayeAow Paqes o<> ma*nq labels'

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MeAAy M e e i,

Hi, My name. i s Jename, 1 am a white,, 26 yeah old male with blond haiA and blue ey es. I'm S '6" t a l l and weigh 130 lb A. 1 m o ld l i k e to have a l i g h t fn len d ly sexu al AelationAhip with a white man between 55 to 70 yeaAA of age. I f h t e n e s t e d , p le a s e white me. Jename PO Box 465 Easley, SC

29641

I'm a slendeA 25 yeaA o ld , 5'9" with cunly bnown haiA, bnown eyeA, and a muAtache. I am Aeeking a soul-bnotheA to AhaAe thiA life t im e w ith. I enjoy a l l typeA o f muAic, and am an adept a co u stic s lid e and 12-stning gultoA playeA. I enjoy hik ing, heAb gandenin g , mountainA, A a ck etba ll, jo ggin g, e t c . pluA cooking and q u ie t timet togetheA . I'm Aeeking a bAotheA, 25 to 35 yeaAA, who i t cloAe to oua Eanth Mothen and Sky F a th e A a n d withet to l i v e in love and gAow with each new day. I favon t a l l , m atculine, daAk halAed men; tnimmed beaAdA; medium b u ild ; modeAa t e ly halAy c h e t t ; waAm eyet and gencaoua Amile. I am cuAAently wonkxng on a degAee in E n glith Education, and would considen A elo ca tln g . If in teA ested p le a s e white and l e t ' a g e t to know each otheA. MeAAy Meet, again y' a l l P. Khcuhl 3233 Homestead Rd. TallahaAAee, FL 32308

Hi! lin e with that

1 am an o ld fiat man, 66, 230*, 5'10", white and n e tin e d . 1 am impnessed by the n ice letteAA in RFV and am inteAe tte d in connesponding with and meeting male fniendA . 1 lov e to v i s i t and be v it it e d , do not. dnink hoa Amoke, and love q u ie t eveningA a t home with good fA len d s. Have an apantment. 7 have enjoyed the b ea u tifu l n ela tio n Ahlp o f a young man 48 yeaAA youngeA than 1 am fon the pa tt yeaA. So any one who thinks age maket too much d iffe n e n c e j u t t d o n 't Aealliy thy to undeAAtand human natuAe. My young fn iend i t in c o lle g e and we Apend time togetheA . I t it not a money AelationAhip, but one b u ilt on a tn u s tfu l homosexual Ablations hip. I with to heaA fAom otheA m alet, any age who might tik e to exchange expeniencet and have a ctu al A elattonshipA . If, you l i v e Aeta liv e ly etoAC and can meet hehe oh have a place to meet, and a te S paI oua, white me fu lly .

Ju s t thought I 'd li k e to dnop a and s e e i f I could connect up some mone o f th e g e n t le bnothess make th e loving flow th a t I a RFV.

Mt/ name I a B illy Jo e Bayless. I'm 23 yeans o ld , 6' t a l l , weigh 165. 1 have blondish haiA and hazel eyes. I'm whiting t h it le tte A becaute I ’d lik e to coAAetpond and/on tA avel Aome and meet otheA men who aAe in teA ettin g and in tune with thelA heaAtA. Thit yeaA hat been Aoht of a tuAni.ng po int foA me in Aome wayA. I 'v e begun to open m yself to othens and AhaAe in a moAe cA eative any. Alneady I ’ ve been fontunate. enough to meet Aome lo v in g, caAing men and I ’ m g h a te fu l. I'm in teA ested in a lot, of d lffe A e n t thing a . To A it down and make, a l l t t would take thAee pa get. Some of the thingA I tune in to one: attAology, natuAe, aht, 'New Age' type thought, but moAtly I j u t t annt to AhaAe with otheA open/loving p eo p le. Mo matteA what thelA ' i n t o ' . I'm not. too 1 only want thelA eohly a matteA o f

much a g it t ao I w on't Aay to heaA fAom thoAe in yeaAA. Matunity to me i t awaneness and In te n t .

VeaA Ba othens, I am a who is may oa on th e

44 yeaA old ex-sch o o l teaches sta n tin g l i f e oveA again. I may not A elocate -- depending fAlends I fin d .

