RFD Issue 83 Fall 1995 by RFD Magazine Gay

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fo r Queer Folk

Making pride with stride. Radical faeries move police barricades to take streets of Atlanta with puppet creature.

Between the Lines Ah. politics. That thing we love to hate. Some of the articles herein could be called anti-politics, expressing the idea that a l i f e of follow ing one-s desires and creating alternatives to the mainstream means a rejection of the political. Yet somehow the l i f e of our collective has been so f u ll of politics. There has been the issue of recycling. RFD is printed with soy inks on paper with some recycled content and a smaller "post consumer" recycled content. Printing i t on 100% post-consumer recycled paper would double our paper costs. We are exploring p ossib ilities of printing on hemp paper. How can the discussion of the many variables in th is puzzle, and the unresolved place of compromise we have reached, be anything but political? Or how about the taglin e of the magazine? After years fits "a country journal for gay men everywhere." we’re tryin g out "a country journal for queer folk." This experiment reflects the desire of many in the collective to be more in clu siv e of women. RFD is for the most part written and produced by gay men, and the vast majority of our readers are men. At the same time, the collective which publishes the magazine does not view it s e lf as male separatist and seeks to include women. I f tryin g to make our actions reflect our values isn ’t politics, what is? How about advertising? Some in the collective think that advertising could be a major source of revenue for RFD. Others feel that the presence of more advertising or prominentlyplaced ads would commercialize RFD and compromise its quality. Should we restrict advertising? Should we carry the same v ia tic a l ads, liquor ads, etc., as other gay publications? Could we get ads from gardening suppliers? Another whirlwind of discussion relates to contact letters. Many letters seek "no fats or ferns or no HIV," to the point where the editor of the past two years has resigned. Should we print offensive letters? Should we censor a letter by a brother...or a sister? Which brings us back to the burning question of women and RFD. E ventually a ll the issues inter-relate, and our collective meetings (open to a ll. i f you can figu re out when and where they are) weave in and out of them. The business of publishing the magazine is the p olitics of ju g g lin g in d ivid u als’ ideals and visions. We received an incredible array of material for th is politics issue. We hope i t provokes you to think, to ask questions, above a ll to act. F in ally, for those of you who have found RFD lacking as a country journal, a pleasant surprise and challenge. We are planning a spring issue (and a regular feature thereafter) on hot homo homesteading. We’re looking for submissions on moving to the country, faerie farmers, queer carpentry, lesbian land trusts, homo herbalism, listen in g to the birds and the bees, and other related topics. Get us your articles, stories, artwork and photographs by mid-January. Also, send in ideas for future issue themes, especially i f some group of you out there might consider producing a thematic feature. Autumn blessings. 1

I U I T I N A T W C F 1 I M W I IT M J MBI U k K C IU U N MM. I M H t O

CONTENTS CONTACTS GATHERINGS FAERIE CONTACTS EURO FAERIE GATHERING BROTHERS BEHIND BARS PERSONAL CONTACTS

R F D is a re a d e r-w ritte n journal for gay men which focuses on country living and encourages alternative life styles A rticles often explore the building of a i sense of community, radical fsen r consciousness, canng for the environment, as well as s h a rin g g ay m e n 's experiences

6 JOHN FERGUSON

S.9 67.68 69-74

NORM CARL VAUGHN FRICK

4 .3 9 ,4 7 ,6 4 52-53

CQMli NORM PORTLAND BIRD

REGULAR FEATURES BETWEEN THE LINES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN SEARCH OF.. GARDENING GARDENERS AGAINST THE WORK ETHIC POETRY SPIRITUALITY REVISED AUTUMNAL CONSTELLATION LUNAR CALENDAR REMEMBERING CULTURE CORNER REVIEWS BAKER’S BUNS

1 4-5 3 10 11 30-31,56-58 45-47 49 54,55 59 60-61 61-62 63

DANCING MANE UNRULEE V A LM .C O X KAYE HASS MOONHAWK PEEBLES & RAH-RAH PETER BAKER

FEATURE; POLITICS OUT OF THE DARKEST NIGHT REACHING FOR DIALOGUE TO DISTROY POLITICS... POLITICS AND POLY TRICKS QUEER VISIBILITY IN THE COUNTRY SISTERS IN SPIRIT AND ACTION THEORY AND PRACTICE FOR POLITICAL FAGGOTS ON THE POLITICS OF FAERIE NAME CHANGING YIPPIEFAERIE RACE AND SEX-POLITICS? POLITICALLY CORRECT FROM POLITICAL TO POLITICAL LOVING THE ENEMY THE KNIFE AND THE NAILS GANYMEDE GOES TO WASHINGTON SEXUAL POLITICS AND SPIRITUALITY CHOICES JUST LIKE OLD TIMES PUSHING THE LIMITS OF TOLERANCE DYKES AND FAERIES TOGETHER COMMUNITARIAN1SM STRAIGHT NUMBERS?

FANNIE MAE B FREE

12-13 14-15 16 17 18-19 20-21

EELBOY SUWTTOG SANDORFAG MAXZINE JERRY THE FAERIE

22-23

FAIRIE GARIF. 24-25 MOUNTAINE 26 KOFI UPQUARK 27 RANDY SHERWOOD 28 KHRYSSO FAGGNER 29 JONAS J CRICKET 32-33 DELILAH 34-35 ALAIN MICHEL 36-37 KEER SHANANDA 38-39 CYPRESS 41 ERIC WILCOX 42-43 SUSAN STODDARD 44 MAXZINE ____ 48 LINEAUS HOOPER LORETTE 50-51 R. DEAN OHMAR 65-66

RANTS ENGLAND MY ENGLAND T AZ CARS QUEERS ON FILM ADVOCATING WHAT ? CONSUME THE POLITICAL GARDEN THE POLITICS OF NO

ANDREW RANDOM JONAS J CRICKET JOMB1 MEDIA SLUT JONAS J. CRJCKET GARDEN DEV A MUCKEE MUCK

18 -19 22-23 25 32-33 36 37 41 70-71

Editorial respo n sib ility is sh ared b e tw e e n the Department editors and the M an ag in g E d ito rs . T he b u sin ess and g e n eral production is cen tered at Short Mt Sanctuary in rural middle Tennessee Features art often prepared in various places by different groups

CONTRIBUTORS Alain Michel

Andrew

Art Cassandra Polanaky Buttercup Carl Vaughn Frick Cypress Dancing Mane Delilah Darrell G.H. Schramm Donald Dimock Douglas Allen Douglas Conwell Eelboy Eric Wilcox Fannie Mae B. Free Fairic Garic Garden Devs Gary Gerard Wozek Jerry the Faerie John Ferguson John Greenwood John Wright Jombi Whomp Whomp Jonas J. Cricket Kaye Hass Kecr Shananda Keith Gcmerek Khrysso Faggner Kofi Upquark Kyle C. McDowell Lineaus Hooper Lorette MaxZine Media Slut Michael J. Emery M ish Moonhawk M ountaine Muckec Muck Norm Peter Baker Peter Layton Plum Nelly R. Dean Oh mar Random Andrew Randy Sherwood Raphael Richard Hawkinbcrry Richard McCancc Robert Earl Penn, Jr. Robin Walden Roger Weaver Ron Caldwell Sandorfag Spree Sunfrog Susan Stoddard Tinker Triscuit Manson UnruLce Val M Cox

36 37 22-23 30-31 42-43 52-53 41 10 34-35 56 62 14-15 46-47 16 42-43 12-13 24-25 41 34-35 57 22-J3 8 56-58 62 15,61 17,25,32-33,36 49 38-39 7,12-13,59 29 27 3,1 4 ,1 5 ,3 2 ,3 3 ,3 5 50-51 20-21,48 36 58 59 54-55 26 69-70 4 ,39,47,64 63 58 14 65-66 18-19 28 75-79 47

RFD (ISSN # 0149-709X) is published quarterly for $18 per year by Short Mi. Collective, Rt 1, Box 84A, Liberty, TN 37095. Second c la ss p o sta g e is p a id at Liberty, TN and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send ad d ress c h an g e s to R FD , PO Box 68, Liberty, TN 37095. ISSN # 0149-709X USPS # 073-010-00 N o n -p ro fit tax e x e m p t status under #23-7199134 as a fu n c tio n o f G ay Community Social Services Seattle, W ashington.

Member: CLMP (Council of Literary Magazines & Presses) IGLA (Int’l G ay & Lesbian Assoc.) INDEXED by Alternative Press Index PO Box 33109 Baltimore. MD 21218

As oi T his Issi

RFD

C o v er P rice has INCREASED TO $ 6 .5 0 . A R E tiflA R S t BSCRIITION i s ’ THE I .EAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO REC1JVE IT 4

TIMES A YEAR

58 40 57 56 14,18 19 60 61 17 44 40,43 60 61

Cover art C. McDowell

Kyle

11 45

correction

Chuck Pearson was the photographer of last issue inside front cover

Dear Editors, It has teen a couple o{, weeks svnc.f. I read y o u A latest issue #82. I iuas too upset and needed time to process my {filling lejp re discussing them u/ith you. "A Country Journal {,or Cay Men £ very where", Where'! I {pund it, biie^ly, in the Gardening section. Where is Crazy Owl sharing the secretA o{, Miso, the poetry oi Blue, Lake, Days, Scott talking about good sex, even the Kitchen Queen ate out this season. Admittedly, I did enjoy some o{, the, articles, in particular Machine's "Romancing the. Stone Age' {is she really that well read1) and Russell's "Tattoo Magic" (Russell would you tattoo your tody with the, same symlols you used to decorate your story 1. respect the magic!). But are they Country? 1 must say that 1 am unsettled l>y your announcement that the next issue will {peas on politics. Please let it portray the politics of community and extended {pmlly. / lug the. Advocate to read Newt lashing and can't abjprd two mags on the same subject. Change is good and o{jten necessary, tf you choose to lecome a contemporary issue publication, Blessed Be. Just drop "A Country Journal....... ", it is that which {prst attracted me to you, and w ill le misleading to new readers.

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Sincerely, Thomas F. Sousa Vista Azul, Calle 7, G-21 Arecibo, PR 00612

L ette r . s +o Dean Faerie Primitives, l am writing this in response to the "..personal rant on the state of the, primitive ly Random Leopard". When reading, I picked up on phrases such as "... true connection with the, earth...", "...oneness with nature...", "...connection to ourselves and our environment...", and "...responsibility to empoweA the use o{j the word 'primitive' with ail it's potential {pr spiritual growth and social change...". I like these phrases, lecause they are in tine with one of my continuing goals: to consume the environment as little as possible while enjoying it as much as possible. Not easy to do in the city, tu t 1 toy. I'll do a letter jo l when I move to the country. Which causes me to wonder about

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Thank you very much for your prompt response to my request for a sample copy of RFD I received the Spring issue, #81. and have oeen reading it avidly. Having read Mark Thompson's Gay Spirit. Myth and Meaning. I now know where the faeries are Your magazine is unique The ads in Brothers Behind Bars are very poignant and tempt me to answer some of them. However, | would like to know if it is possible to hear of positive as well as negative incidents that people have had writing to some of the brothers behind bars. I must compliment your readers on the ads in the Contact Letters. So often in such ads there is more emphasis on physical attributes and age than spirituality.

With love, T.R. Nelson

A small voice, A small town, With Love. P.S. Tell Jombi to gel over it. Consider con trib u tin g to our Spring Homesteading issue, and keep le tt in g us know what you think. Is our p o litic s d iffer en t enough from what you get in the Advocate? /

RFD,

Dear Brothers & Ststers, RFD is by far my favorite gay mag I have been reading it almost from it's beginning. It keeps getting better no matter how much flak RFD has gotten over the years for whatever reason. I don't agree with everything in the magazine, but so what! We are diverse, eclectic, changeable, and individuals, so I can agree to disagree and accept our differences and get on with it. I really enjoy the photography Jan Lynch, Steve Baratz., Ben Fink, and Down Home Erotica. I enjoy the poetry, especially Gavin Dillard - (Woof!) and others; the always open, frank, sexual Scott O'Hara (Slurrp!) and the love humor, dedication and sincerity of all concerned. Hugs and kisses to all of you!

uv/fK

/^ V - V V

Sincerely, Frank E. Grant Thanks for h olding RFD to it s own standards. See Between the Lines (page 1) for a d iscu ssion of recy clin g .

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'A/jV\<)oVA/ -foW 9 C / i t oMAP

RFD: when comparing issue #82 with issue #5, {pr example, 1 wonder which physical issue is more one with nature and manijpsts more connection with the environment? Do you publish with concerns {pr use of dyes and recycled paper? Do you/i themes always lead to how one can live with reverence {pr the environment? Is RFD totally recyclable? 1 am interested in your response to these questions. Thanks.

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D ear RFD. I 'd l i k e to re sp o n d to th e d is c u s s io n c o n c e rn in g S a fe Sex in r e c e n t i s s u e s o f y o u r i n c r e d i b l e m a g a z in e . As a " tra d itio n a l" a c a d e m ic s t u d e n t o f Human S e x u a l i t y ( I 'm e v e n g o in g t o t r y f o r a PhD in t h e s t u f f ) a s w e ll as a fa e rie -u n d e rd e v e lo p e m e n t an d a p a s s i o n a t e a m a te u r r e s e a r c h e r i n t h i s f i e l d ( g r i n ) , I t h i n k t h a t A. V e r a 's r e s p o n s e t o t h e N a th a n C ooper a r t i c l e i s l u c i d an d u s e fu l. S a f e Sex i s o n e t o o l i n t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f HIV, no q u e s t i o n . B ut I c a n ' t name o n e lo n g - te r m c o u p le I know ( lo n g - t e r m b e in g a s l o o s e l y d e f i n e d a s e v e n 2 -3 m o n th s ) who p ra c tic e sa fe sex c o n s i s t e n t l y , o r even a t a l l o n ce t h e y f e e l " c o m m itte d " .

Many o f my f r i e n d s , a l t h o u g h t h e y r a r e l y d i s c u s s i t and sh y away fro m i t i f b r o u g h t u p , s t o p d o in g s a f e s e x m onth 1 o r 2 o f a r e l a t i o n s h i p . C o o p e r 's a s s e r tio n th a t our s o c ie ty is s e x -p h o b ic i s c e r t a i n l y tr u e h e r e in s e m i - r u r a l R eno. Gay men a b o u n d h e r e , s a f e se x i s s o m e th in g we a l l r e p e a t in g ro u p s lik e some k in d o f m a n tr a , b u t m ost o f u s a r e n o t p r a c t i c i n g i t , a t l e a s t in o u r s e rio u s or s e m i-s e rio u s r e l a t i o n s h i p s . And I s u s p e c t t h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s i s an u n w illin g n e s s to ta lk ab out sex, e ith e r w ith th e ir p a rtn e rs or w ith th e ir f r i e n d s . I t ' s e v e r y t h i n g from bad m a n n e rs to d o w n r ig h t r u d e , i n t h e i r t h i n k i n g , and p e o p l e who do t a l k a b o u t t h e i r sex liv e s are c o n s id e re d o b s e s s e d w i t h t h e t o p i c (a n a c c u s a t i o n made o f me a t p o i n t s ) o r h o r n - d o g s who h a v e c o v e rt ag en d as.

ÂŁ d H o c 1 enjoy many departments in youA Mag. I have wAitten to inmateA and alnort evenyone miAAepneAentA himsell,, causing lotA oj, aggAevation. I think a photo iA (jine, tu t a letteA j/vom theiA counAeloA would t e tetteA, including the photo, that the counseloA w ill mail, with him conjjiAming the fallowing. DOB, length ojj Sentence, diAchaAge date, newt paAoie date. Sadly most inmateA aAe not in theAe tecauAe they have te en paying theiA tazeA on time. Some inmateA alAo faAge InAtitution faAmA (I have 'Some ojj them). I{, you think that i t would t e worthwhile, then a ca ll oa a letteA

faom RFD to the facilitieA, would make it pAacticaily faofapAooj,. BefaAe I wAite to anyone, / ca ll the fa c ility and AequeAt the a tove infanmation. I Aead pAacticaily eveny woAd in youA magazine with w ide open eyeA.