I spend most o f my fAee time in th e EveAgladet -- fis h in g , cooking, medi. to tin g with natuAe. I f e e l a special, need foA a s p e c ia l fn ien d to AhaAe w ith. Please contact me i f you f e e l th e same way. I'm 5'10" and 160 l b s . and in to m etaphysics. Hoping to heaA fAom you, 1 am Sin ceA ely, Vennit V. d o T. West 9100 - 46 S t . *33 P inellas PaAk, FL

33565

The idea of a n ets eat oa community of people neon C inci may be o f i n teA est to otheA neadeAs, to o. 7^ so, 7 w ill c o l l e c t in teA ested nesponses and g e t back with news of what 1 leaAn. auaoI

Foa those countAy fo lk (in teA ested in the WAlteA: 7 am 5 '10", 160*, BAown haiA, Blue eyes, tAlm and a c t iv e . 1 lo v e to be with peop le, cook foA them and enjoy l i f e . 1 w ill Aespond to a l l . 1 am 55 and lov e a l l a g e s ! ). VouA loving bAotheA, SunAlse of Ohio c /o RFV

1 do annt to Aay in looking foA th at one ' ap e d a l guy' - h e 'd pAobably be 'tn h*s 3 0 ' a a t leaA t oldeA than mySomz phyAical chaA actehitticA 1 tik e aAe: beaAdA, c h e s t haiA, mous taches and waAm he.aAts. I d o n 't have a 'im age' of what h e 'd be l i k e . I m pAetty f l e x i b l e a c tu a lly . So dnop me a l i n e and l e t ’s AhaAe. d.s i t the time - we aAe th e p eo p le.

1 am Aeeking AuAat fo lk in the SW O hio/Kentucky/Cincinnati anea. Though I'v e neves liv e d in the countAy, 1 am veAy in teA ested in being with people who do. I t 's something 7 am plan ning to do. RFV has opened a new woAid to me; now I ’d like, to fin d i t !

With Love!Light

We offeA Bed 8 BAeakfast in oua moun ta in co tta ge two m iles fAom 1-24 neaA Monteagle, T ennessee. I f In teA ested , co n ta c t:

B ill J . Bayless 760 Vale S t. Inglewood, FL 33533

Jim Gipson Boxwood Cottage Sewanee, Tennessee

37375

Gay couple seek in g fAlends and pen p a ls. We want tAue fAlends to be come Aeal fA lends, and otheAA th at ■ would t ik e to leaAn what i t ' a l i k e to have a AelationA hip with a guy. Photo would be needed - b n ie fs , AwimowaA ok (no nu de). Ages fAom 18 to 35 only. We aAe ages 27 and SoutheAn Indiana Couple c/o RFV

Hi! 7 f e e l very much alone in th e Reg World; h o p efu lly 1 can maybe meet others t ik e m yself from your news letter. —

contact

LtTrr * * 3 —

Pear RFP, This is ju s t a note to say 7 am a GWM, 37, 6 '1 " , IS5, liv in g in a m a i l toun in c e n t r a l Indiana. 7 am i n t e l l i g e n t , masucline, honest, co n s id e ra te , and am looking fo r someone sim ita r to my own age ok younger fo r a frie n d s h ip and p o s s ib le serio u s a ela tio n * hip. 1 Support m yself in neat e s ta te i n vestm ent*, and enjoy a wide vaAiety of in t e r e s t s in clu d in g country walk*, novie*, rea d in g, t r a v e l, ant, music and good co n v ersa tio n . ! hope to hear from you.

About John: w ell, 7 am 32, 6'2" t a l l , ISO l b s . , light, brown-blondish ha ir and beard, average lookinp. 7 lov e the outdoors, animals, p la n ts, garden ing, and l i f e in g e n e ra l. My r e l i g i o n is a combination of Native American and my own. My l i t t l e p la ce on th is earth is a small p ea cefu l farm on Plum Creek in fa r north c e n tra l Iowa

Join NAMBLA! Ih . North American Man Hoy lo v e Association was formed in Dtw mher J97b Our mam #oa]s are to organize support tor men and hoys involved in sexual and other relationships with each other, amt to help educate society about them O nly by standing up tor the truth will we free man/hov love from the chains that letter it Fven if you can'l come out openh as a bov lover or a man loser, you can help NAMBl A depends on your support Join the struggle lor your own freedom’ Join NAMBl A today' Membership is $ 1 * per year ($20 outside* oi the* I a and Canada) l muted income membership is $S Prisoner nwmhrrxhips are r'rtv l ibrarv or institutional subscriptions to NAMBl A publications are S2S per year \1cmh r> rc\vm* the NAMBl A Bulletin tissued ten times yearly), and the newsfo jv r (issued tWKV warty) Make all checks payable to the North American Man-Boy Urn- Association and send to NAMBl A Box l?4 Midtown Station New York. N’t I00IH

Peace, Love 6 Joy to A ll John R. Anderson RR 2 Box 24 Algona, 7A 50511

Gene 0 |( Indiana c /o RFV

The Unicorn

Pear RFV, C ity l i f e p lea ses me, but so might country l i f e near a big c i t y or l i b e r a l c o lle g e town, l i k e Yellow S p rin gs, Ohio. Gear F rien d s, \jteA fa-tttxg to meet my s p e c ia l man through a l l o f the conventional methods, r have come to the re a liz a tio n th a t my nan is so &p e d a l that conventional methods to meet him w ill probably f a i t . I am hoping that t h is l e t t e r may arouse iome kind f a e r i e 's in t e r e s t in me. ’’('AAcmaf s t a t i s t i c s : GWM, 25, 6 '1 " , ’ to, b r /b r . Consider my honesty and sen^e o f humor to be my b est a s s e t s . he man that 7 am hoping to fin d is sh o rt o f sta tu re (meaning sm a lt!), i n t e l l i g e n t , g e n t le , honest, nonsmoker on drug u s e r, s o c ia l d rin k er (on no n-im biber), a lo n er, d ed icated to one person, and giv en to moments o f in ten se s i l l i n e s s . Age or looks are unimportant as 7 am more con cern ed with what is in sid e o f a p e r son. My goal is to fin d one s p e c ia l man to share my l i f e with; one man to li v e , laugh, and love w ith. Monogamy is important to me as i t is with you. It is about might e ls e , w rite

so hard to w rite th ings doion m yself without knowing what catch my man's eye. If nothing I w ill try to answer a l l who with a kind 'thank y o u '.

1 sea rch fo r a so u l-m a te(s). 7 am a fr e e la n c e w r i t e r f a r t i s t , 6 '7 " t a l l , ISO tb s . Was ra is e d in a farmtown turned suburb, Chandler, A2, and uxii bom th e r e a t 9 :1 0 p .m ., 1014/52. I n t e r e s t s : p o l i t i c s , journalism , humor, po etry , Nathaniel Hawthorne, h isto ry , geography, so cio lo gy , demography, music, a r t , movies, photography, popu la r c u lt u r e ,s p e c t a t o r s p o rts , swiiming, s e x , tr a v e l, s p i r i t u a l i t y , e t c .

MASCULINITY FATHERING MILITARISM MEN’S HEALTH MEN & VIOLENCE SPORTS POETRY ANTI-SEXIST POLITICS MALE SEXUALITY GAY ISSUES FEMINIST ANALYSIS SPIRITUALITY GAY/STRAIGHT INTERACTIONS ANTI-SEXIST MEN’S HISTORY

Favorite p o ets: Black, Poe, Byron. Favorite w rit e r s : Hawthorne, M elv ille, Anthony Lewis, Mary McGrory, R ussell Baker, Art Buchwald, Edmund White, Neal P e irc e, Meg G re e n fie ld .

Interested? R e a d all a bo u t it in M. — a nationw ide J o u rn a l o f the anti-sexist m e n 's m o v e m e n t.

Am mainly French pa ssiv e, Greek a c tiv e , but w itlin g to e x p lo re. Am NOT into pain.

R e g u la r subscription $12 (4 issues) Sam ple copy of current issue S3 50

7 have 28 months of s o b rie t y . Would p r e fe r you be chem ically f r e e ; tobacco OK. 7 smoke c i g a r e t t s . 7 eat meat. Would p r e f e r you have slim to average or muscular b u ild ; s l ig h t paunch OK. Would p r e fe r you be IS to 52; o ld er men with good physiques a re welcome. Any ra ce welcome.

Prop me a l i n e , a SASE, and a photo graph. Who knows what might happen.

Would tik e to r e lo c a t e to a m ilder clim a te. P a rtic u la rly appealing p la c e s : southern C a lifo rn ia , th e Pe.laware River V alley, the Je,rsey sh o re, northern or w estern New Mex-tco, but j$c«j p la ces r u le d out. Nonimprisoned pen pals welcome.

Agape,

B lessin gs on a l t ,

Pavid B utler PC Box S4 Srecntown, IN

John Wheeler 1769 Mars h a ll *4 S t . Paul, MN 55104

46936

P u b l i s h e d 8 t i m e s a y e a r on S a b b a t s s i n c e Y u le 1 9 7 7 f o r P agan s and W i t c h e s e v e r y w h e r e . $1 0 /P O B o x 8 8 1 4 , M ip s, MN 5 5 4 0 8

M. 3 0 6 fl. B ro o k s M ad ison . Wl 5 3 7 1 5

g e n tle men for g e n d e r ju s tic e

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SoeritGativ erne Fafy.kea or. 1f;-a. VV.

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Francis Barnard Larry E Broern Byron Fagis Madge Reinhardt

ASSOCIATE EOITOR Stealing Rainey

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HI, I’m hoping to txa v el In the NoxthweAt. Aoon. H opefully duxlng the Aurmex oh 1985. I 'd enjoy meeting people thxough th e mall and In pexAon who could Ateex me toioaxd good ApaceA w hile T'm th exe.