Chau, Michael Basham

A m a jo r ity o f f o lk s I have ta lk e d to w ill su c k an u n p r o t e c t e d c o ck e a r l y in any c o u r ts h ip , i f n o t th e f i r s t tim e in b e d . R e c e n t new s o f tra n s m is s io n r is k s v ia o ra l se x be dam ned, no o n e I know w ill su c k a d ic k t h a t 's c o v e r e d in p l a s t i c . How o f t e n th e y a ls o sw a llo w cum i s s o m e th in g even d e lic a te q u e s t i o n i n g w o n 't r e v e a l a g a in b ecause of th e u n c o m f o r ta b le n a t u r e o f t h e t o p i c t o m o st p e o p l e . As f o r u n p r o t e c t e d a n a l sex - I have y e t to f in d one p e r s o n who, when p r e s s e d f o r h o n e s ty )a n d w ith a b e e r o r tw o i n s i d e him ) w o n 't c o n f e s s t o h a v in g u n s a f e a n a l se x a t l e a s t o n c e in t h e l a s t y e a r , re g a rd le s s of re la tio n a l s ta tu s . And G o d d ess f o r b i d i t seem l i k e I am th r o w in g s t o n e s - I h a v e n e v e r s u c k e d a c o c k w ith a condom and I ' v e h ad u n p r o t e c t e d a n a l s e x 3 tim e s in t h e l a s t tw o y e a r s , t h e l a s t tim e b e in g o v e r a y e a r a g o . So f a r I t e s t n e g a t i v e and I w ill keep te s tin g n e g a t i v e . I 'm n o t p e r f e c t , an d I am s u b j e c t to th e p a s s i o n s o f t h e m om ent. B ut p a s t m i s t a k e s w o n 't slo w my lo v e fo r sex and human d o n ta c t. I c rin g e a t th e p o s s ib le b a c k l a s h from t h i s h o n e s ty b u t I am c o n v in c e d t h a t o n ly open d ia lo g u e on sexual i s s u e s w i l l g e t u s a n y p la c e in r e a l l y p r e v e n t i n g HIV from c o n t i n u i n g t o w reak h a v o c in o u r c o m m u n ity . RFD i s f r e s h a i r t o Reno in t h i s r e g a r d , an d I 'm g ra te fu l as h e ll y o u 'r e h e r e . L e t 's t a l k a b o u t sex! E r ik K i e s e r R eno, NV

IN SEARCH O F . . Are you looking for someone or something you have lost contact with? Send us the info, in as few words as possible and we will print it in three consecutive issues. Daron Michael used to live in Miami, FL, black hair. Shane & Shawn Gibson twin brothers moved away from from Starke, FL about 1991. If you know the whereÂ abouts of any of these please contact David Newham, DC799172 H -6 -D -1 1 , Martin C.I.I., 1150 S.W. Appatition Rd., Indiontown, FL 34956. (E -84 )

Edward Lloyd Rice approx. 30yr old, formerly of Ellijay, GA. Visited Idaho .in Spring '87. Contact David Yon, 26889 IMSI-B, P.0 Box 51 Boise, ID 83707-0051. (E -84 ) Jerry Gamel from Haines City, FL. Last seen at Sheppard AFB, 1960. Chris Landon from Brooklyn, NYC. Last seen in Elizabethtown, KY. Eric Smith from Towanda, PA. If you know the whereabouts of any of these three, please contact Don Karnes, 1702 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Call collect 202/319-1644. (E -84 )

Dan Shea, tall, long haired, poet/ visionary. We intersected in Philly in the 60's, caught Zen waves with Native American undertow. Contact Ed Kaplan at 609/429-1836. (E -83 ) Violetta; If anyone has his current address, please contact JanNathan Long at SMS, 247 Sanctuary Lane, Liberty, TN 37059 ph. 615/563-4397 (E -83 )

Mark A. Anderson, Urbana Ilinois class of 1959. Contact Gale Davis, 1608 Fatherland St. Nashville, TN 37206.(F.-85)

GA THERI NGS SHORT MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL This year's gathering will be held from Sept. 29 - Oct. 8. Come join us in celebrating the abundance of the harvest. The gathering is open to men, wimmm and children. NO pets. There are boarding kennels in near by Woodbury. The pre-gathering work week begins Sept. 23. We're encouraging carpooling due to limited car parking. For more info call or write: SMS, 247 Sanctuary Lane, Liberty, TN 37095 Ph 615/563-4397

GAY SPIRIT VISIONS CONFERENCE September 22-24, 1995, will be held at The Mountain, a retreat and conference center in western North Carolina near the town of Highlands. The center is perched on top of a mountain on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Detailed directions will be provided upon registration. In addition, we are planning a Talent Extravaganza, cleansing fire and drumming circle, and plenty of free time and getting-to-know -youropportunities. Limited signing may be available at major presentations if requested Please let us know of your special needs. Bring a flashlight, drums and other musical instruments, warm clothing, rain gear, big smiles, openness, and a capacity for brotherly love. Important! Please bring a gift that has meaning and significance for you. It will be placed on the altar and ritually passed on to someone else as a talisman of Gay Spirit Visions. Things to leave at home: pets, children, attitude and non-prescription drugs. A limited number of partial scholarships (program costs only) will be available. Cost for the weekend is $115. Apply to: Conference Committee, Gay Spirit Visions, P.O. Box 339, Decatur, GA 30031-0339. You will be notified as soon as possible if we are able to honor your request. For more information contact: Al Cotton, 404/292-8567 or bearsekr@aol.com

AUSTIN FAERIES Regular circles meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm, 227 Congress Ave. at the Grassroots Peace Building at the southeast corner of 3rd and Congress.

ARTLAND September 22 - 25, 1995 at IDA, a queer artist community 10 miles from Short Mountain. Come early (9/18 ) and stay late (9/27). Saturday and Sunday are the main event. ARTLAND brings artist together to learn from each other, try new forms, and experience the outdoors. 3 veggie meals a day, camping, and lots of spontaneous zaniness will be served on IDA's 250 acres of woods, creeks and ridges. $75 for Friday night through Monday morning if registered by 9/1/95 or $90 after 9/1/95. $10 for each additional day before and after the weekend. For more info call or write: IDA P.O. Box 874, Smithville, TN 37166-0874 Tel 615/597-4409

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GENERAL STORE SACRED DJ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

SANTA FE MASSAGE-Healing h an d s for H eavenly

For an an n u al fee of $50 you w ill receive 3 -9 0 m in u te ca ssettes of Sacred D J's m ix of Tem ple

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m u sic w h ich favor* o b scu re b eau ty , cu ttin g edge

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w orld m u sic , w o rsh ip songs from m any c u ltu re s

NM 6827

for

gay

m en.

Deep

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N ear th e plaza in Santa Pe,

w elcome.

Call

Joseph

5 0 5 /9 8 2 -

You w ill receive a m u sic n e w s le tte r 3 tim es

a year w ith

notes and re v ie w s on new m usic,

and sneak p re v ie w s of Sacred D J's w o rk -in p ro g ress buy

th e ra p y

tiss u e , S w edish, T a n tric, and A ccu p ressu re.

and s u p ris in g b le n d s of pop, cla ssic a l, and new age

M Assage

You w ill also have th e o p p o rtu n ity to

co m p ilations

frie n d s ,

occasions

and

p rev io u sly book

av a ilab le

Sacred

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only

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Send check a n d /o r w rite for m ore info

to Don Shew ey, 336

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BODY JEWELRY-LEATHER TIGER b ran d av a ilab le in 316L Surgical S tain less Steel, N iobium , and 14K G old. For a com plete catalog and p ric e lis t send $ 2 .0 0 to John W all, 8 787 D ry Creek R d., D ow elltow n, TN 3 7 0 5 9 or call 6 1 5 /5 9 7 -5 8 2 6 THE FUNNY FARM (A n tiq u e s Shop) is looking to buy old FARM ANIMAL folk a rt, farm sig n s, m ill w eights, old to y s, hooked ru g s, tin s

DRUM

BAGS M ads

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you'd

d ru m bag m ade to c a rry and protect your d ru m , ju s t sen d me it's size and I can m ail it to you. The bags are m ade w ith a heavy fa b ric , lin ed w ith

cotton,

have

foam

d ru m top, and ca rry s tra p s

pad

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Send d im en tio n s to

and a d v e rtis in g , w eath erv an es, p rim itiv e p a in tin g s, p o ttery , etc . P refer p r e - 1 9 4 0 in good condition. Check th e attic , check th e b a rn , search th e flea m a rk et, ask yo u r frie n d s. Contact: Joe Lembo, P O. Box 9 5 4 3 , Santa Fe. NM 8 7 5 0 5

Ph. 5 0 5 /9 8 2 - 6 8 2 7

Janies, 247 S anctuary Lane, L ib erty , TN 37095 and I'll sen d you a p ric e

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WASHINGTON WICCANS The Church of Wicca The Order of the Golden Faeries - Sons and Daughters of the New Moon. Call 206/627-5417 (No collect calls please) for information about meeting time and place, or write: P.O. Box 69, Retsil, WA 98378. Meetings are 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month in Tacoma. This is a meeting for Pagans, your sexual orientation is not an issue, you are free to be who you are. Awaken the spirit of ritual, unleash your true Pagan spirituality. Please join us for a spiritually uplifting evening of fellowship, guided meditations, and psychic healing. A potluck will follow the ritual. Bring a dish to share. Please bring your own eating utensils (plate, cup, silverware), this will help us cut down on garbage and clean-up. a donation for rental space is appreciated. When it is not raining in the summer we meet in one of the Tacoma Parks. We have had inmates call and write for financial assistance, we are a small group and not in a position to assist inmates financially.

THE NW RADICAL FAERIES lovingly invite our brothers to the 15th Annual Breitenbush Winter Gathering, "A FAERIE TRIBAL CELEBRATION" at the Breitenbush Hot Springs Community in the beautiful Oregon Cascades, February 15-19, 1996. To receive information, write to: BBW'96, 114 NE 22-nd Ave., Portland, OR 97232-3104 sasssxs

ALOHA from IMAGINE The Faerie Land Trust has purchased 27 acres of mango/coconut forest on the Puna coast of Hawaii. This is the land of Pele, a young fiery goddess creating lands anew at our feet. We seek motivated, conscious, healthy landancers to escape the heteroconsumerist paradigm and join our circle of loving companions Our focus is tot complete a circle of 10-13 men nurturing our divine essence and living dose to nature. Those drawn here sense the protection that isolation from the wedding crowd brings. The sanctuary provides abundant coconut, breadfruit, papaya and seasonal mango, passionfrult et. al. Living naked off the grid affords a retreat from the distractions of civilization. Gilligan’s Island-style architecture and faerie creativity yield a tropical paradise to be safe and free. Our alternative is to all turn native. Gentle, free men without the trappings. Let us create a new way of being far removed from the market economy, and share the dream of wholesome living close to nature. May we let go of what we KNOW and learn to FEEL. IMAGINE no possessions, heaven or religion. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man, living life in peace. You may say we’re dreamers, not the only ones, perhaps you’ll join us, and live as one. Our creation is making music, shelter gardens, art, love, ritual, et. al., massaging the earth to grow food. We welcome ilk and kin RSVP, and appreciate a picture, dream, and brief intro (or old briefs?) to: IMAGINE BIODIVERSITY P.O.. 1463 PAHOA, HI 96778 (808)334-3359 ALOHA

Atlanta Faerie Circle 404/622-4112

Gabnei, Faggot Faerie © Ketth Gemerek D C. 1993

Austin Area Faeries Casa de Los Manposas 12514-b Esplanade St. Austin. TX 78727-4409 512/837-1596 Faene Fooeline 512/370-4708 Fax 512/836-9715 Email iazanis@bga.com Black le a th e r W ings PO Box 210556 S a n Francisco CA 94121 Blue Heron Farm Rt 1 Box 1244 Dekalb, NY 13630 British C olum bia Radical Faeries 1475 Santa Rosa Rd. Chnstina Lake, BC VOH 1E3 604/447-9414 - Michael or Lar C entral New York Radical Faeries c/o Nick Papatonis 406 S. Plain St. #3 Ithica, NY 14850 Chicago Faerie Circle 812 N. Noble-Coach House Chicago, 1L 60622 312/235-8315 E mail AUDR1US@WWA.COM World Wide Web Home Page @ HTTP://GAGME.WWA.COM /-AUDRIUS/FAERIE.HTM D.C. F aeries c/o Happy doodle 301 /946-0517 E u ro -F aeries c/o John Ferguson Noordeindseweg 107a 2651 LG Berkel en Rodenri js The Netherlands E-mail jaD@amvoice.xs4all.nl Tel/Fax 31 1891 20972 Faeries on the Web @http://www.eskimo.com/ -davidk/faenes.html or call David at:206/720-0895 Fey Dirt News & info line in area Portland, Oregon 503/235-0826 Fey dish Computer Bulletin Board 415/861-4221 F ro n tie rs Socials, discussions and outdoor events for Gay and Bi men 14 W. Mifflin St Suite 103 Madison , Wl 53703 608/251-7424

Ganowungo Sanctuary, W. N.Y. Jay Stratton 121 Union St. Westfield, NY 14787 Gay G ardeners Guild 1873 N.600 Rd, Baldwin, KS 66006 GAYA-Gay C onsciousness and S p irituality Heidelberg Faerie Circle Blucherstrasse 1 W-6900 Heidelberg Germany 49/6221-860535

N om enus P.O. Box 312 Wolf Creek, OR 97497 503/866-2678

Holy Faery D atabase (CA and Wolf Creek faerie sanctuary gatherings and events) P.O. Box 426732 S.F., CA 94142

N ortheastern Faeries (including Blue Heron Farm) POB 1251 Canal St Sta N.Y., NY 10013

House of the Dawn 112W. Way POB 637 Yamell.AZ 85362 520/427-3112

Northwest Faerie D atabase (NWFDB) (Breitenbush & NW Faerie events other than Wolf Creek) 114 NE 22nd Ave. Portland, OR 97232-3104 503/735-4758 E-mail RavndVill@aol.com

IDA - A queer a rtist comm unity P.O. Box 874 Smithville, TN 37166-0874 615/597-4409

IMAGINE? XXOO, A Permaculture collective in paradise P.O. Box 1463 Pahoa, HI 96778 808/334-3359 - Voicemail

N orthw estern Faeries 1510 19th Ave Seattle. WA 98122 C ircle of Q ueerPagans/ O klahom a Radical Faeries P.O. Box 32321 OKC, OK 73123 405/722-8985

Kawashaway Sanctuary c/o Gordon-Oakes P.O. Box 50458 Minneapolis ,MN 55405 612/874-9079-Rocky

P hiladelphia Faeries c/o Earth 2221 Spring Garden St #3R Philadelphia, PA 19130 215/864-9922 Portland OR See Fey Dirt R ural Gay M en's G roup support network for Canadian countrymen PO Box 1404, Port Hardy B.C. CANADA VON 2P0 Rose of Sharon c/o Oglesby/Thomton Rt. 2 Box 130A2 Santa C ruz Fairy Line 408/335-5861 Events and message tape for the Santa Cruz area Seattle Fairy Phone 206/783-2011 event tape for Seattle area

L ’ A ffaire The Beau Monde POB 3036 Pineville, LA 71361

O n tario Faeries/ F'ees du Quebec Amber Fox Sanctuary Box 65, McDonald's Comers Ontario CANADA K0G 1M0 613/278-2744

Short M ountain Sanctuary Route I Box 84-A Liberty, TN 37095 615/563 4397 (messages)

Men N urturing Men c/o Midwest Men’s Center POB 2547 Chicago, IL 60690 312/348-3254

P a n th e o s PO Box 9543 Santa Fe. NM 87504 505/982-6827

S outhern C alifornia Star Circle- Faerie Dish Rag POB 26807 lx>s Angeles, CA 90026

New H am pshire/ V erm ont (southern) Ron 603/478-5437

Paris Faeries (Les Fees de Pans) c/o Efthimios Kalos 7 Rue Payenne 75003 Pans, France Tel 33 1 40 27 02 95 Fax 33 1 40 27 02 96 Circles on full moons>

V erm ont- Destiny Lodge PO Box 88 Northfield.VT 05663 802/485-6668

NYC Faerie Circle POB 1251 Canal St Sta N.Y., NY 10013 Gay Switchboard 212/777-1800

W indv City Gav N aturists P.O. Box 2547 Chicago, IL 60690 2547 708/451-1138 Mark

reports from the first European Radical Faerie gathering. T ujo

\ Terschelling Is. Are there faeries at the bottom of my garden ? I have lived in E urope fo r o ver 6 y e a rs now a n d , a s a New W orld/Faery re sid e n t of th e Old World, a n d , as one of th o se calling th is f ir s t Europ ean g a th e rin g th is had been th e n ag ging q uestion - If I called a faery g a th e rin g in Europe would any faeries come, a n d , more to th e po in t, would th e y be FAERIES like we know them in N orth America? E ver since moving h ere in 1989 to p u rsu e my work as a p ia n ist, I had been c o n stan tly m issing th e faeries th e g a th e rin g s , th e ritu a ls , th e touch of k in d re d fa e ry /p a g a n w orsh ip ers of th e G oddess/H orned One. Lack of fa e ry c u ltu re was (notice th e use of th e p a st te n s e . . . ) th e b ig g est mis sing piece in th e puzzle of my Europ ean life. When I trie d to tell gay men in F ran ce, G erm any, Poland, Estonia o r w h e re v e r, about th e g a th e rin g s and th e g en tle/p rim itiv e s p irits draw n to th e se e v e n ts , ey es would immediately glaze over in in com prehension. Lots of faeries came to v is it, small circ le s trie d to form, vague announcem ents were placed in RFD, le tte r s w ritten to a few gay pagan s........ b u t no foundations for a European fa e ry circle took form. F inally, I made co n tact with two o th e r s im patient for th e fa e ry ex p erien ce in th e bottom of th e ir own g a r d e n s ___ G eert of th e R heinland fae ries (a o n e-p erso n circle u n til now. . . ) and E duard a Dutch v isito r to S h o rt Mountain a g re e d to help find th e place, time and o th e rs to call a f irs t g a th e rin g .

T h is time th e G oddess in te rc e d e d , h e a rd o u r c h a n ts a n d , channeled by G eert, o ffered u s a fabulous form er farm house on th e islan d of T ersch elling off th e n o rth e rn coast of H olland. The only d a te s th e house was still fre e th is y e a r were EXACTLY th e d a te s we had se t aside - more proof th a t th e pieces of th e puzzle were falling into place. We p u t o u t th e call - m ailings to our frie n d s , gay b o o k sto res, altern a tiv e p r e s s , th e Edward C a rp e n te r Com m unity in London, via e-mail - T h y b e r T h ith ie, World Wide Web home p a g e s, e tc . Some of u s also took th e b u rd e n upon o u rselv es to go sp read th e word fa r and wide in th e s a u n a s , p a rk s and c ru isin g a re a s of Europe (T h a t was th e fun p a rt and I p e r sonally rounded up 4 fu tu re faeries th is w ay! ) . . . Slowly b u t su re ly th e re sp o n se s began to come i n . . . . and o u r "o rg an izers panic" began to m ount. We w ere calling a faery g a th e rin g - b u t would European first-tim e fa e rie s be FAERIES? Coming from so many d iffe re n t co u n trie s and cul tu r e s , how would we connect to each o th e r , w hat language would we speak to g e th e r, and what ex actly would be o u r common gro u n d as f a e r ie s ...? T hese qu estio n s began to w orry u s. S h o rtly into th e planning for th e g a th e rin g my tra v e ls led me back to S h o rt Mountain fo r B eltane '95. It was h e re th a t (while n u rtu rin g th e in n er slu t/c h ild w ith in ) th e G od s/esses spoke to me loud and clear - " . . . i t will be w hat it is and it will be f a b ." I re tu rn e d to o u r la st planning meet in g s in Bonn bathed in th e lig h t of th e fa e ries and confident th a t we were doing th e good w orks of th e G oddessHorned One in th e Old World. 8

R eg istratio n s began to flow i n , espec ially a fte r th e Edw ard C arp en ter Community in England announced our g ath e rin g in th e ir n e w letter* . . . . We had faeries coming from F ra n c e , Eng lan d , G erm any, Holland, Sw itzerland, th e US, E stonia, Poland. T hen came th e c a ll___ "Hi th is is Mark from the BBC's "Gaytime TV" and we would like to do a sh o rt fe a tu re on o u r Gay and Lesbian show about Europe's f ir s t radical fa e ry g a th e rin g . Can we come with o u r cam eras and spend a day with y o u ? . . . . " Somehow th is felt like th e la st piece of th e puzzle to fall in place - p ro d u c e rs at th e BBC also seemed to sen se th a t some new ste p in European gay c o n d o u sn e ss was about to be ta k e n . A fter much processing among th e o rg a n iz e rs, we ag reed to th e p resen ce of th e BBC and con ditions so as to make th e ir filming as u n o b tru siv e as p o ssib le........ in a few more day s it would be time to leave fo r th e islan d . The tr ip to th e island was full of an ticipation of th e moment of th e first circle w here all of th e new faeries would sta n d to g e th e r fo r th e first time - th e f ir s t yoo-hoo, a few deep b re a th s to g e th e r, a guided visualiza tion from F ran k lin , and th e faery th in g would tak e w ing. . . . The fe rry boat tr ip to th e island was much like a m ysterious pilgrim age - we left the crow ded D utch sh o re for th e dark sk ies which hung low o ver th e North S ea, th re a te n in g th e nice w eather fo recast fo r th e w eek. We passed g hostly san d b a rs full of seeds in the long dimming evening of summer sols tic e . We w ere going o ver th e night before th e g a th e rin g began to take care of food and se ttin g u p . We somehow got all of o u r b ag s ( d ra g , a lta r n e c c e sitie s, te n ts , e tc ) by bus to th e end of th e island w here the house lay . We had to sta y in a camp gro u n d th e f ir s t n ig h t w aiting until th e house was fre e th e n ex t m orning. T he n ex t day th e faeries began to po u r in - and from th e moment the f ir s t busload a rriv e d I knew we were going to be dancing in th e ra y s of the G oddess fo r th e w eek! We w ere 35 - a small g ro u p by American sta n d a rd s b u t a p e rfe c t size for castin g the faery circle in Europe. By th e end of th e week we had all gotten to know each o th e r by name and had th e op p o rtu n ity to c o n n e c t. D uring the co u rse of th e week we had ample op p o rtu n ity for morning circles/ev en in g ritu a ls , n o -ta le n t- show /auction (the o rg a n iz e rs u n d er-estim ated th e costs a bit and had to do some la st minute fu n d -ra is in g . . . ) , circles on th e bea c h , su n rise ritu a ls , fa e ry line dan cing , n a tu re w alks, massage circles e tc . F ranklin A bbott, one of th e early fa e ry -fa th e rs from th e late 70's was th e re as o u r special g u e st to help in facilitating circles and th e E uro -faery C onsecration R itual.

It was with a real sen se of w onder th a t I w atched a week of fa e ry magick unfold and th e E u ro -faeries find th e ir wings and fly . T h ere w ere so many first-tim e fa e rie s a t th is g a th e rin g th a t, as an o ld -tim er, it was a real inspiration to to see so many virg in faeries having th e ir f ir s t fa e ry transform ativ e e x p e rie n c es. As o rg a n iz e rs, th e re was only one ritu al th a t we had planned on in ad vance - th is was th e ritu a l to con sec rate th e r e tu r n of th e gay sh am an/faery p re se n c e in th e Old World. T his took place on th e second day of th e g a th e rin g and was planned by a gro u p of sev en fa e rie s. We chose th e symbol of th e sp ira l fo r th e r itu al. We began th e ritu a l by tak in g o u r fe a rs and n eg ativ e e n e rg ie s, naming them out loud and placing them in a bowl of sa lt w ater which would la te r be re tu rn e d to th e ocean. We th en took tu r n s building a sp ira l re p re s e n ting o u r perso n al evolution th ro u g h the faery circle and th e fu tu re grow th of th e E u ro -fa e ries. B eginning with one lit can d le, we each took tu r n s walking th e p ath of th e sp ira l and lighting o u r candle in o u r own cerem onial way. We th en c a st th e circle of the faeries and proceeded to r e tu rn th e w ater to th e ocean and lig h t a bonfire which became th e scene of fabulous fa e ry d an cin g . The G oddess added h e r final blessin g on th e ev en ing with an e th e re a l ap p earan ce of th e N orthern L ights a s th e b onfire had faded to glowing em bers in th e sa n d .

So began o u r week which was a cease le ss flow of loving b ro th e rh o o d , n at u ra l b e a u ty , g re a t food and h ig h e n e rg y f u n . P erh ap s th e most rem ar kable feeling was th e close emotional bonding with each o th e r, c a rry in g home th e c e rta in ty th a t we have made many new frie n d s. We have lo ts of plans for th e fu tu re n e x t summer in T erschelling fo r su re and possibly a w inter g ath erin g in F e b ru a ry , 1996. In addition, o th er regional fa e ry circles (P a ris , Montpe lie r, Bonn, D utch) will be planning th e ir own m in i-g ath erin g s, full moon c irc le s, e tc . Write u s fo r more info and sp re a d th e word th a t th e Faeries a re now back in th e Old World! E u ro -faeries c /o John Ferguson N oordeindseweg 107a 2651 LG B erkel en Rodenrijs The N etherlands e-mail jaf3@amvoice. x s4all. nl *The Edward C a rp e n te r Community also o rg an izes g a th e rin g s a t various sited in E ngland. A lthough not faery g a th e rin g s, th e y a re w orth looking in to if you plan to be in England or S cotland. C ontact: O ver The Rainbow c/o21 D evonshire Prom enade, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2DS, England.

Trains and boats and planes or a Britt's first faerie gathering . "All sp iritu a lly o rien ted men a re in vited to commune u n d er th e m idnight su n of n o rth e rn Holland a t Summer S o lstice___ to n u rtu re each o th e r and explore o u r sp iritu a l n a tu re s and q u eer c u ltu re " . I booked by plane tic k e t with a sen se of excitem ent for I'd n e v e r gone 'in tern atio n al' on a gay m en's ev en t befo re. Was I s p irit ually o rien tated ? Well no doubt I would soon find out! I was dying for a fix of th e old Edward C arp e n te r Com m unity-style magic. B ut would it be as good? The balmy sea cro ssin g o v e r, th e last leg was completed by b u s. At th e end of th e line, th e bu s d riv e r d irected me over th e brow with a sm ile. Before me was th e old Dutch farm house re sembling some p residing dowager stra d d lin g a v ast expanse of dunes and m udflats on which th e odd sailing boat lay like some beached whale wa iting for th e incoming tid e. We were like so many nomads r e tu r ning home from th e D iaspora; from Europe, A frica, and North America we came, to con secrate th e in terio r of th is mellow farm house with 'sm udging' and sham anistic ritu a ls . D u rries and freedom flags adorned th e r a f te r s and a lta r with personal momentos th a t had given form and meaning to o u r lives. Continued on Page 64

HAZELNUT (Corvlus amencana )

The Autumn season, with its bountiful harvest of wild fruits and nuts, is almost here, and early signs are apparent. The Ironweed is blooming, Muscadines have been ripe enough to gather for a couple of weeks, and hidden away on select hillsides and tucked in occasionally along woodland borders are shrubby Hazelnuts with ripening nut clusters. The Hazelnuts must be gathered early in most areas in order to beat the Blue Jays and the squirrels to the harvest! Hazelnuts, or American Filberts (Corvlus americana ), are common shrubs in upland areas throughout the eastern U.S. They are especially common along the edges of fields and pastures bordering woodland in the hills of middle Tennessee surrounding Short Mountain. A nut is borne by these shrubs which resembles the European Filbert in appearance and taste, though it is smaller. The nuts are held in what appears to be a ruffled green sack near the tips of branches. The accompanying illustration shows both the nut sacks as they appear at this season, and an individual nut after all the protective bracts have been husked away. The nuts are delicious toasted or they may be used in cookery the same as filberts. Nuts can be ground into meal and this used to make a distinctive bread. In Europe, candies and favorite holiday confections are made with a nut paste from filberts. Hazelnuts also have something special to offer at other times of the year. In the late winter forest the Hazelnuts are one of the very first clues to the arrival of Spring. Usually in early or middle February in the region around Short Mountain the shrubs blossom, bearing long, green male catkins and tiny pink female flowers on the same twigs. The Hazelnuts usually precede the native maples in flowering, thus having the distinction of being the first woodystemmed plant to show flowers in this region. (In many areas, the Witch-Hazel, a related shrub species, may also show its strong-scented, more showy flowers at this time.) As Autumn progresses the Hazelnuts may display modestly attractive Fall colors. The shrubs are a desirable choice for ornamental use, both for appearance and for the nut crop. The tough and hardy shrubs are tolerant of climate extremes and relatively free of any pests or diseases. Happy gardening!

DANCING MANE describes himself as a rural-dwelling long-haired natureboy, a sensitive, gently satyr, intimately bound to Nature and the environment, and passionately dedicated gardener/landscaper/botanist who would welcome questions, comments, or communication from fellow faerie plant spiritsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially long-haired ones! Write c/o RFD. 10

€ fm i & $ ftttf* it£ £ i£

It was May, late in the growing season, as many would tell us, when we decided to rip up a big lawn and see what we could grow. We had little or no experience gardening. The garden took shape as a symbol of chaos, a circle with arrows going out in different directions. The project was conceived as, among other things, an experiment in transforming an environment - psychically as well as physically. It was also to be a springboard for various forms of subversive fun. The days around the initiation of the garden were a dizzying series of spontaneous unfolding events. The day before we were to till up the grass, Paul E. Morphous, Real Bacon, and UnruLEE dressed up and engaged people in surreal dialogues, playing toy accordions and saxophones, one of us toasting a martini with a vacuum cleaner in the other hand. It was surprising how many people seemed to not give a shit; we were three boys in outrageous drag. Perhaps they were in tune with the fun we were having and the noise we were making. We encouraged people to join us and turn their yards into gardens too, and they seemed enticed by the vision of bypassing the money system with free food orgies and rent strikes. That night we had a wonderful party. There was a ritual and naked dancing in the spot where the garden would be. There was a massage train and snuggling and a slumber party, and in the morning we went skinny dipping at Cedar Lake. Then we ran into our first obstacle: the place with the roto-tiller would not rent to us for some undefined arbitrary reason. It seems we were having too good a time, which made them suspicious. So we had to send a different person to get it the next day. With people fighting over turns with the roto-tiller, some of us in costume or just underwear, the redundancy of the task was taken right out —a good instance of turning work into pleasure! Later in the afternoon, one of us was arrested for retail theft of garden gloves, a ludicrous if unnerving experience. But after being bailed out, we continued to party intensely into the night, finishing off the roto-tilling at 4 AM with laughter. At dawn the roto-tiller was driven to a house out of town where another yard was tilled up. It’s amazing how well the garden grew for how little we maintained it, and pretty soon we had a lot of veggies which we were rather whimsical about harvesting. At one point the authorities started hassling us about our illegal compost pile and the live music, and once even threatening $500 fines on three of us for nudity in the yard. Our impulse to sprawling festivity was never broken, but there were discouraging periods. The small town was slow for the summer, and we were not inspired to do public interventions with free food. The formation of two other gardens was assisted, but other than a number of mostly-dumpstered produce feasts, no will to create self-sufficient autonomy emerged —at least not on any major, “oppositional” scale. Looking back critically, our limitations are obvious, but the experience still inspires. Perhaps if we had started earlier, been better prepared, and did a more sustained campaign of surreal propaganda a street theater to promote the project, it could have really taken off. The prospect of many gardens and different circles of people, hopefully multi-ethnic, participating in festal mutual aid and feasting still whets the appetite. So the project may well reincarnate. We may not have done everything we talked about doing, but we got a good taste of what sensuous collaborative camaraderie and dynamic fluidity can make happen. So to those who would say the problem was “lack of organization”, we say, “FUCK ORGANIZING! LET’S DANCE!" Gardeners Against the Work Ethic: anti-work experiments in self-sufficiency, creating a new way of life based on play and much playful subversion of all that gets in the way. The G.A.W.E. association is an ongoing process of creative defiance\ a collective breakout. It is us tearing up lawns and planting gardens in Carbondale, Illinois, and it is a schizo-analytical unraveling of social conditioning; collective collaboration for individual liberation; sharing juicy watermelons out of the dumpster, drifting and erotic stumbling all over each other at the mall. This project could branch off in many directions. Imagine a band of schizo-communitarian nomads setting up base outside a city and engaging in permaculture (edible landscaping), not just at their rural haven, but carving ever-wider into urban cracks, spawning an insurgent tradition of mutual aid for great free feasts ; free food orgies!; the heart of an ongoing contestation of the industrial economy and social space, encompassing a broad range of psychogeographic sabotage, agitation, alterations, experimental (mis)behavior, propaganda, provocation and pranks; all the energy and spontaneity of improvised music and dramatic performance, bridging out from the safety of the stage into an art of cultural subversion. It doesn’t come across that well, so we’ll spell it out: gardening is used as a metaphor here to show that not all creation is work. Certainly gardening can be work if you approach it that way; but discarding the notion of a “job,” with its monotonous specialization and hierarchical organization, suggests itself naturally in a garden. Gardening can even be a festive event with costumed planting parties and body painting with food at harvest time! And the same goes for bam raisings or making a fresco out of your NYC squat’s wall. The name G.A.W.E. (“Gowee!”) is an ironic use of bureaucratic-sounding language, which makes it possible for us to go door to door in suits lobbying for Wednesdays to be declared holidays. It’s also an understatement for what it seeks to encompass, namely, insurgent play and micro-revolutions through the liberation of polymorphous desire. You may already be a member of G.A.W.E. 11

T h is a r t i c l e i s d e d i c a t e d t o th e memory and s p i r i t s o f K evin S m ith , Chuck B a ie r , V i c t o r P h i l l i p s , M ich a el C a lle n , Jon G re e n b e rg , A ldyn McKean, Ton Cunningham and to a l l th o s e w hose s o u l s h a v e en g a g ed in th e s t r u g g l e f o r fre e d o m .