Veax RFVcaa, 1 am a 27 yeax old gay male.. I have owned land and have liv e d In the countxy, but am cu xxen tly liv in g In the c i t y . I am now planning, and othexwlAe working to obtain my next home&tead. Biking, eneAgy e v i d e n t conA txuctlon, gardenin g, movleA and computeA adventuAe gameA aAe among my many In teAeAtA. 1 lov e natuAe, eaAteAn phlloAophy, caAlng honeAt hxlendAhlpA and good vegetaAlan fiood! I enjoy coxxeAponding and meeting people; eA p ecla lly otheA gay women and men who aAe woAklng towaAdA a xuxal llh e A t y ie . I hope to heaA hxom you. Have a waAm wlnteAl Kim GAlttneA 526 V u t WllAon *206 MadlAon, Wl 53703

GxeetlngA! 1 am 28 yeaAA oh age, 6 '2 " , 200 Ib A ., 9lv ln g In KanAOA and looking f,0A neat eompanlonAhlp and coxxeApondence with otheA gay maleA.

Foa the laAt Aevexal yeaAA - I loo a e count evexy once In a w hile - I 'v e been executing my Apace hexe In KanAaA. J 'v e been busy with buildin g an undexgAound Aolax houAe and baxn on 15 acxeA oh land. T have an oxganlc gaxden and th e pxopex gathexlng oh anlmalA ihoA th e avexage homeAtead. I 'v e dabbled In pottexy, Aplnnlng, weaving. I enjoy playing piano, haxpAlchoAd, xecoAdex. I enjoy AunxlAeA and AlvexA, mountalnA and hlxeA, canoeA and backpackA, Anow and txeeA , woxk and dxeamA. 1 teach Achool duxlng my hxee time. I’m 36. Many oh my dxeamA have become Neat hexe In KanAaA. But la t e ly I 'v e been looking hoNwaxd to b uildin g a new Aet oh dxeamA In the Ahadow oh a mountain Aomewhexe. And obvlouAlu, that c a n 't happen In KanAaA. I'd enjoy g e ttin g acquainted with Aomeone who could Ahow me paxtx oh the WoxthweAt, ox with anyone who haA a dxeam to Ahaxe. AIao , lh anyone I a intexeA ted In lea xn ln g AklllA In bulldl.ng - caxpentx y , plumbing, elec.tx.ica l, ox In oxganlc gaxde,n.ing, xaiAlng anlmalA, Aplnnlng, weaving, ox enjoying a xlvex ox a mountlan, T d be happy to Awap Aome expexlen ce In theAe hofi Aome h elp on th e houAe I'm b u ild in g . I have good bookA to Atudy In theAe axeaA, along with p xa ctlca t ex p ex len ce. T might even Awap tutoxlng towaxd a GEV lh th at I a hetphul. And I tf-tx healthy hood.

A(<,ten being out In th e axena of, gay neJatlonAhlpA fion two yeaAA, I have encountexed much A u p ex h lcla llty and AhallowneAA. I am looking fioA Aomethlng mone. I tx u ly b e lie v e that theAe aAe Aome honeAt and conAidexate oeople out th ex e looking £oa a txue 5Alend (I'm a C ancex). I know theAe one becauAe I 'v e met a hew oh them.

GU 8achmann Box 755 Ju n ctio n City, KS

1 am a pnofieAAlonal with a M.S. degAee. I enjoy neadlng, w nltlng, tx a v e l, aoc la llz ln g , iln g ln g and being p o l i t i c a lly and pAofieAAlonally In vo lved. . am not looking AO much fioA a liv e - I n T nelatlonA hlp on a lo v ex . 1 am looking \on a hxlend. I b e lie v e th a t a lovex NelatlonAhlp muAt begin oa a fiAlendAhlp.

I am a EaAtexnex who now UveA In eoA t-centxal KanAaA. I have a holx numbex oh gay hxlendA hexe but AenAe th at a l e t t e x In REV might be a way to meet th a t 'ApecZal pexAon'.

?h thlA l e l t e x deAcxlbeA what you'xe booking Aon, I 'd be pleaAed to heax 'Xom you. ’ afee cane. B ettex y e t, Aeach out and take a chance. Ron Maxtln 308 S. Second Stockton, KS 67669

I 'd much lik e to heax h*om gayA In th e Topeka/Manhattan/Satina axea who axe looking h^N moxe than juAt a ' t x l c k ' . Ox klndxed AplxitA elAcwhexe. Good thoughtA, Dave oh KanAaA d o RFP