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" I t ' s a p la n e t o f r e s is tc u ic e . I t ' s a w h i r l i n g fla m e o f c h o ic e . A re you my co m ra d es in p e r s i s t e n c e ? I sw e a r t h e y ' l l know u s b y o u r v o i c e . Though we l a y down in d u s t y c o m e r s . We a r e r a g g e d a s a s c a r . And when we r e s t o u r e y e s s t a y o p en . We a r e a lw a y s o f f t o w a r. We a r e a lw a y s o f f t o w ar, my f r i e n d , a lw a y s o f f t o w ar. I t m akes me th in k o f t h i s my f r i e n d . . .W here can th e q u i e t be?" -F erro n

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I n t h e p a s t tw o w eeks i n my com m unity o f P a rk S lo p e , (o n e o t t h e m o st "g a y f r i e n d l y " n e ig h b o u r h o o d s o f New Y ork) o n e l e s b i a n was m u rd e re d , o n e r a p e d a n d o n e ro b b e d a t k n ife p o in t. One o f them was a n a c q u a i n t a n c e o f m in e . Two o f t h e n w e re on t h e same s o f t b a l l le a g u e . Now t r y i n g t o w r i t e a b o u t r a p e r s a n d m u r d e r e r s lim b I h a v e no m ore c o m p a s s io n a t th e ta b le ' g e n e ro s ity

p o l i t i c s f o r RFD I h a v e t o a d m it t h a t I w an t u s t o r i p t h e f u c k in g fro m lim b a n d h ang t h e i r f u c k in g b lo o d y c a r c a s e s fro m t h e t r e e s . le ft. I h a v e no m ore S ta rh a w k p e a c e f u l 't h e r e i s a p l a c e f o r you le ft. I w a n t t o s e e them d e a d .

H e re i n New Y ork, o n e o f t h e q u e e r c a p i t a l s o f t h e p l a n e t , t h e m ayor a n d t h e c i t y c o u n c i l a r e l e g i s l a t i n g a g a i n s t o u r s e x u a l m e e tin g p l a c e s . A id e d b y g a y - a s s i m i l a t i o n i s t , d o -g o o d e r 'AIDS e d u c a t o r s ' who a r e p r o v i d i n g them w ith l i s t s o f p l a c e s w h ere men m eet t o h a v e s e x , th e y a r e com ing i n w ith t h e i r p o l i c e a n d t h e i r u n d e r c o v e r i n v e s t i g a t o r s a n d u s i n g t h e i r p o w e rs a s 'h e a l t h ' a u t h o r i t i e s t o c l o s e down o u r c l u b s a n d b a c k ro o m s. SA

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H a v e n 't we b e e n h e r e b e f o r e ? How many r a i d s on b a r s d i d i t t a k e b e f o r e t h e q u e e n s a t S to n e w a ll s t a r t e d th r o w in g b r i c k s ? Why a r e we s t i l l n e g o t i a t i n g w ith th em , p l e a d i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o m a i n t a i n some v i s i b i l i t y (m inus a n y h i n t o f s e x u a l i t y ) w h ile t h e y s e t up a n d a r r e s t s e x w o r k e r s , rem ove t h e c u b i c l e d o o rs on o u r s e x s p a c e s , b a n i s h a d u l t b o o k s t o r e s t o i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s w h e re p a t r o n s may b e ro b b e d an d b e a t e n a n d g e n e r a l l y do e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e i r p o w er t o i n s u r e t h a t s e x u a l i t y (an d h o m o s e x u a lity i n p a r t i c u l a r ) i s b r a n d e d a s o f f e n s i v e , s i n f u l and re p u g n a n t. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS SAFE FOR US. And b e n o t m is ta k e n , t h e y do n o t w an t t o s e e u s t h r i v i n g .

HE A&B LQSIHG

TflJB WAR

Y our s e x u a l i t y i s s t i l l i l l e g a l i n h a l f o f t h e s e " U n ite d S t a t e s " . I n t h e o t h e r h a l f a n y p u b l i c show o f s e x u a l i t y w i l l c e r t a i n l y la n d you i n j a i l . The R ig h t i s o r g a n i z i n g e f f e c t i v e l y t o i n s u r e t h a t you n e v e r h a v e y o u r r i g h t s " e n s h r in e d " a s e q u a l t o t h e r i g h t s o f o th e rs . T h e re i s n o w h ere i n t h i s c o u n t r y w h ere y o u c a n m a rry y o u r spouse. I n a num ber o f s t a t e s t h e y h a v e b e g u n t a k i n g y o u r c h i l d r e n aw ay fro m y o u . In o th e r s th e y a r e g iv in g m u rd e re rs l i g h t e r s e n t e n c e s b e c a u s e t h e i r v i c t i m s w e re o n ly q u e e r s . B illio n s of d o lla r s in fro m p e o p le w it h AIDS. o f them s l a i n ) w i l l d i e u s w an d er a r o u n d , s h e l l r e s t o r e seme b a l a n c e t o

M e d ic a id c u t s w i l l rem ove v i t a l s e r v i c e s O ur h e r o e s a n d o u r f i g h t e r s ( a l r e a d y h a l f f a s t e r t h a n e v e r b e f o r e w h ile t h e r e s t o f sh o c k e d a n d f o r e v e r g r i e v i n g - t r y i n g t o o u r u n ti m e l y , d i s r u p t e d l i v e s .

I 'm s i c k o f g o in g t o d e m o n s t r a t i o n s t h a t a r e a s k in g f o r a c u r e . THERE WILL BE NO CURE fro m t h i s o r a n y o t h e r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . How many tim e s do we h a v e t o s a y i t ? L i s t e n t o L a r r y K ram er. If t h e r e was a f u c k in g c u r e you a n d y o u r f r i e n d s w o u ld p r o b a b ly n o t b e a b l e t o a f f o r d i t anyw ay. W e've g iv e n up on u n i v e r s a l h e a l t h c a r e , i . e . we h a v e s a i d y e s t o t h e f u c k in g b lo o d y i n s u r a n c e i n d u s t r y t h a t w a n ts t o lim it your access, t h a t w o n 't c o v e r e x p e r i m e n t a l t r e a t m e n t s , t h a t w o n 't c o v e r y o u r l o v e r , t h a t w a n ts t o s e d u c e A m e ric a w ith t h e pow er o f i t ' s m a t e r n i t y a n d p e d i a t r i c c a r e w h ile i t w a tc h e s e v e r y o n e e l s e d i e . 12

Lesbian Rights Now March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, April 1993

"Can no one s t o p o r a r r e s t i t ? why do n o t two o r t h r e e o r f i v e o r te n s ta n d to g e t h e r and s h o u t: Bnoughl and h e s h o t and a t l e a s t h a w g iv e n t h e i r l i v e s f o r th e id e a th a t we h a ve had enough? The o t h e r s o u t t h e r e a r e d y in g o n l y in o r d e r t h a t i t s h o u ld go on and on and on and t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld b e no en d t o d e s t r u c t i o n . Why i s th e r e no on e who w i l l n o t s ta n d i t a n y m ore, who r e f u s e s t o b e a r i t . . . Am I in e r r o r o r a r e th e r e n o t many who w ou ld c r y o u t? I f n o t , th e n I do n o t know h u m a n ity , and am n o t human and h a w n o th in g in common w ith h u m a n ity . " -R a in e r M aria R i l k e DID YOU HEAR ME WHEN I SAID ___ ONE LESBIAN DEAD ONE RAPED, ONE ROBBED AT KNIFEPO IN T... A v o i c e i n s i d e my h e a d i n c e s s a n t l y r e p e a t s : " I t c o u ld h a v e b e e n y o u . NO, i t s h o u ld h a v e b e e n you . . .

you h a v e do n e s o l i t t l e . "

THE PROBLEM WITH INSTITUTIONS,^,

Silence Still Equals Death, March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, April 1993

As a s e a s o n e d p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i s t , I 'm o f t e n p la g u e d w ith t h e f e e l i n g t h a t I no lo n g e r know w hat t o d o . A l l t o o o f t e n I 'm i r k e d b y t h e c e r t a i n t y w i t h w h ich p o l i t i c a l m ovem ents p r o c l a i m t h a t t h e y h a v e t h e " a n s w e rs " w h i l e , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d p e r s o n a l l y , I am f i n d i n g i t h a r d e r and h a r d e r t o a r t i c u l a t e th e is s u e s . U l t i m a t e l y I s e e o u r s t r u g g l e a s b e in g a b o u t em pow erm ent a n d f a r t o o o f t e n on a p o l i t i c a l l e v e l I s e e u s a s k in g t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s o f g o v e rn m e n t t o do t h e w o rk , t o do t h e l e g i s l a t i o n , t o do t h e r e s e a r c h . . . R e p e a te d ly , I f i n d t h a t t h e w ork I r e a l l y c a r e a b o u t i s n o t a b o u t t h e o l d i n s t i t u t i o n s o f g o v e rn m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n a t a l l . I t 's about p e o p le fin d in g th e ir p o w er, em pow ering o th e rs and p u b lic ly p r o c l a i m i n g t h a t em pow erm ent. I t ’ s a b o u t c r e a t i v i t y an d d e d i c a t i o n to our c o lle c tiv e , in d iv id u a l and p u b lic s e lv e s . I t 's about c r e a t i n g ( o r f i n d i n g ) a n d p r o m u lg a tin g a l t e r n a t i v e s . I s n ' t t h i s why we don d r e s s e s a n d m akeup a n d drum s a n d s i n g a n d d a n c e a n d show o u r sex in th e s t r e e t s in th e fa c e o f t h e i r l i e s and v io le n c e ? Our m a g ic i s t o p r o c la im o u r freedcxn fro m t h e t y r a n n y o f t h e i r g e n d e r re g u la tio n s , t o p r o c la im o u r fre e d o m fro m t h e g e n o c i d a l o p p r e s s i o n o f t h e i r r e l i g i o n s , t o p r o c la im o u r fre e d o m fro m t h e s l a v e r y o f t h e i r e c o n o m ic s a n d t h e i r b r u t a l a s s a u l t s on o u r p l a n e t . I s n 't th is why we g a t h e r a ro u n d t h e c a m p f ir e s a t n i g h t a n d t e l l o u r h i s t o r i e s a n d c r e a t e o u r c u l t u r e anew? We n e e d t o f i n d new w ays o f B e in g , a n d we a lw a y s n e e d t o b e IN THEIR FACES. How do we f o r g e new i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d c o m m u n itie s t h a t p r o t e c t a n d n u r tu r e u s? I n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t fe e d o u r c r e a tiv e i n s t i n c t s and e n c o u r a g e o u r h e a l i n g p o w ers a s w e ll a s p r o v i d i n g u s w ith t h e b a s i c n e c e s s itie s of l i f e . I n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t l e t u s l i v e i n dynam ic c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t h e norm s o f s o c i e t y . I d o n 't p r e t e n d t o h a v e t h e a n s w e r s , b u t I am i n t u i t i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n s .

ON BEING A FAGGOT WITCH.., " I t ' s n o t o n l y w hat y o u s e e t h a t w i l l l i g h t y o u r way. I t ' s n o t o n l y w hat you do t h a t w i l l save you. Seem s t o me o u r l i v e s a l l h a v e t h e i r own s w e e t s a y . Throw a la u g h f o r w hat l i f e g i v e s y o u . . . ha h a . " - F erron Y ear a f t e r y e a r i n b e i n g a w i t c h , y o u a r e c o n s t a n t l y w a tc h in g an d a s s i s t i n g o f th e w h e e l. I t a lw a y s seem s a b i t a b s u r d t o me t h a t , a f t e r t h e m ost c o m p le te y e a r - - t h e d e s c e n t o f H a llo w e e n , a f t e r a l l o f t h e lo o k in g a t t h e a s i f b y d i v i n e p r o v i d e n c e , com es t h e b i r t h o f t h e l i g h t . T h e re c e l e b r a t i n g th e t i n i e s t g lin m e r, th e s l i g h t e s t in d i c a t i o n t h a t th e f u l l k n o w le d g e t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e a s p r i n g .

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I d o n 't know, a n d h a v e s to p p e d t r y i n g t o f i g u r e o u t , w h e re we a r e on t h e p o l i t i c a l w h e e l. M e an w h ile , I c a s t a b o u t t h e t a t t e r s o f o u r l i v e s lo o k in g f o r t h e t i n i e s t g lim m e rs o f t h e l i g h t o f fre e d o m . When fo u n d , t h a t s a c r e d c h i l d w i l l b e n u r s e d i n t o t h e f u l l l i g h t o f s p rin g . I n a q u i e t m om ent, s i t t i n g on t h e b e a c h w ith my drum i n h a n d an a n c i e n t f e e l i n g o f w e l l b e in g s e i z e s me. I rem em ber t h a t som ew here we m u st u n c o v e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o t e n t i a l o f jo y . I n t h e m ad n ess o f t h e d a r k e s t n i g h t s we m u st c e l e b r a t e o u r l i b e r a t i o n . OM nam oh BHAGAVATK MUKTANANDAYA. I c a n n e v e r rem em ber w h e th e r t h a t i6 t h e "F reedom o f B l i s s " o r th e " B l i s s o f F re e d o m ". E i t h e r way, i t i s my m a n tr a . ^ 13

Reaching for Dialogue Hello Dean Bnothens, 1 haven't tend youn magazine in oven a yean and was quite encited to lind it at my local lookseUen since, I have xecently made steps towand { f i l l i n g a Ui&time, define to simpli^y my liê and move away {pom Lange cities and fettle down somewhere in the Southwest. Buying and leading RF0 has always held a special place in my heant an it represents my dneams o{, living at one with the ea/ith and (finding a man to shone thin Uptim e with - it in a t/iuly Sacred space and enallen me to shone my hopes and dneamn with othen gay men. The Spring issue wan wondenûl and again helped me to return to that space.Lot howeoen wondenûl it wan, I {&el the need to voice an objection and would like a response {/vom RFD an well an that o{, the {,eelings o{, othen men who may Le leading this. Moyle we could open up a dialogue an to the editorial guidelines penmitting the admittance o(, tent in a men's magazine. 11, I am connect, thenc wan a similan discussion played out in these pages alout the appnopniateness o{, women contnilutlng pieces to the magazine and the conclusion at that time seemed to le that it was inappropriate {p>r a gay men's publication.

E x c lu s io n â&#x20AC;˘

My e a r l i e s t e x p e r i e n c e w i t h an a l l g ay m a le s p a c e came i n 1 9 7 9 , when I w en t t o my f i r s t f a e r i e g a t h e r i n g a t R u n n in g W a te r farm in N o rth C a r o l i n a . I t w as t h i s tim e s p e n t i n a s e p a r a t i s t s p a c e w i t h n o t o n l y a l l men, b u t a l l g ay men, t h a t g a v e me an a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r why some wimmin w a n te d , e v e n dem anded s e p a r a t e s p a c e fro m men. The p e r s o n a l d y n a m ic c r e a t e d by t h i s a l l g ay m a le s p a c e w as v e r y s p e c i a l and c o n t r i b u t e d t o much o f t h e i n t e r p e r s o n a l g ro w th I and many o t h e r s w e n t t h r o u g h . U n t i l t h a t tim e I h a d q u e s t i o n e d why t h e r e w e re wimmin who w a n te d an a l l wimmin s p a c e . No men in t h e i r l i v e s . I t was in t h i s a l l g ay m a le s e p a r a t i s t s p a c e t h a t I d i s c o v e r e d how i m p o r t a n t i t i s t o h a v e some p l a c e in t h i s u n i v e r s e t h a t I c o u ld b e w i t h p e o p le who s h a r e d some v e r y b a s i c t h i n g s w i t h me - My M a le n e s s , My Q u e e r n e s s - w i t h o u t t h e d i s t r a c t i o n , t h e gam es an d t h e pow er d y n a m ic s a m ore i n c l u s i v e s p a c e w o u ld c r e a t e . The l e t t e r we r e c e i v e d from D o u g la s A lle n , r e p r i n t e d a b o v e , h a s g iv e n me r e a s o n once a g a in to e x p lo re th e is s u e of s e p a r a t e n e s s , e s p e c i a l l y a s i t r e l a t e s t o RFD, t h e m a g a z in e I h a v e b e e n s o c l o s e l y in v o l v e d w ith f o r many y e a r s . The f i r s t i s s u e i n w h ic h w ork by wimmin a p p e a r e d was # 1 6 , Summer 1 9 7 8 . The s u b j e c t o f t h e i s s u e was " f a g g o t s ' r e l a t i o n s h i p s w ith women", a q u o te fro m t h e s t a f f s t a t e m e n t in th a t is s u e . Two wimmin w e re f e a t u r e d on t h e c o v e r and we becam e "A J o u r n a l o f Gay C u l t u r e and L i b e r a t i o n " . In t h e n e x t i s s u e o f RFD t h e r e w e re s e v e r a l l e t t e r s t o t h e e d i t o r , b o t h p r o and c o n , a b o u t t h e s u b j e c t o f i s s u e # 1 6 . I s s u e s #18 and #19 d o n 't seem t o c o n t a i n an y r e f e r e n c e s t o is s u e #16.

The n e x t s i g n i f i c a n t in v o lv e m e n t of wimmin w ith RFD came w ith is s u e #35, " R o s e b u rg , F a g g o ts an d D y k e s" , w h ic h h ad th e f e a t u r e s e c t i o n p u t t o g e t h e r by a g ro u p o f gay men and l e s b i a n s fro m S o u th e r n O re g o n . Once a g a i n I n o te d t h a t in r e s p o n s e to' t h i s in v o lv e m e n t o f wimmin w i t h RFD, i s s u e #36 c o n t a i n e d tw o l e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o r com m enting on an a r t i c l e in #35 w r i t t e n by a woman t i t l e d " I , a s e p a r a t i s t " . T h e re w as a l s o o ne l e t t e r w h ic h com m ented on t h e c h a n g e fro m "A C o u n try j o u r n a l f o r Gay Men E v e ry w h e re " t o "A Gay C o u n try J o u r n a l f o r P e o p le E v e ry w h e re " . I c o u ld f i n d no o t h e r m e n tio n in t h e n e x t few i s s u e s o f t h e f a c t t h a t wimmin had become i n v o lv e d w i t h RFD. T h is l e a v e s me t o b e l i e v e t h a t m o st o f o u r r e a d e r s a t b o th o f t h o s e tim e s w e re n o t c o n c e r n e d w i t h wimmin c o n t r i b u t i n g to RFD. I a l s o b e l i e v e t h i s i s t h e c a s e t o d a y . F o r a l l i n t e n t s an d p u r p o s e s , RFD h as a lw a y s b e e n w r i t t e n f o r men by m en. O ver th e y e a r s 99% o f t h e i n p u t t o RFD an d th e p r o d u c t i o n o f RFD h a s b e e n d o n e by g ay men. I d o n 't b e l i e v e t h a t RFD h a s e v e r h ad a p o l i c y o f g a y men o n l y . T h a t i s j u s t t h e way t h i n g s tu rn e d o u t. I do n o t t h i n k t h a t i t i s now n e c e s s a r y f o r RFD t o make s u c h an e d i t o r i a l s t a t e m e n t w h ic h w o u ld e x c lu d e an y i n p u t fro m w im m in. I do b e l i e v e , h o w e v e r, t h a t i t i s in c u m b e n t upon t h e e d i t o r i a l an d p r o d u c t i o n s t a f f o f RFD to e x a m in e an y i n p u t we g e t from wimmin t o e n s u r e i t ' s r e l e v a n c e t o a j o u r n a l f o r g ay men. As a member o f th e S h o r t M o u n tain C o l l e c t i v e , w h ic h now p u b l i s h e s RFD, I w ould lo v e t o g e t some f e e d b a c k fro m y o u , o u r r e a d e r s on how you f e e l a b o u t t h i s i s s u e . Plum N e l l y 14

How do you feel? Since / do considex RFD a oexy footed and saê space i gay men to come togethex and {find stxength, I was com pletely supxised and offended to {find in the pexsonal ads an adiêxtisement {fXom a hetexose-xual u/oman seeking gay ox U -sexual men to le hex lovex/{,xiend. 1 {^lt com pletely violated ly hex lettexs pxesence and thought it had no place leing in this men's magazine "{ôx gay men eoexywhexe". It was as H, a woman had walked into the men's lockex l o o m , past all the naked men and continued xight into the steam xoom without any considexation o{, the makeup and loading oi, the men who have come togethex in this space to shaxe theix manliness, theix gayness, and the jouXneyS o i theix lives in a nuxtuxing space. 1 {jell letxayed and wondex why it is so dd£icu lt {/>x us as gay men to le lie o e that we axe woxthy o{, sacxed spaces that axe {,ox gay men and only gay men. Sincexely, Douglas Allen

The locker room metaphor in this letter is on the mark, I think. I applaud and encourage women who push their way into locker rooms and other traditional exclusively male enclaves. I reject the sanctity of all-male space, or all white space or all straight space for that matter. Men have always created spaces from which women were excluded, and whether you call it a fraternity or a locker room or a bachelor's party or a faerie gathering, it's men people with more power and privilege — saying to women — people with less power and privilege — this is another opportunity closed off to you. It's a whole different context when women say it to men, queers to straights, blacks to whites. RFD has for seme time been "a country journal for gay men everywhere." Do articles or contact letters from women readers make the magazine less suitable for gay men? My vision for the future of RFD, of Short Mountain, of the faeries, of the queer liberation movement, of the world, is for women and men to come together more. Every aspect of my life is enhanced by the presence of women. That's why I'm glad we've had women contributing more to the magazine, and that we're experimenting with a more inclusive description this issue - "a country journal for queer folk." L e t ’s recognize our women readers and encourage more. Inclusivity does not have to be about letting down our current readers.

Dear completely violated, RFD is most certainly a gay men's magazine; however, I personally feel safe to be inclusive of women's input, and not particularly menaced by it. The fact of the matter is, this is a patriarchal, racist, and straight society we're presently living in. There are always safe spaces for men to come together if they choose. Feeling secure in my preferred sexuality and spirituality, the presence of a woman’ s contact letter in RFD is not bothersome to me. Your analogy of the locker room was a poor one. RFD is a magazine, and a reader written one at that. It's not your home or a temple or any sacred space you choose to project. When I do think of being violated, rape and robbery come to mind. Jombi

Sandorfag

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Rooting for Diversity 15

to destroy politics.. by eelboy Politics is the name given to a set of relationships^ framework of social roles which mediatesbetween the dominating and the dominated. The political machine manufactures its own means of legitimation on social, economic, and individual levels, reproducing unquestionably the collective consent of society in order to ensure its survival and omniscience. The dynamics of power and authority remain ingrained in most human relationships (parent-child, boss-employee, governor-governed), but widespread misery within all realms of experience have begun to unveil the unbelievable logic of the State and the oppressive hierarchy which constitutes its authority. ALL political ideologies derive their meaning and rhetoric from the understanding and implementation of power and

control: someone is always in charge, and the subject must always obey

(for their own good, of course),or suffer the consequences. Work and the political arena which necessitates it steals everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time, energy, and creativity; whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of it is spent through various degrees of involvement with technology, while human touch and direct interaction with nature have been relegated to a few inhibiting social relationships and environments. Politics seeks to displace us from our bodies, to contort our true desires and re configure them in order to provide for more consumer activity and production, realms which the political machine (partially) controls. Operating under this assumption, any attempt to destroy politics must begin with the body, the physical worlds which immediately define our lived experience. Sex seems the most obvious means of attainment, but yoga, gardening, nutrition and ritual provide other possible liberatory routes which could be used to flee the strangleÂ hold of political power. Primitive societies (i.e. societies without a state) may provide examples of how the decentralization of powercan be adapted to everyday life through collective interaction and experimentation. Destroying politics means replacing monotony and habitualized social/political roles with free, unrestricted play and experimental activity. Disconnecting oneself from the dominant culture and its inherent hierarchical relationships provides the needed psychogeographical space intensified exploration of uncovered desires. These spaces arise from collective exuberance and liberatory yearnings, spontaneously restructuring a particular event or activity into some type of celebratory experience, one which necessarily occurs outside of the political machine and mass (un)consciousness. The body becomes a playground for erotic experiences, a landscape to traverse and re-discover the forgotten pleasures of childhood, a desert within which to wander.

Politics & Poly Tricks: From Confrontation to Community A rant bi Sunfrog

When the editors of the new RFD featuring “Politics" invited me to contribute, my first thought was “Politics? 1 hate politics. I hate politicians A loathe the interpersonal political crap which divides A destroys our attempts at fostering radical community." I hate politics but know in my body why we need to be political. I hate collectives but experience in my flesh the profound need for genuine community. A brief disclaimer I am not writing this to beg for tepid reform or agitate for cataclysmic upheaval of the status quo. I don’t ask anyone to vote, write their congressperson or storm the white house as part of pissed off queer militia. All traditional liberal A leftist tactics admittedly have their place among a panoply of paths toward change. 1 merely find these methods to be boring or defeatist or both. I am writing this for other radical faeries, irreverent queens, homocore punks, anarchist perverts A pan sexual pranksters (add yr provocative moniker of choice here). From discontent to desire, we dance this radical dance together. After a decade of activist life deep in the vortex of ostensibly radical projects, i have learned that a wellspring of righteous militant anger can never create revolutionary possibility without greater doses of love A enthusiasm. It is possible to be motivated by pleasure & passion yet remain critically engaged with the “real" world. We may confront the cultures of civilization, the forces of power, the engines of oppression & the turbines of totalitarianism without being sucked in by the system’s psychic violence, the choice for the inspired insurrectionist is not between para-military punk-as-fuck class warfare A quasi religious new age hippydippy lifestylism. A sensitive, organic A profoundly anarchistic “third path” of ecstasy A resistance exists, where we draw strength from both the pacifist A the warrior traditions. A unique theater of autonomous change is not only available, it is alive, coherent A constantly becoming itself in the cracks, crevices A clefts of the concrete world. We’ve seen it at faerie gatherings or at any “demonstration” where puppetry, parody, drag A dance challenge A transcend the archaic context of' protest-as1 usual.

the grid A off the map of spectacular televisuaJized amnesia. After years as an urban activist, the alienation of the city has taken its toll. This is what we are moving towards: atavistic rcwilding, an anarcbo hillbilly intellectual bumpkinism, Thoreau meets Lame Deer meets poly sexual faerie farm punk queer. I once imagined the wild emerging in the concrete jungle as well as in the green living earth but t now see more & more what passes for “wild" in the city as a destructive reaction to a dysfunctional society, fueled not by primal spirits but by the inhumanity of our postmodern predicament To become truly wild A free demands a certain patience A serenity in nature which the dense barricades of an urban prison can never foster. This is not to say that authentic radical projects cannot flourish in the inner cities, but that the urban quagmire of endless wage work A commodity consumption may offer inadequate intellectual A spiritual fuel to sustain a lively blooming culture of autonomy A resistance. I hate collectives for all the selfimposed bureaucracy A hair-splitting, arguments A factionalism but i need community for the sustenance of enthusiasm A encouragement, the delicious antithesis to abandonment A isolation. Why do we often dish our fellow communards as if they were our most vile enemies? Living communally intensifies memories of our imperfect socialization in straight capitalist society but we need to leam to air our conflicts honestly, openly, intelligently. Reserve backstabbing gossip for your boss at your corporate job. Of course, some people are not meant to live together in community. Finding a common vision A goal to sustain us aids in enhancing tolerance A love among divergent personalities.

Asensitive,organic& P^^^Kwhe^we draw g £ £ SSfh^pacmst & thewarriortradit.cn,

Many radicals of the late-twentieth century have retreated from the cities to create communes A villages with a radical voice in the wild. Not every country recluse is a born-again redneck yahoo—relatively self-sufficient autonomous zones exist everywhere A nowhere, off

What will this new world be when we co-create beyond the endless dichotomies of us/them, me/you, good/bad in the context of an extended tribe of transgressive treats where our juices flow not only in amorous body-centered fun but in the eroticization of housework, gardening, communal art, writing A performance, as well as lavish culinary feasts? Everyday a holiday, attractive procies labors merging indiscriminately with aimless preposterous leisure. An ongoing potlatch where gifts are constantly given not from guilt or obligation but from the desire to give. When we consciously create

community that infuses the individual in the whole, what, if any, limit can prevent us from realizing the pinnacles & pleasures of our nature?

Queer V i s i b i l i t y in the Country

by Sandorfag

We are everywhere. This slogan is one of our queer articles of faith. Any town, no matter how small, any family, any school, any church, has homosexuals. But in our families and small towns we generally feel isolated as queers, so we go to the cities to be out. RFD is about the queer folks who have chosen to be in the country or want to be. The basic question I pose is: How can we create lesbian and gay visibility in small towns and rural areas?

Our reasons for this are simple and have to do with survival. We assume that most of the people in our Church-ofChrist-dominated area do not approve of homosexuality and if forced to confront our homosexuality might respond with physical violence or some more subtle form of harassment. The hatred of homosexuals in the culture around us makes us fearful of being too visible as queers. In our small town, we have no anonymity to hide behind.

A shopkeeper in a small town near us is gay. He does not consider himself closeted. Indeed, he comes and visits us periodically at Short Mountain, and he hangs out with gays in Nashville, the nearest big city. But in his hometown he doesn't bring it up. His objective is to render his homosexuality invisible.

Of course we do stand out in town. But there is a certain amount of mystique around us, and our otherness is so stark that I think most people view us as aliens. My sense is that all our categories of otherness - Yankee, Hippie, Jew, Foreigner, Freak, Queer - tend to get collapsed into OUTSIDER. I have frequently been assumed to be part of a musical act or from another country (I am neither). One Friday night as I pumped gas into my car, a local kid was heard to observe, "I don't know what it is, but there it is."

A recent notice for a faerie gathering in upstate New York caught my eye. Amongst the playful and fae words and images on the flier, a reminder: "Please remember that we have to live in this community after the gathering and be appropriately discreet." The hosts are vulnerable as gays living in a rural area. Evidently they feel that to be accepted in their community they must be somewhat invisible as gays. And to be a considerate guest is to participate in their invisibility.

Twice a year we hold gatherings here which draw 150250 queer friends. At our most recent gathering a couple of men went into town in dresses. Their destination was a local thrift shop, where we all buy lots of drag at bargain prices. The woman who owns the store would not let them enter in dresses. One of the men responded by threatening to sue her for discrimination.

The situation here at Short Mountain is not altogether different. Although Short Mountain is known around the United States and around the world as a queer community which publishes a queer magazine, RFD, we like to remain somewhat invisible locally.

When the two men returned to Short Mountain and recounted this story, some of the folks who live here were horrified that our guests had gone into town in drag in the first place, even more upset that they had threatened legal action, and wanted to go apologize to this shopkeeper on behalf of the community.

Not that we lie and tell people we’re straight, or anything like that. We are generally as open as people seem receptive. Some of our neighbors have become close friends. The proprietors of our favorite produce stand, Andy and Judy, have visited the sanctuary and broached many taboo topics sexuality, religion and politics - with us.

This made me angry. We flaunt our outrageousness when we go into the city, when we stop at highway rest stops, when we stop at random yard sales. It is part of our in-yourface, out-loud-and-proud ethic. We view it almost as missionary work, blowing people's minds, exposing them to bold new horizons of human experience and gender fucking. Are we only brave enough to do it under conditions of anonymity? Strangely enough, the town nearest to us is the final frontier.

But for a group that likes to stand out in a crowd and bask in the attention we are quite capable of capturing, we collectively participate in a largely unspoken effort to tone down and fit in in the towns closest to us. Our approach, and the approach of most local folks, seems be along the lines of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."