Veax RFVexA, 1 dlAcovexed RFV thlA paAt yeax and i t haA Auxe opened a whole new woxld to me! 1 have come In con ta ct with a new gxoup oh bxothexA who have a ltexed my conceptA about how we can liv e and In te x a c t with one anothex. I would lik e to heax h^om hxlendA who Ahaxe Aome oh theAe p o sitiv e IdeaA. My IntexeAtA axe ha<tiie netwoxklng, a Almplex llh eA ty ie In a xuxal axea, gaxdenlng 8 |hood pxeAexvatlon, bookA 8 xeading, mctaphuAical AtudieA, aAtxology, leaxnlng new wayA to make oux UveA moxe complete and above a l l LOME lunconditional lo v e ], I am 54 and in e x c e lle n t health and am much happlex Ainc.e I xedlAcovtxed the OzaxkA and a Aimplex llh e A ty ie . I pxeAently li v e in the nonthwAt coxnex oh MkanAaA and hind i t to have good vibxationA . The mainAtay oh thlA axea I a touxlAm and i t iA alAo the home oh many axtlAlA who en joy the clim ate and xelaxed atmoAphexe. Like, a good many oh my bxothexA I have had th e fiantaAy oh h i d i n g a m ate/lovex but a t thlA time in Apace a |hxlend with which to Ahaxe Aome oh the d a lly wondexA would be. appxec ia ted . Someone who could hxeely lend the Aup poxt oh hxlendAkip which we a ll Aeeb and need. Looking hoxwaxd to any and a l l coxxeA pondence. Peace and Love, Vanlel MoXX.lAon PO Box 684 B exxyviU e, AR 72616

66441

Veax FxlendA,

1 am 36 yeaAA o ld , 5 ’ l l " , 150 IbA. and Alendex. I enjoy a Aexual x ela tlonA hlp, but I would alAo l i k e a coxing, Auppoxtlve hxlend. JuAt oa Impoxtant, I would l i k e to b u ild a home. I have been hootlooxe too lon g. I am a pxoheAAlonal and am I n t e lle c t u a l and Aplxlt.ual In bent. I'm eA pecla lly In texeA ted In the phlloAophy oh Guxd jleh h and OuApenAky. I t ik e movleA, muAlc, xeadlng, and q u ie t tlmex at home. I l i k e a good meal out occaAlona lly , and AometlmeA a n igh t oh dancing.

A p u D U C O liO n 'O ' th o s e O f US w h o y u l turned on Dy writing and recurving hot letters from hot men* E.ery month Dear $<r> Dfings you the largest collection ot personal classifiedadsyou'llever seeinonepublication - bus casufiedadsfor new products services organizations, toys Docks videos jobs, models tea; estate mas seurs. you nome it! And Dear Sir■nos a soeoa sectionof cho»c© ho' fantasycorrespondence ahot nudecen tertotd, and a letter contest And more’ Even k>nac#man advertises npearSrnmak ng this the oest place mthe world to looktor that speca: man- for the o.ghf tor the week end or forever Vou coo get a sample copy of Dear Srf1for $2 50 ;postpaid; from Alternate PuDnsmog. 504 Poisom Sheet San. franc.see CA54107 Or -OC* tor it at your tovofite newsstona'

Veao Boo theA Spioits •

-------- C O N T A C T

'V.OA BOotheAS, f am eageo to connect with Southeon 'aliioA nia men who enjoy th e woAid oAound them -- men who aoe in te o e s te d in p o H t ic s , movies, his to Ay, th ea teo , Jiten a tu A e, psychology, spoo ls, toav et, |food, ({o ie n d sh ip , sex , and ^un. i am 49, openly gay, t a l l , sensuous and b lack. 1 b elie v e th e mind and the body should seove as one'A own peosonal banquet. WAite on! lack S la teo 7236 CedaA Ave. long Beach, CA 90806

1 am a Hew Age Fundamentalist (boAn again and again and a g a in !). 1 seek a kindAed ApiA.it to conAOAt. with in th is gaAde.n o i eaAthly d e lig h ts who, l i k e m yseli, is good looking, t a l l , tAim, 3O'a , beaAded, healthy, honest, s e n su a l/sp xA itu a l, c h e e o iu l, balanced, dAugleAA, with inneA l i g h t . L et' a dance exploae th e woa s hip the olay a duet

S7Ve\Ps •

to th e Ahythm oi H i e , holy tem ple oi th e body, V ivine in each otheA, and on th e inAtAumentA oi lo v e.

• H e bafts

['a-r'fvema • a n d nu>r~e— 9 /6 js s u e s ? 0 $

1 am only inteA eA ted in bAotheAA who aAe capable o i iucking my a o u I -- not neoely my body. Icon appA eciated.

9H 99

J}&SlJoS€ CA 95157 U-5-A-

GOOV KARMA ALWAVS Joe Lawoence Lembo PO Box 99444 San FAanclAco, CA 94109

[

O h c * W is e

V do m an

^A n a tio n a l jo u rn a l o f F a a i n l i t W itc h c ra ft and | 'C oddcia lo r e . A r t l c l e a , \fem in ist i s s u e s , p sy ch ic developm ent, Pajan a r t and ‘ p o e tr y , s o n js , h erb s. | J6 y r . (s a m ite : * 2) . ( THE WISE WOMAN, 2441 Cordova S t.' Oakland, CA 9 4 6 0 2 .