England My England how came I deserted you without hardly a thought when one day I found myself in the woods playing with 300 others who seemed to have created a life based on some truth deeper than hurling bricks at the shiny car bodies shiny flight jackets shiny Doc Martins and the shady smiles of shiny skinheads. A brick in defiance of your selfishness and fear, manipulation and brutal inhumanity, me a ragamuffin in defiance of your shiny coins who screamed and railed and cried inside as stupefied I watched the fascist skins being given police protection and escorted away from tne anti-fascists who had come with their fear and their anger and who were now fighting the police, who were stirring-up as much trouble as heal it and there has to be a better way. 1 tried to believe in spirit but I also felt spirit being worn down. First they came for the Miners... then slowly by factionalizing, silencing and then demonizing any half-way motivated, critical, creators of difference and radicalism they came to be able to finally criminalize whole sections of society. In England last year, the latest in a series of “Criminal Justice Bills" was put into law. These laws, implemented during the course of the fifteen year Conservative hold on Parliament, have been a big part of the slow erosion of citizens’ rights in the country. I’m not there. I don’t know how this is affecting my friends’ lives, what practical resistance has been effective, how power has been further taken away from the grass roots, but I hear the right to remain silent is gone... that silence can be taken as an admission of guilt, and that squatting and trespass — once civil offenses requiring court procedure — are now crimes risking instant arrest 18

i feel like we are becoming bolder over time. Not because of any calculation that the potential risks have reduced in any way. Some ambitious church-of-christ minister or candidate for sheriff could certainly arouse the citizenry and create an issue out of us.

I personally like being vtsible. I like betng out to people before I ever meet them. I like to be a magnet for other queers, so they and I know we are not alone. I feel powerful when I am out. I feel vulnerable when I try to be invisible. My major experiences of being attacked for being gay involved people threatening my invisibility. The louder I can be about being a homo, the safer I feel

But we are stronger and bolder because our community is rapidly growing. With the creation of IDA and its growth, and the increasing numbers of neighbors moving to the area to be part of the extended community, and the growing number of frequent visitors for whom this has become a second home, there is less fear and frankly less possibility of controlling our

I have dwelled on the situation in our unique community because it is my home and the case I am most familiar with. The women of Camp Sister Spirit, interviewed elsewhere in this RFD, provide a very different example Some might see their story as justifying fears of being too visible, drawing the conclusion that they were attacked because they were too visible. But their high visibility was thrust upon them when they were attacked for being lesbians, and arguably has enabled them to survive the storm of local opposition to their presence. Being attacked is a possibility when you’re queer anywhere, no less so and probably more so in Greenwich Village or the Castro than in any small town. It is possible if you are completely isolated and it is possible if you are part of a thriving queer community. Being visible as queer might make you an easier target to identify but it also makes you a far scarier target to reckon with. I have a fantasy of organizing a gays and lesbians and their friends parade or picnic in Woodbury, Tennessee. Just a celebratory social event for us to unambiguously proclaim ourselves to all and make ourselves visible. Who knows where a little organizing could lead. After a couple of years maybe we could scream and chant a little to demand that the town fathers adopt a lesbian and gay anti-discrimination clause. Then maybe we would run an out dyke candidate for sheriff.

B E C O M E V IS IB L E IN T H E P A G E S O F

For now, frankly, I feel too vulnerable to be so bold as to even apply for a permit for a lesgay picnic in the municipal park. I also discovered the other day that I am afraid to go alone into town with my Sodomy t-shirt on. But I think that as a community, and beyond community as a movement, we must encourage and inspire and continually challenge ourselves and one another to be ever more visible as queers.

RFD

We regularly receive letters from city dwellers who are preparing for or fantasizing about moving to the country, and they often seek infortmation about die unknown risks and challenges that come with such a transition. If you are living in a rural setting, whether ifs a 3-acre lot on the outskirts of town or 100+ acres of wilderness, you have information and inspiration that can aid beginners. Consider presenting your private spread as a feature spread in RFD. Tell us about your homesteading experience -- what prompted your move (or were you bom to country life?) and how you made the transition. What were some of the unexpected problems you confronted? Did you build your own house or rehab an existing structure? What have you learned about digging a well, running a fence or tending animals? Do you garden or farm, and how do you make your living? In short, describe your land and your life on it, sharing some of the joys and tribulations you’ve experienced. If at all possible, include a few pictures (the higher the contrast the better) showing thepractical and natural beauty of your special place. Deadline for submissions to our Spring Homesteading issue is January 15, 1996, and we plan to continue regular homesteading features in the future. So let’s hear from y’alL

It would be exciting to hear from past, present and future rural dwellers about experiences and ideas related to this theme. How does queer visibility function in your life and community ?Can you share stories of taking a risk, of being acknowledged, of overcoming fears, of opening people's eyes and minds? RFD offers a forum for inspiring and challenging one another to new heights of visibility in the country. Many of our readers live quite isolated invisible lives in remote rural places. Others stay in cities, though they dream of country living, precisely for fear of isolation and invisibility. Doesn't RFD represent a dream somewhere over the rainbow stretching between these two worlds? Can queers build a movement beyond the gay ghettos? I don't have any answers, just some questions.

Protecting the property owners, protecting the upper-class and aspiring middle-class’ hunts and champagne parties, halting highway protests as conservative-supporting road construction companies plough through the mythic English countryside (ever hear the one about the 550 year old chestnut that got in the way of the newest motorway out of London?) Crushing any manifestation of practical alternatives to oppressive work a day drudgery, unemployed misery, mortgaged-up-to-the-hilt poverty. More than six people meeting in a public place is now criminal. Six people. It is criminal even to ORGANIZE six people to meet in a public place (without a license — license that is issued by...guess who...your friend and mine Mr. Police Officer.) And baby if you wanna dance, freein’ your body as your head gets tranced out in the acid rave pumping up the energy in the name of anarchy at warehouse parties or in the fields don’t ever let the neighbours know you’re there because “playing amplified music with repetitive beats” will end you up in the slammer recovering from your societal grievance. England is your spirit strong enough for this to be the work of a fearful government about to be ousted by a dissatisfied populace? Or have you been duped again into blind obedience, fearful for the loss of your stoic normalcy, hurting for the peace of green and pleasant fields given over to shopping malls and by-passes that have divided and fostered discord in, until recently, close communities? And do you silently yield to the next move towards a Police Stat? where there ain’t no rockin’ and there ain’t no fun? I don’t know, I’m not there. Andrew 19

C a m p S is te r S p ir it h a s r e c e iv e d g l o b a l a t t e n t i o n f o r th e th r e a ts a n d h a r a s s m e n t th e y h a v e e n d u r e d in th e ir f i r s t f e w y e a r s a s a f e m i n i s t c o m m u n ity in M i s s i s s i p p i. R F D in te r v ie iv e d B ren d a H e n so n in July, s h o r t l y a f t e r J u d g e M c K e n z i e d i s m i s s e d a " n u is a n c e " l a w s u i t a g a i n s t C a m p S i s t e r S p i r i t . T h e l a w s u i t w a s b r o u g h t b y an o r g a m z a to n c a lle d M i s s i s s i p p i f o r F a m ily V alu es, a n d c la im e d th a t C a m p S is te r S p ir it w a s b r in g in g tr a ffic a n d n o is e t h a t w e r e a "nui sa n c e " to th e ru r a l a re a . C a m p S is te r S p ir it c o n tin u e s to d e v e lo p th e ir le s b ia n run f o l k sc h o o l, a n d th e y s t i l l n e e d f u n d s to h e lp p a y f o r e x p e n s e s in c u rre d b y th e l a w s u i t . To h e lp , c a ll (601) 344-1411 o r w r ite : C a m p S is te r S p ir it, P .O . B o x 12, O v e t t , M S , 39464.

I've heard that some gays and lesbians in the region say that you brought on your problems because you were too visible.

We don't have a lot of support from people in the South. When we opened a bookstore in Gulfport [in 1987], gay people told us we shouldn't use purple paint on the bookstore. "You're gonna get hurt and that will affect us." Our fear of being out keeps us in the closet and prevents us from asking for what we need. There is a lot more support than you might think. You don't know what you'll get until you ask for it. What is the history of Camp Sister Spirit, and what are some o f your cur rent projects?

We had gotten a small grant from Lesbian Natural Resources, which is a small organization which gives lesbians money to buy land and become self-sufficient on the land. So, they gave us our initial downpayment on the property. Our goal was to teach people how to do greenhouse work, pottery, how to build along with learning nonoppressive lifeways as you go. Wanda and I are both working on our doctorate degrees in adult education and we've had to withdraw from school in the height of all this mess, but our intention is to go back. Our intention, with this property being only twenty minutes from the university, is also to work very closely with the university, offer programs out here, not just with the lesbians and gay men but for students that want the knowledge. We're planning this fall to do discussion groups with women's studies, political science students and anybody else who wants to come for potluck discussion groups. That is the goal. To just let people see what there is out there that they don't have access to because of the state censorship, because of the restricted education that you get even at a college level. We're thinking of having a gay and lesbian studies course in January and jffering it from here.

Sisters We now' have over 60 people in our food program, who happen to all be straight people to my knowledge. We started our food bank because someone came to us and said there were five old women living at this apartment complex and because of Reagan's cutbacks were now choosing between food and medicine. Many of them tell horror stories of what's happening with them at the welfare office, how they have to jump through these hoops. Most of these people are illiterate: they don't know how to fight the system. We're thinking of seeing if we can start a coalition where we can speak as a group.

How has the support been from the gay and lesbian com m unity ?

More and more I'm hearing from lesbians across the country. In the beginning of this, it was gay men who responded immediately. And without a lot of questions, without a blame the victim attitude. Just little notes attached to the checks that said "give 'em hell". It was that kind of an immediate response we were not prepared for be cause it has not been our experience working in the South with gay men that they've been really responsive to the needs of lesbians. And not supportive. Like our bookstore. The guys in our neigh borhood and the community there were not suppportive of the book store, andT kept gay men's literature and offered to order anything they wanted. In fact, we had R FD there. I finally just gave up with guys on the coast. When the letters began to come, and after we appeared on some of the talk shows, the letters we received were mostly from gay men. Why do you think that was?

I don't know. We've talked about this and talked about this. And there's been some separatist dykes that have been here that have helped answer the letters that just sat there in tears, because it was like "look at this, look at these men. Look at this loving, caring kind of response." It was not something that they'd experienced before. And they went away with a new feeling, a new attitude towards their brothers. I think part of it is that women take a long time to make decisions about what they're going to support. They're not as impulsive as I think guys are. But the guys saw a fight. They saw that we were under attack. They saw that we were willing to be out there and go on t.v. and defend the gay and lesbian community and there was immediate support. Noxv you're saying that you're hearing from more women.

W anda H enson at ( 'a m p Sister Spirit

We've been speaking on college campuses all across the nation. And I think now that we've been able to go and tell our story and let people see what really happened, how it all started and just how it can happen to anybody. There were three of us on this land when this all began. We intended for this proect to take five or six years to the level that it's at right now. We had no intentions of doing what happened. But they stole our newsletter out of our mailbox. And it said things like"lesbian vision". It was just a simple news20

in Spirit and Action letter that would not have caused an alarm in anybody but a bunch of damn Southern Baptists. They held a town meeting where they got up and said we were of the devil, here to take their children. How did this turn into a national story?

be dead by morning." And when I went out to fill out a warrant on him they told me that there is a new charge in Mississppi making threats on the phone a felony. But they would not allow me to file felony charges because he's a mental patient. And he threatened to kill us. But they wouldn't listen to that. When it came to court he paid a $149 fine and that was the end of it.

When this first happened we called Suzanne Pharr, a Southern activist, and she called Robert Bray with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Robert Bray called me on the phone and asked me "Do you want to go national with this? I can put this out on the computer and we can get some support for you." I said no, that we wanted to try and fix it ourselves. So Wanda and I wrote a letter [to the local community] of de fense about Sister Spirit. They ignored the letter. I sent copies of it to National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Southern Pov erty Law Center—who, by the way, hasn't done shit—and sent it to the sheriff of this county, to the county administrator, to the preacher at that time who was calling himself the leader of this pact. In this letter we asked them to please stop this town meet ing that was planned—that it was un-American, that it smacked of Klan mentality, and that these good leaders of the commu nity had the power to stop it. When they did have the town meeting, two of our state representatives were there, and one of them said he was going to look into ways to have Wanda and I arrested for cohabitation or under the sodomy law. There was talk of having us institutionalized. This was the scariest thing I had ever experienced in my life. We had friends go in high drag to the meeting to hear what they were saying about us, and they called us afterwards and begged us to leave the land. Some guys were talking outside-about how it was time to get out the white sheets. She heard them talking about how they'd made mistakes thirty years ago, referring to the passage of the civil rights laws. We went on a local t.v. show to explain who we were and what we were about. Those were two desperate at tempts on our part to get the word out that we were not who they thought we were, that this is who we really are. They failed. The day after that town meeting happened I called Robert Bray and said "pull out all the stops or they're gonna kill us." And Robert Bray did. And immediately the Oprah thing happened, the 20/20 show, the Jerry Springer show. Newspapers and maga zines all over the world wanted to cover this story. And that's what kept us alive. What bothers me is that people have perpetuated the blame the victim attitude across the south, and they don't know the story. But as we've travelled across the country and speak, people get to hear that it Was never our intention to be public figures. We were.thrust into that place to save our lives. Silence has never protected anybody. Do you get crank calls regularly?

We have caller I.D. and l announced that several times on t.v., because we did catch a guy who said "you motherfucHers will

The first bam... now it is the stage bam!

So, ncnv that it has been afciv years ofharrasment, has it eased at all? It certainly has because the sky did not fall. Everything that every gay and lesbian person had done on the face of the earth we got accused of. And they were saying that's what we were going to do. They chose to listen to these fire and brimstone Southern Baptist idiots who were saying that we were not only going to bum in hell but take them with us. So, they've got this attitude that it's their job< to protect their community, and the only way they can do that is to get rid of us. I must say that is a small group, maybe 25 ardent supporters of this Mississippi For Family Values might still exist. Their support has dwindled tremendously. With over 60 people coming for food, you know they're talking when they go back. Just recently two of the guys that had been on the lawsuit against us spoke out in the paper for us, and they thought that people were just old and set in their ways. So, we've had some surprises. And I have much more of a sense of belonging to the community. What do you think about separatism?

My experience of many of the men we've worked with in the past was not a positive one. I think there is really an important need for affinity spaces. There is a country dyke magazine called M aize. It certainly is about women. I think that if we don't learn how to work together, then we'll never leam to be a team. This has cer tainly taught me a lot about being a part of a family. We'll still have women's festivals; I hope one day we can have a men and women's festival. w 21

Theory and Practice for Political Faggots by Jerry the Faerie

nature as being separate from our own psyches, and that we are a separate people with unique traits which offer the world a desperately needed alternative to the competitive objectification and exploitation of people and the world around us as found in mainstream heterosexual patriarchy, capitalism and imperialism. Identity politics assumes faggots have an innate identity which has survived despite relentless heterosexual cultural conditioning. Furthermore our individual struggles to survive and transcend the societally imposed closeting of our true identities has given most of us superb act-ing skills and more importantly has given us the ability to see through heterosexual cultural role playing since many of us had to become adept at mastering such role playing to escape physical and psycho-logical violence and survive in a hostile mainstream world. The reclaiming of a faggot identity from the historical and cultural invisibility im-posed on us by mainstream culture enables us to recognize ourselves as an oppressed minority with our own history, culture and political identity. This realization is im-possible unless one can see through the erroneous sophistry of social construction-ism. Once we recognize ourselves as having an identity as an oppressed minority we can then begin to foige coalitions with other oppressed minorities on a grassroots level and begin to create social and political change.

A debate has been raging across gay academia between identity politics and the social constructionists. Social construction-ists like Michel Focault, Steven Sidwell and others believe homosexuals do not really exist except as constructions of our culture. They quote Freud’s theory that we are all “polymorphously perverse,” that is, all humans are bom the same, ready to respond sexually to any stimuli from either the opposite or same sex and that we learn through our conditioning and experiences to respond sexually in ways which our culture then labels as homosexual, hetero-sexual or bisexual. According to social constructionists there are no differences between anyone’s sexuality, heterosexuals as well as homo-sexuals exist only as cultural constructs, their differences are only learned behavior and if free of cultural conditioning everyone would be bisexual. Identity politics as espoused by Harry Hay, Will Roscoe and others, assumes that there are basic inborn differences between homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals which transcend cultural and psychological conditioning. The Radical Faeries are of course rooted in identity politics. Many of us say even as small children we felt we were different from other little boys, that we felt an urge to cooperate rather than compete, that we had a certain perception or window on the world of seeing ourselves in other people and in nature rather than seeing people and

iff* l i i i

If we all wait for the revolution before we feel liberated w e’ll have a long, oppressed and fruitless wait. Revolutions have come and gone, merely shaking up the system for a while before a new elite takes the power that the people fought for, may be with a new language, new definition and new agenda but in the end with no greater freedom for the average man. And, unlike time in history, all parts of the world have now been mapped and claimed as territory — so there is no safe haven for those choosing to run from this oppressive society. How in this world are we ever to find our true liberated humanity when there is no place to play? Hakim Bey proposes and explores the idea of Temporary Autonomous Zones, a concept that is slowly taking a hold in the imagination of today’s disenfranchised upstarts and free thinking and living people. Beginning with the concept of poetic terrorism — petty playing with the system and the sheep-like parts of our own and others’ minds — working through some thought-provoking instructions and debates for anyone feeling the need to explore personal anarchism, and culminating in how we may create autonomy within the fabric of society. This relies on some quick thinking, spontaneous action andhoping that the eyes of Ih e man’ has so much to look at have to miss our subversive efforts to change minds, create mild havoc and nave a good time. Issues touched on include Art

The key to creating political change is to work from the grassroots, from the bottom up, to find the cracks in the Democratic/Re-publican monolith. We would do well to learn from our enemies the KKKristian Wrong with their grassroots organizing. They run candidates for races they can win such as local school boards, county commis sioners, etc., as opposed to higher offices such as Senators or Governors. Let us examine briefly the progressive political scene in America. The Green party is the best example of a party built on the coalition of feminists, environmental-ists, gays and other progressive communi-ties. In California the Greens ran only three candidates in the November *94 election in which the Republicans swept the country. The Green Party ran candidates on the California ballot for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Senator. In the Governor’s race, gays and other progressives were desperately trying to stop Republican homo-phobe Pete Wilson’s re-election to a second term. In the Senate race, we were similarly trying to stop Republican ultra-nght winger Michael Huffington. Intelligent progress-ives were forced to vote Democrat in both races. Huffington was defeated, Wilson was re-elected. I voted for the Green candidate for Lieutenant Governor, the Democrat Mike Curb won that race. The Greens had no chance of winning any of the three offices they ran candidates for in that election. Why didn’t they run anyone for Cali-fomia State Assembly or State Senate, for local county commissioners, school board, County Controller, Treasurer, or one of the many grassroots offices where they actually stood a chance of winning an election? The KKKristian Wrongs did, often with “stealth candidates” who did not reveal their right wing affiliations during the election. Many local California school boards were infil-trated by these candidates who later took gay positive and sex and AIDS educational materials out of the curricula. What should we do now? First, build coalitions with other progressives and oppressed minorities. This means first establishing a strong cultural and political identity as gays and lesbians and recogniz-ing that the nature of each minority’s iden-tity and oppression are different. Racism is not the same as homophobia or sexism or classism. But each of these oppressions have elements in common and each op-pressed community, while having political and cultural differences, also has certain common goals in working together to overcome their various types of oppression. I state the above in an atmosphere of rivalry between minorities for crumbs thrown to us by the mainstream power structure, where on one side certain naive activists maintain there are no political or cultural differences between various minority communities, (similar to social constructionists who say there are no differences between homosexuals, bisexuals and heterosexuals), while other activists argue endlessly over whose oppression is “worse,” whether poor African-Americans are more oppressed than middle class white homosexuals, etc. Here in San Francisco a rift remains between communities of people of color and the gay community_____ 00 CD

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(which of course m-cludes many people of color) over appoint-ments to head the Health department and another battle regarding the Human Rights Commission. In the upcoming mayor’s race a Lesbian candidate will split the progressive vote with an African-American and a straight woman candidate. No one from any of these communities seems willing to discuss specific issues on which all sides can agree to support one progres-sive candidate on the basis of creating real change, so that the S.F. mayoral race seems ready to disintegrate into the usual hyper-bole and rhetoric leaving the conservative Mayor Jordan in a strong position to win re-election against three or four progressive opponents. Faggots, in order to work for progressive political change against oppression, must: 1. Create and maintain a strong cultural and political identity which honestly recog-nizes differences between our community and other politically oppressed minorities while seeking to find goals in common in the fight against the forms of oppression faced by various oppressed minorities. 2. Unite with otherminorities in backing candidates who wall push for issues reach-ed by consensus with other oppressed communities and run those candidates for grassroots offices where they have a reason-able chance of winning an election. (Such a model is provided by Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, albeit with Jackson running for Congress or another office in which he has a much better chance of winning as opposed to the presidency. 3. The personal is political. Set an example in your personal life about what a strong proud Faggot should be and Blessed Bel vft? j

OCNJ

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Sabotage, wild children, pyrotechnics pornography, crime, paganism and advertisements, as wen as special communiques on ‘Anarcho-monarchism and Anarcho-mysticism’, ‘Chaos theory and the nudear family’ ‘Post-anarchy Anarchism’ and many more. The writing style varies from quick concise rants, poetic fantasy (however much lfd truly love to believe he Is reporting a possible reality) to Intricately dissected social analysis. At first the language can smack of anarchoacadem ic elitism however the author’s use of extraordinary language is necessary as he is exploring some extraordinary ideas. On the whole it is a book aimed to inform and inspire and even readers unfamiliar with the concepts being discussed should not get too lost in understanding the points being made. The rhetoric will surely have you running for your dictionary, but use it as a chance to give your mind some new words to create some new thought. The trouble is worth the effort and the ideas are such that they will provoke In some way — perhaps into some so far unfamiliar course of action — and win surely excite most of us who believe in free expression and the power of raging, and playing, against the machine. ^ Random

Fm BY

m fW GARY ANDREW R< COOIJURKSOftROW(■AR U4 FAIRIF GARIE

FOUNDATION AND CULTURE, RATHER TH A N SUB M IT TING TO THE PATRIARCHY OR TO THE MARKETPLACE. Iw 1)1 VOURI I) I Hf LAS I ISSIII Of Of RFD IN MY LUST FOR THE INKED, PIERCED, SLICE I), A ND ALTI RFD FLESH Of MY f f LLOW PRIMITIVES. l i r U T I HICCUPED A BIT WHFN I COT FO THE CALL (OR f l l f Nf XT ISSUE. l l A O I C A L BODY POLITICS, 1 UNDE RSTOOD , B r il ' l POLITICS A N D FAERIES? HAD ALWAYS READ THE FAERIES AS AN fSCAPI FROM “POLITICS”, FROM T Hf PETTY POWER STRUCCLES AND NAS f INI SS Of f i l l " R IA L W O R L D ”. SAW MY INTEREST IN TAERIES AS EMERCINC FROM A REJECTION Of POLITICS, A C O L D FUCK YOU TO ASSIMILA T IONIS T CAY COLLA BORATIO NISTS ON THE ONI HAND AND A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE TO f l l f DISAPPf AIU D ACT UP POLITICS ON T il l OTHER. !,V u . I QUICKLY RE ALIZED T H A T WITH I TO IA Kf T i l l FEMINIST PLEDGE OF THE 70S SERIOUSLY, T H A I THE PERSONAL IS THE POLITICAL", THE R ADICAL FAERIES W O U L D BECOME OBVIOUSLY THE MOST R A D IC A L ORG ANIZATION ON THE CLOBI SINCE fill LESBIAN SEPARATISTS THAT STRUCK I I AR IN THE HEARTS Or THEM COD! I ARINC MEN A ND WOMEN IN T il l 70S. FAERIE AND FAERIE SEPARATISM MOUNT A SCATHIN G POLITICAL CRITIQUE OF THE OUTSIDE CULTURE, OF ITS M ISOCYNIS M, HETEROSEXISM, EROTOPHOBIA, ETC F TC I EC. ^ N Y ORGANIZATION W IT H THE A B IL IIY TO REPROGRAM HEART, SOUL, AND M IN D LIKE THE FAERIES IS A MAJOR PO L ITICAL FORCE.

^ | N THIS ESSAY, I WILL TRY TO TRACE THE POLITICS OF THE FAERIES THROUGH ONE OF THEIR RITUALS ' NAME ' CHANGING.

( J F NEVER LIKED MY NAME, GARY ROSEN, BUT THAT S BECAUSE I HAD SEEN BILL MURRAY S NASTY IMPERSONATION OF BARBARA WALTERS ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE TOO OFTEN. X I STARTED GETTING PA.RANOID THAT I HAD TROUBLE W IT H R S, TOO. wIIA I THE STAID BUT PASSABLF NAME GARY ROSEN WAS ACTUALLY COMING OUT CAWY WOSFN. ESPECIALLY ON T ill MOST TRAUMA TIC DAY IN THE LUNAR CALENDER, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

tD O I DECIDED TO CHANGE IT. I3 U M M E R SCHOOL WAS MY CHANCE, AND I TOLD THE TEACTTER MY NAME WAS ANDREW . ^ H A T S M Y . M I D D L E NAME, SO I FIGURED IT WASN T LIKE I WAS LYING TO HER. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS I NEVER RESPONDED TO HER CALLING ON ME. t3 H E W O UL D HAVE TO GET RIGHT BEHIND ME AND YELL IN MY FICl EAR "ANDREW!" FOR ME TO FIGURE T H A T SOMETHIN G WAS UP. 13( 130 I CHANGED MY NAME B A C K . ^ N D T HAT WAS T H A T , UNTIL I MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO AND STARTED HANGING AROUND W IT H SOME FAERIES.

0 AERIES

jW lR I IN SAN FRANCISCO, T Hf I A I R I I S TRULY S U M LIKE ONf Of T ill ONLY L I V I . QUEER FORCES W H IC H AT TEMPT TO BUILD ITS OWN

LIKE TO CHANCE NAMES. ^t)NE OF THEM JOKED THAT THEY CO ULD OF MADE A FORTUNE AT THE PRIDE PARADE BY SETTING IIP A f AfRIE NAME CHANGING

As we produced thisissue,a number ofus from ShortMountain and IDA travelled to which was dropped on Hiroshima was produced, tocommemorate the 50thanniversary bomb isalsoa nuclear family stronghold. We were mortified toseecommunity ceiebrat bellout ofa citywhich glorifieswar with an atomic symbol proudly displayed remindedjust bow small our livescan feelinthefaceofglobal politicsofmass destruction. 24

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BO O TH. lirU T IT S PRECISELY BECAUSE NA^IE'C H A N G IN C CANNO T ' OR HASN T YET ' BEEN C O M M O D IF IE D TO THAT EXTENT T H A T IT RETAINS A POLITICAL p o w e r . C o n t r a r y t o m y bow AT M O D E R N -P R IM IT IV IS M AS PERFORMING A R A D IC A L BODY PO LITIC , IT REALLY IS NAME C H A N G IN G W H IC H IS THE RADIC AL PRACTICE. ^ A T T O O I N C , PIERCING, C U T TIN G , AND BRANDING IS QUICKLY BECOMING FASHION, NOT BODY “MODIFICATION" OR “M UTILATION" BUT BODY "ACCESORIZINGj'. lie EC A USE OF ITS PUBLIC NATURE, BEING W R IT T E N ON THE BODY, THE "RADICAL POLITICS” OF THE M ODERN P R IM ITI - *' QUICKLY BECOMES LOST IN THE CALVIN KLEIN OF IT ALL.

V N THE OTHER HAND. NAME CHANGING IS DONE OUTSIDE Or THE MONEY ECONOMY, OUTSIDE OF THE FASHION PARADE. X&T IS A PRIVATE AND PERSONAL DECISION OFTEN DONE IN CLOSE RITUALS, lie Y TRANSFO RMING TROM A RESUME'ACCEPTABLE N ' ME TO ONE IN HARMONY W I T H ONE S OWN DESIRE AND IOURNEY* SPIRITUAL, M YT H IC , AND INNER' DIRECTED ' NAME CHANGING IS PERHAPS

ONE

I HE

MOST

RADICAL ACTS A FAERIE CAN IA K t .

N SO M A N Y WAYS, THE POLICE-STATE P A T R IA R C H Y DO M INATES BY INSERTING ITSELF DEEP W IT HIN US, IN • J OUR SUPER EGO, INTO OUR VERY ID E N T IT Y . T C E L F 'P O L IC IN G , AS FOUCAULT CAL LE D IT. IS THE VERY BASE OF

FASCISM. I CANNOT DO T H A T , I CANNO T DO THIS. BECAUSE I AM CARY ROSEN, A l) G O O D PERSON 2) FROM A COOD FAMILY 3)REALLY JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE 4) INCOMPETENT FTC FTC FTC. "^LL THF LIMITATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS AND INSANITIFS BUILD UP WITHIN ONF S OWN IDFNTITY UNTIL. LIKF SO MANY OF THF PASTY FMBITTFRFD AND DISILLUSIONFD MFN W [ SFF. ONE BFLIFVFS WF HAVF NO OTHFR CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUF BFINC l) UNHAPPY 2) MARRIED 3) BaiRCFOUIS FTC FTC FTC. v H F V IS A TFRRIBLF TYRANT, AND A SLAVISH SFRVANT AT THF SAMF TIMF. i ^ A M F CHANCING WRFSTS THAT TYRANT FROM US, AND OPFNS UP THF SFRVANT TO A -WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES. AN OPFN PATH. /«ORF THAN ANYTHINC FLSF THF FAFRIF TRADITION OFFFRS, NAMF CHANCINC CAN T R^S FO RM THF INp IVIDUAL FAER[f\ IS CHOOSING ONF S OWN PATH , THF PFRSONAL SICNPOST OF A TFMPORARY AUTONOMOUS ZONF, A MARKFR THAT THF RFVOLUTION FROM WITHIN HAS ERUPTFD.

W f c H A T EXACTLY IS THF STATUS QUO THAT THE NAMF CHANCINC SUBVERTS? ^ A K F THF FFMINIST/BLACK CRITIQUE OF TRADITIONAL WESTERN NAMES RAISED IN THF LATE 60S AND 70S: ONES GIVEN" NAME HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY ARRIVED a t . F ir s t of a l l , t h e . l a s t n a m e is USUALLY THF FATHE RS, TYING A DEFENSELESS CHILDFAFRIF TO A PATRIARCHAL ORDER UNHEALTHY TO FACS AND OTHFR LIVING THINCS. S E C O N D OF ALL, THF NAMF IS USUALLY DECIDED ON BY HEREDITARY MOTHER AND FATHER AND IS THEREFORE CONNECTED TO A NOTION Or FAMILY THAT IS LIMITED, BIOLOGICAL, AND n u c le a r . Fo r e v e r , w it h our n a m e , w e ARE REMINDED OF THE WORLD WE WERE BORN INTO ” A WORLD WHICH VALUES MAN OVER WOMAN AND BLOOD FAMILY OVER HEART COMMUNITY.

Cy>IANCINC ONE S NAME, THEREFORE, IS A DRAMATIC AND PFRSONAL REJECTION OF THE WORLD "AS IT is " AND AN EMBRACE OF THE WORLD "AS IT COULD be". r aerie n a m e c h a n g e c h a lle n g e s A WORLD WHICH ON THE ONE HAND

OFFERS A BLAND, CONSUMER “ORIENT ED CLOBAL CONFORMITY TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL NORMAL". AND A CUT'ANDTAST E IDENTITY CROUP TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE INDIVIDUALS . ^ \ s WE CHANGE OUR NAMES, WE OPFN OURSELVES IIP TO THE FUTURE. TO THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES Of OUR PATH IN THE WORLD. *»T MAY DECLARE AFFILIATION WITH. A GROUP CALLED THE RADICAL FAERIES . O n i T DEEPER THAN THAT, IT pECLARES THE ABSURDITY OF FIXING ONES IDENTITY IN ANY CROUP OR BEUEr. w v ARE SLIPPERY. CHAOTIC, AND EVER'CHANCINC. NOT TRY TO CALL US ANYTHINC. W V WILL CALL OURSELVES.

/A/ V WORD ON ACTUAL FAERIE NAMES MANY FAERIES SEEM TO LONG FOR A RETURN TO "NATURE" AND SO CHOOSE FROM TFTEPLANTS * Nlt y U s OF TH[, fOREST. ,.*qi’ARROW T>REE ^NATURE CIRRUS . * » N THE CEMENT AND STEEL URBAN WORLD. THESE NAMES FLY OUT LIKE A BEACH ROCK THROUGH A SKYSCRAPER WINDOW, INSERTING ANOTHER REALITY INTO THE ILLUSION TH^T THE WORLD HAS TO BE CITIFIED ~ FRANTIC. DEHUMANIZED, AND SUPERFICIAL. ^ )T HERS CHOOSE TROM EASTERN OR WESTERN MYT H. AND STILL OTHERS CHOOSE NAMES TO CONJURE UP ANOTHER REALITY. ^ ) n E MUCH'LOVED FAERIE IN SAN f.RANCISCO CALLS HIMSELF C RACKBABY "PREVENTING ANY DISCUSSION WITH HIM FROM LOSING SIGHT Of BUDDHISM S FIRST TEACHING. THAT LIFE IS SUFFERING. AND THE POLITICAL TRUTH THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO STOP THE SUFFERING. ^ \ N Y NAME THAT EMERGES TROM A GREAT TRADITION CAN SET OrF A CHAIN OF MEANINGS, SIGNIFICATIONS. AND FEELINGS ~ AN INTENSELY POLITICAL ACT AT THE BASIC LEVELS OF LANGUAGE. COMMUNICATION. AND IDENTITY.