Dean CaH ioonia man, you wAote me a b ea u tifu l letteA in oesponse to mine th at appeoAed in the I a lt RfV. 7 lik e d the thingA you had to Aay and was anxiouA to WAite you. I have been known to do dumb thingA, but one oft the dumbeA thingA 1 have done waA to a c c id e n tly to ss youA l e t teA away with a p ile oi junk, m ail! Boy, am 1 emboAAassed! 1 know you’ ve. wondeAed why you neveA heaAd Aom me. T neveA even had a chance to copy youA name oa addAess, but 7 Aemembeoed you aAe iAom CatiioAnia, wese an actoA who peAioAmed with pA oiessionat com panies and now manage a home ioA d i s a b led p eo p le. Vou also s a id uou ia it h iu lt y Aead the Contact Letteos o i each RFV, Ao 7 know y o u 'll Aecognize youAs e T i. Please m i t e again. (He have much in common. Boy, is my ia ce oed! Bob CuAAy 1301 W. 26th Pine B lu ii, AR

71603

45 yeoA old maAculine white male, 6 '2 " , bAown haiA and eyeA, moustache, into body-building, outdooA a c t i v i t i e s , home H i e and tAaveZ, employed by an a in H n e , seekin g matuAe gentleman oveA 30 with same intcneA ts ioA companicnship and p o ss ib le lovea Aelatio n sh ip . J i p o s s ib le , send a e cen t photo oi s e l l to : M. WactoA 3507 S. MaAyland PaAkway *17. Las Vegas, MV 89109

’V Box 16 J t t i n e , TX

18638

~ 3

Humboldt United Gay> SERVING GAYS & LESBIANS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEWSLETTER A INFO

° 0 Box 660 ( Eureka, CA 95501 x (707) 442-5604 C erm m n o s

JJ e u /s

VexxA RFV ReadeAA, Vm inteA eA ted in meeting and wniting

to oldeA oa matuAe gay white males that aAe 33 yeaAs oa oldeA -- g iv e oa take a iew heAe and th eo e; e s p e c ia lly those that. H v e i n th e westeAn hali oi th e USA. I am 6 ’ t a l l , w hite, 200 l b s . , shoot gAeying haiA and s i n g l e . Hot into the ba>t oa poAno shop scene and to y ing to be a non-smokeo.

I n - t h e - c lo s e t , m asculine, educated, 'JU'M, 41, 6 '3 " , 190. Love oanching, iutdooAA and countAy liv in g , seek someone similaA oa uoungeA \o>i longte,Am a sta tio n s hip. Come liv e with me It:

I H k e to to av el, play caods, good music, lik e to be a H e c t io n a te and oi couAAe ju s t pla in play. Ju s t oecentl.y tetuoned home to Mesa, Aoizona ioom xn 8300 m ile tAxp with mu good io ie n d , Fd Thompson, in a Small motoA home. H ilt answex a l t . B ill BeAndt 1213 Avesta C iocle Mesa, AZ 83208

A Wiccan Newsletter for the Bay Area

Van Ault, Editor 537 Jones Street. Suite 8821 San Francisco. Ca 94102 415 864 1362

Hi! 1 am 24 years old, B ra zilian gay guy and would l i k e to correspond with Greek v e r s a t ile and/or pa ssive white cu te guys between 18-24 years of age. Some of my hobbies are romantic music, l i t e r a t u r e , sp o rts in g e n e ra l, c o l le c t in g stamps and po stca rd s, t r a v e l lin g , e t c .

H ello, 7 am C-VJih.enti.ij planning a th ip to Hew Zealand, A ustralia and surrounding isla n d s during th e f i r s t four months oh 1985. I plan to b icijcle and hike and would l i k e to heah from antj gay men oh. women th at one i n t e r ested. i n showing me around t h e i r area or in sharing inform ation (s p e cia l p la ces, gardens of note, good r e s t a u ra n ts, e t c . ). I w ill also be spending some time to u rin g th e c i t i e s and enjoying th e n i g h t l i f e . Hope to hear from you folks "Down Under" and I ' l l s e e you soon.

I am w hite, sh o rt, slim (5 '6 " and weigh 110 l b s . ) , good looking and have dark brown h a ir, hazel eyes, and a moustache.

M a u i 's

g a y /b i/le s b ia n

m o n th ly dudes

n e w s le tte r

2 m o n th ly

M a ilin g

lis t

m oney

o rd er

kept to

c o m m u n ity

a v a ila b le

fo r

issu e s m a ile d

s t r ic tly B o th

c o n fid e n tia l S id e s

o r g a n iz a t io n 's

$5,

in p la in

N ow ,

m o re,

Send ch eck If)

e n e v e lo p e s Box

5 (M 2 .

K a h u ltli, M a u i, II I 9 6 7 .1 2 .

N A M E -

A D D R ESS

Photo in th e f i r s t l e t t e r , p le a s e . S in c e re ly , Sidney Garcia Caixa Postal 297 Sao Bernardo Ve Campo Sao Paulo, CLP 09700 Bnazil

S in c e re ly , C hristopher Loesch Box 73 Hewhalem Rockport, WA 98283

USA

Hear RFV Mem This farm job may be fo r you. (tie need help feed in g ch ick en s, pheasants, q u a il; gardening and c u ttin g wood, (tie need a man to L ive and work here f u l l time so *hat when we a re gone, someone i s h e re , 'tie are hoping to fin d a masculine man -- looks unimportant -~ in his 4 0 's or old er who is healthy, stro n g, nonc h ris tia n , non-doper -- c ig a r e t t e s and beer ok. Housing provided, pay nego tia b le . A lso, we may h ir e another man in th e fu t u r e . 'tie have 20 a c re s in b e a u tifu l no rth eastern Washington s t a t e . Here we en joy four seasons of th e year and approx. 300 days 0 |$ su nshin e, (tie a re c lo s e to grea t hunting and fis h in g , near S ta te and national f o r e s t s . About u s: we a re 43 and 53, m asculine, bearded guys who lo v e the lan d. We a re s e n s itiv e to o u rselv es and r e s p e c t the needs o f o th e rs . We lo v e people and animals, our land and each o th e r. Our (tired h elp er w ill be one o / our fam ilu, not ju s t a h ired man.

COALITION for a New Foreign and Military Policy UOM orytorw AM *o

w n m n g lo n OC MOW

t e l m e how I c o n g e t In voked M erer $J lor m y tnrormatton po cke t N am e

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

A d O reu

City

I I

Df> Phone ( } ___________________ _ State

Dear Brothers Across the Ocean, We a re two German men who want to make th e t r i p over to your country next sp rin g to share some time with b rothers we a lrea dy know. But we'd lo v e to meet, new p eop le, s ee where and how th ey a re liv in g , what they th in k , which ex p erien ces th ey have.

If you a re in t e r e s t e d in our job o f f e r and would l i k e more inform ation please w rite and in c lu d e in your l e t t e r your ex p ecta tio n s, hobbies, and in t e r e s t s , and anything e ls e you'd tik e to share with us. Send re c e n t photo i f you uant.

Me, Henning, I'm 27 years o ld , blond h a ir/b e a rd . My frie n d Wolf i s 40, black h a ir and a l i t t l e beard. We both lo v e the co u n try sid e, lis t e n in g to and making music, po etry and bearded men. I t would be lo v ely to g e t in contact with you, dear fellow men who alrea dy in s p ir e d us so much through your magazine.

We w ill answer a l l .

Lots o f lo v e,

Brooks Woodman L ittle Bear R etreat PO Box 497 K e ller, WA 99140

Henning Marburger Wolf E isn er Zur Alien Burg 19 5900 S iegen , West Germany

WAR RESISTERQ II [E A G U £ J Guide To War Tax Resistance ( @ ________$6 per book, add $ I postage and handling for each book).

W ar

R c s is te r s

S tre e t. N ew

le a g u e ,

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339

L a fa y e tte

10012.

HOMESTEAPTSIG Continued fiAom page. 48

F I R S T

If you just want backyard birds for your own use and you want them to range freely, that is a whole different mat ter. Then, you will want a colored breed which doesn't show up too well for hawks and is reasonably alert.

There * $ saying that II you haven'l tried it Firsthand. You haven't tried it Find out what you're missing W ith Firsthand. The sexual adventure m agazine That you write

The white leghorn is a top laying breed but is easily seen by hawks, so you would want to protect them some way. For most people, a good source of local information is your County Extension agent. He will usually have free handouts on any crop, weed or disease in the area. He can also put you in touch with other people who can ad vise you. For certain, you should have at least two vehicles to get to work in. If one brakes down, you will have something to falI back on and won't miss work. In m y #own view, you would be well off to have a pickup truck for one of your vehicles. You can use it for hauling feed and supplies. I favor a station wagon or a van for the other vehicle. Often, you can pick up feed or supplies on your way to or from work and avoid a trip to town on your days off. During the spring planting season, I loaned my pickup to <3 neighbor to haul his seed. So, when I needed it, I got his tractor. There are many ways to be a better neighbor, and it makes you feel more at home and better accepted in an establish ed neighborhood where you may be the first new person in three generations. This is my situation here. I am not close to any neighbor, but any of them will help me if I'm in a bind. I will help them when I can, but as I am gone so much working, they can't get much help from me at this time, t do what I can and share garden plants, chicks and such that they may need.

. . . for living gay N |iN * N o

N e w s * a d iv is f o n < « f

T h e R e a d in g P u h I B h m g C o m p a n y

P .O B o x 4 / 0 6 . F i e l d S t a t io n S t to n e s . M O . 6 3 1 0 ft 3 1 4 * 5 3 3 * 3 7 7 0

Route 1, Bar 127-E Batoersvilh, EC 28705

W '

NAME

ADDRESS

TOWN

STATE

Z IP

YES

o n Form

P l e a s e e n t e r a o n e y e a r (4 su b scrip tio n as fo llow s: -----R e g u l a r

(2 n d c l a s s

___ R e g u l a r

for

two y e a r s

<9 $ 1 9 . 0 0

----- F i r s t C l a s s M a i l i n g

@ $ 1 5 .0 0

-----F o r e i g n

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(su rfa ce

rate)

----- F o r e i g n A i r M a il

(E u ro p e )® $ 3 0 . 0 0

-----F o r e i g n A ir M a i l

(A sia)

___ D o n a t i o n

RFP w e l e o n e s g i f t s u b s c r i p t i o n s . W e ' l l s en d a g r e e t i n g c a r d a n n o u n c in g t h e g i f t w i t h yo ur p e r s o n a l m e s s a g e .

issu e)

m ail) @ $ 1 0 .0 0

----- L i b r a r y o r d e r i n g t h r o u g h a su b scrip tion se rv ic e

BBG IN SUBSCRIPTION WITH ISSUE #________ IS THIS A RENEWAL?

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(tax

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O R M A 7 ADDRESS ADVERTISING RACK ISSUES COPYRIGHT DUE DATE M AILING NAMISS 3UEMISSICN5 m f

Photo by Michael Glover

'% ;X

Mail all correspondence (advertising, subscriptions, business, submissions, feature related material, or letters) to: RFD, Rt. 1 Box 127—E, BakersviIle, NC 28705. Contributors and editors can be reached thru this address as well. We welcome advertising - especially from gay owned enterprises. for our Ad Rate Card.

Please write

Sample copies (current issue when available) are S3.50 (post-paid). Back issues are $2.50 unless they are over 12 months old. Anythinq older than that is $1.00 each except those issues we are out of. W® are making photo copies of these at the following rates: #1 - $1.50; #'«. 2, 4, &. 6 - $2.50 each; #32 and #40 - $3.50 each. Please add postage at $1.00 for each five or any portion thereof. RFD itself is not copyrighted. However, each accredited contribution publish ed (photo, drawing, or written material) remains the property of those contri butors, and nothing of theirs may be reused in whole or part without their permission. Contributors can be reached through RFD. Any non-credlted mat erial may be republished freely. Mention of source would be appreciated. The due dates for submissions to receive full consideration are: Spring 1985 Issue #42 Feature: Ageing fob. 1, 1983 Summer 1985 Issue #43 Feature: Small Town-. May I, 1985 Fall 1985 Issue #44 Aug. 1, 1985 For information on future themes and features, see the inside front cover. Issues are mailed around the Solstices and Equinoxes, and second class mail can take up to three or four weeks for delivery, if you don't receive your issue within a month of the publishing dates, please check with us. The num ber of your last issue is on your mailing label. If you move, please let us know as second class mailings are not forwarded by the PQ; they destroy them, and it costs about $3 to mail out another copy. We oublish the names of all contributors, but other than for the contact letters, we generally do not include the addresses. AI I contributors can be reached through RFD. We will NOT give out the names of subscribers (except where specified by them) to anyone, but we will forward mail to them through this address. Please share your knowledge and vision through RFD. This is a reader written Journal, so it is YOUR forum, it helps if you can type (double' space) your written material, but please do send in your gems even if they are 'rough*. RFD prefers to wield the editor's pencil lightly, so please send in your sub missions pretty much as you would have them appear. We generally do correct spellings and minor punctuations, so please indicate any Intentional variations from standard English. Photos: 8 !ack and white photos reproduce better than color, if possible, send us an expendable print. If you wish to send us a treasured photo which is the only copy, please indicate this so we can take care of It. We can't use negatives. Drawings: Again, black and white reproduces better than color. Pencil draw ings should be as dark and of high contast as possible. Yellow #2 pencil washes out easily; blues do not print at all. Occasionally, part of a drawing or photo, or collage of various artists will work well with an article. If you wish your artwork to be printed In its entirety only, or If there are any other consideration you wish us to respect, please indicate. We try to report as soon as possible on selections, but we sometfmes hold material for another issue, and it may be some time before the final decision is made. Please bear with us. You might want to set an expiration date so we’ll know how much time we will have. A seif addressed stamped envelope will insure the refurn of your originals. Multiple submissions are fine with us. RED will send contributors two copies of the issue in which their work appears P a s payment.