AND FAIRIES. I HAVE NO ! / I T LANDED ON THE RIG!.! NAME. f o R A WHILE. I WAS £ OOLIURK, CONSTANTLY SUBVIRIINC MY OWN. AND SO MANY OTHER OU( ER£. FUTILE SEARCH FOR THE COOL. CONSIDERED I*'OR RO W. AND TRANSFORMING MY SELT I N K ) ONI OF MY FUNDAMENTAL EMOTIONAL STATES. Till N RElECIf D l l AS SI LI FULFILLING. A'ICR. V aR IH CALLED TO ME. IN MY PRACTICAL NATURE AND CAPRICORN HERITAGE. I HAULED IT O !T (OR A C A T A S T R O P H I C GATHERING IN THE DESERT. I III N BURIED IT IN (EAR. ^ O D A Y . I AM STILL LOOKING.

£ 4

yw LIED. K E A D IN C I HIS ESSAY. I REMEMBERED Mil R IA L REASON.! N E V IR LIKED MY NAME. GARY. * » T .WASH T BECAUSE OF T HE SOf T R S T&T C GOES BACK TO LIZ D ANN, ONE Of THOSE POPULAR C " l S IN SIXTH GRADE WHO WERE THE PROTOTYPE OF THE ACTD-FOR BLOOD MONSTERS IN THE ALIEN MOVIES. LIZ DANN. OUTSIDE Or GSE LL S CANDY STORE, HER EYES COLD. MOUTH TURNED UP IPJ. BRITTLE PA( K'CIRL LAUGHTER. FAIRY GARY SHE CRIED FAIRY GARY. EAIRY GAR.Y. FAIRY GARY CAN I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT I DID. PROBABLY FROZE UP. TERRIFIED THAT SHE HAD SEEN STRAIGHT INTO MY SECRET LUSTS ,ND MY BARBARA STREISAND COLL f.C ION. FAIRY GARY, f AIRY GARY ' ► HAT S WHY I HATED MY NAME. AND THAT A WHY E WAN I

4 . THERE SHE S LIS I ENINC, III \R THIS: <# Oil WERE RICH I LIZ, I AM A f AIR IE.

%FLUNKING ABOUT MY OWN NAME CHANCE, ABOUT MY OWN PASSAGE INTO ANOTHER WORLD, A WORLD OF SPIRIT

I AIRIl! YOU C A N C O N T A C T ML AT COOLJURkCAxSIRJLtS.COM

areyou gonnagetacRF/*W W oP%ftrk<?rs. Ua andon aMotTaBdOh untiltheday Iretorisomethinglike: “When ^^TTpTmHsTop insistingontheuseofaridiculouslybigresourcesuckingtoxinpukingmachinetotransportnomore than200poundstowork and backeveryday, despitetheexistenceofotheroptions?” Or 1may say,“When areyou gonna getan awarenessoftheruthlessforeign policyand environmental rapeinvolvedinfurnishingyouwithyourown deadlymonsterandthelifestylewhichfollows?” Or: “When areyougonnastoptakingupsomuch spaceand suckingsomuch outofthecitybudget forroads and parking lotsand drive-inmovie theatresand garages biggerthan homes many don'tevenhave ?” Or perhapsIwillsay,“W hen areyou gonnastopbeing90 obsessed withyourselfdefeatingillusionofcontrol?” Or, “W hen areyougonna atleastputthatfuckingoffensivebloodsuckingstatussymbol away forthewinterand takethehassoIdon’thavetolistentoyou allpissand moan and damn nearfreakoutailwinterwithanxietyand hostilityabout snow and potentialblizzards,and begintoappreciatethis giftratherthanconstantlyspearingtheearthwithbad vibes?” Or maybe somethingmore personallike,“When areyougonna startappreciating me formy effortstowards low impact, rather than tellingme that Iwas inyour way while biking to work?” Or perhaps a “When are you insensitivesorry-assparasitesgonnawake thefuckup and seeyour selfishnessand realizethatwhat YOU aredoingisexcessiveand oppressive andthatyou’readdingtoan alreadyunsafe,unclean,and unkindworldforme andyou and yourkidsandeveryoneelse?” Someday, Imightjust loseitand savsomethinglikethat But Ihaven’tiustvet-JJCRICKET _____________________________________ 25

"Do you have an id e o lo g y ?

No. Ideology is a brain disease. Do you have a m ovem ent?

Yes. It’s called Dancing." -from Abbie Hoffman's interview with himself

It was Spring. 1969. I think. The Democratic National Convention of 1968 had spawned an amazing zoo of a court case in which The Chi cago Eight (later to become the Chicago Seven) were accused of conspiracy to incite a major hippie riot of a party. Abbie Hoffman, one of the Eight (or Seven), had become famous for throw ing dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Along with Jerry Rubin and others, he had coined the word Yippie! in late 1967 to refer to himself and other folks whose lives “blended pot and politics into a political grass leaves movement - a cross-fertilization of the hippie and New Left philosophies.” Now Abbie had responded to the absurdities of the Chicago trials by proclaiming Ten Plagues on Amerika. The first plague, of course, was frogs. The word spread through the grass leaves of unorganized phone trees, and by announcements over the air waves of underground radio stations. A date was set for leap-frog-ins to be held at public buildings around the country. My room mate and I, living in the Boston area, were turned on by any activity designed to poke fun at stodgy old two-party military-induslrial-complcx “Amcrikan” thinking, and we decided to join tire Plague. We thought it would be fun. We were right! In Boston the frogging Yippies were called to assemble at 10:30 the next morning on the Com mon (the public park downtown). By 11:00 there were 35 of us shouting “ribbil” excitedly, ready for whatever was to come next. Marty Parkingmeter organized us all into a frog circle and set the tone for the morning’s events. After shouting “ribbit" in unison for some minutes to build the energy, we broke ranks and began to jump over each other in a massive game of leap frog. Then, with a battle cry of “ribbit” led by our fearless Parkingmeter. we aimed our leaps to ward the State House, leap-frogged to the edge of tire Common, stopped traffic, and leap-frogged across lire street. By that lime, the media had arrived, and were ibusily asking questions of the participants. Of couse. the only reply they got was "ribbit" in one | form or another, because that was the only word i wc knew. Hey, we were frogs! The highlight of tire morning was the leap frogging parade up the steps of the State House. Out of breath but giddy with frog-glee, wc en joyed several frolicsome minutes of “ribbil"ing at the top before the guards told us that it wasn’t legal to "ribbit” on public property. We re

sponded to the guards' entreaties with warning shouts of “ribbit!", then retreated back down the steps, and paraded off down the street. The next day, a picture of my roommate was seen in color on the front page of the Boston Globe. I loved imagining housewives and busi nessmen in the suburbs reading about us over their morning coffee. Even more enthralling was the idea of their young kids learning how much fun it had been to plague the government with frogs. Yippie! was my politics. Let’s all have as much fun as possible, I felt, and the walls will come tumbling down. My walls sure did, and I hope that day of leap-frogging made a dent in some other walls too. I couldn’t help reflecting on my Yippiedays as I joined dozens of radical faeries on the streets of At lanta this past June for the Lesbian/Gay Pride Parade. I arrived early at the starting point of the pa rade route, along with a few other folks in full faerie regalia, and found that al though dozens of groups were there, making last-minute preparations for the festivities, there was no sign of the fabled Faerie Puppet. We wondered what happened to the crowd from IDA who had arrived in town the previous afternoon with their unwieldy cargo. Had the truck broken down? Were they lost? Did they party too much the night before? Had they been “saved” by one of the local churches? Did they take the road to Atlantis instead of Atlanta? What? As the time for tire parade step-off arrived, we placed ourselves on a comer opposite the start of the planned route, with the idea that we could

M o u n ta in e and K ofi by Mountaine Kofi and I met on the Internet In May. We became lovers online, although we agreed not to Indulge In cybersex. Not, at least, until we had met In physical form. Now he Is my boyfriend, companion, room mate, partner. I love him lots. If we have separated by the time you read

enjoy watching from there, and we’d be in a good position to spot the Puppet when it showed up. After about 15 minutes, we decided to join the parade. We stepped into the street. It was one of those spontaneous decisions that was tuned to a larger reality. A few blocks away the Faerie Puppet was just about to break through the police line and join the parade too. Our little group and the huge Puppet met smack dab in the middle of the street, as if we had synchronized our watches and planned it. Yay for the Faerie Goddess of Synchronicity! What energy we felt for the next hour as we danced, chanted, cavorted, circled and sashayed down the street! We had no banners to announce who we were, but were greeted with delighted cries of “The Radical Faeries!” as members of the throng sighted us approaching. We drummed in their ears and joined them in howls of laughter, as they took our pictures and cheered us on. It was FABulous! Our message was not “Gay Rights Now” or “Re-aulhorize Ryan White Funding” or “My Lover is a Lesbian.” Our message was not communicated in words at all, but in the creative energy we carried in our bodies and our minds and our spirits and our hearts. To put it in words might sound like: Whee! This is SO much fun! In the face of lots of serious issues, there’s no more politi cal statement than to en joy life to the max, be as creative as possible, Find friends who are as lov ing and caring as can be, form a tight but fluid community together, and celebrate how kool life is through colorful ceremony. Whee! ■ "You must go beyond Nonsense to achieve the Zen state I call NO sense and enter the frontiers of Fun. For Instance, take the Nobody for President campaign slogan, 'If Nobody wins, Nobody loses!’ Did you feel the center of your head do a little flip-flop?" - W avy G ravy of the Hog Farm

this, lam whole. If we have stayed together In growth and beauty and love, and aim to stay together un til our dying breaths In each other's aged but still romantic arms, I am whole. (Of course, I'd prefer the latter scenario, but we're not In complete control, are we? We can consciously vision the future, and have a lot to do with creating it, but we 're not in control.) Control. No! Whole. Ho! Kofi. Yo!

KOFI UPQUARK Rural Southern Virginia. Tobacco country. Oliver North is running for Senator and his face is plastered everywhere. Our family’s farm is here and I've returned to stay a while after an absence of many years. A big grocery store in a tiny strip mall. I'm filling out an application for a check cashing card. There is a space on it for race: Hispanic, White, Black, Asian, Native American, other. In a parody of the approach to racial classification, I boldly write in, “White.” After all, I do have at least that one drop of "white" blood. And pretty blue blood at that! Great-great granddaddy was John Jacob Astor of England, who made a fortune peddling new world furs and built the Waldorf-Astoria. His wife, Nancy Langhome (an American), became Lady Astor, first female member of British Parlia ment. It is said that one of their children fathered a brown child. An embarrassment to the family, he was sent to North Carolina, where they grew up. The boy, my grandfather, was set up in a business making bricks which was burned to the ground by some locals, so he fled to Virginia with a young Native American girl, my grandmother. Ok, back to the subject, the foibles of race and classification (and sex). If Africans had colonized Europe and invaded North America, bringing in white slaves, America's so-called whites would look pretty much like socalled blacks do now and they'd range in shade from cocoa brown to lily white. Malcolm X would be white - or "colored." The darkest of these whiles would be the more successful of their race, and their ubiquitous faces would grace the covers of beauty magazines. They'd be the vapid, fey creatures of the movie industry; they'd be beauty’s uncontested standard - smooth cocoa skin, full lips and very curly hair conforming to the shape of the head. Barbie would have a hair pick instead of a comb and resemble a Tootsie Roll with her hair combed out. Humans, of course, get darker as they get closer to the equator. I read somewhere that it takes only around 2000 years for us to change colors, to develop skin melanin or lose it, all depending on our position on the planet. I first landedon the African continent in Nairobi, Kenya, where my lover, Dennis, was meeting me at the airport. I felt a need to be particularly protective of him, a white man in a black country. I had expected some show of animosity, but none was forthcoming. They couldn’t have cared less what color he was; it simply made no difference. We lived four years in Burundi, East Africa, home to the Hutu and Tutsi, who massacre one another ever so often. In peacetime they co-exist in aclimate full of underlying tensions. The Tutsi came into Burundi and Rwanda a few hundred

years ago from farther north, bringing their wealth of cattle with them. Substantially taller and more aggressive, they subjugated the Hutu, who were an agrarian people living in family units. When Belgians colonized the area, they chose the taller Tulsis as administrative assistants. Resentments were certainly engendered by this, as the Hutus were relegated to even lower status. I’ve known Hutu and Tutsi who would not even sit at the same table. As an American, both groups looked on me not as a black man, but as a "muzungo", the word for European or "white." 1 found that really curious, because I certainly don't look anywhere near white. (Mountaine says I'm the color of dark honey.) Dennis served in the Diplomatic Corps of the American Embassy. We had Burundian friends and loved being in this beautiful country of moun

tains and sparkling vistas. One day our dog, Bebe (Mrs. in Swahili), gave birth to six pups; only one of them was white and we named him Muzungo. This sent Burundians we knew into wild laughter, howling and practically rolling on the ground. We wondered why they'd found it so funny. The cook, Serge, later shared that they had all heard muzungos called dogs... but never a dog called Muzungo. Our next move was to Sdnegal, West Africa, a culturally vibrant country of varied languages and ethnic groups. It was great that the society wasn't so repressed, as to preclude sensual contacts with other men. Europeans here were referred to as Toubab. That was sometimes the name given me, especially in rural areas outside the more sophis

K ofi an d M o u n ta in e by Kofi

It started In early June as a cyberspace romance after I posted a notice on the gay bulletin board reading "Asheville High Con sciousness." I wanted no ordinary Joe. So this very welcome faerie shows up! A grand spirit to play with. Now I'm sitting in his house in front of my Macintosh munching his

ticated cities, the biggest being Dakar. People were generally pleased to find I was American | and especially interested that I was also black. j Fortunately, the groups all got along together pretty well. After living abroad for nearly a decade. I was j ready to return to the U.S., not because I missed i it so much, but in order to experience the requisite j shock from having been away from one’s own 1 culture for almost ten years - the kind of culture ; shock that can open the eyes and rattle one’s j world view. I had been in a society where men held hands on the streets and affection was shown freely among them. I'm talking "straight" men! And more than once I got my signals crossed. I remem ber lying on the beach when a friend came up and joined me, lying beside me. I was taken aback when he later used my stomach as a pillow and held onto my hand while talking about wife and kids, who were also with us. And it had nothing to do with sex. I've seen enough of it to know. Meeting and greeting men, long embraces, affec tionate eye contact and gentle smiles were all part of the scenario, and I found it all deeply satisfy ing, sort of cathartic. Gay, as we know it, is practically non-existent. There is certainly homosexual activity, but there's no subculture. Homosexual men get married and have children; it's a duty as well as security for the future. My partner and I knew of one male couple who married women and fathered children and lived in the same house with them- and who had their own bedroom. They had done their duty. None of this is to say that homophobia does not exist there, for it does, and most strongly where sex is combined with love and produces passion. That's why so many are ready to screw, but not to kiss. Casual sex among men is a lot more prevalent than one would expect. There was a gay bar in Dakar, a meeting place for Africans as well as Europeans. There was also a park in the city, which was a cruising spot frequented almost exclusively by Africans... on the other hand, some black scholars credit homosexuality in Af rica as a European import. What we do find, especially among Africans who have spent time in Europe (where many of the elite are still educated to a degree), is a willingness for the gays among them to live a little more openly, executing a balance between trru.ii lional and new values. Many have resolved their own sexuality with a desire for commitment to family, and they marry, for that is what is most important to them. Any why not? It's a different j world from here. glorious peach cobbler. We're really good together, complementing one another and smoothly dovetailing at so many of our Junc tions. We're mirrors, one for the other. Grateful for showers of miracles, I bloom a smile when I think of him. The heart center opens and Major puLrbulge raids the libido.

G osh!

P o L iT jC A L L Y Cowed

9 By: Randy Sherwood

pol-i-t ics Vpi U -©-, t iks\ n pi but sing or pi in const [GK politika, fr. neut. pi. of politikos political] (ca. 1529) 1 a: the art or science of government b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government 2: political actions, practices, or policies 3 a: political affairs or business; specif: competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) b: political life esp. as a principal activity or profession c: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices 4: the political opinions or sympathies of a person 5: the total complex of relations between people in society. These are the definitions you’ll find in Webster’s. I’m particularly fond of the reference to "artful and dishonest practices," but I think the last, "the complex relations between people in society," is closest to the current application of the word. For after all, everything is political now, you can’t breathe without making some form of political statement. What you eat is political, what you wear is political. What you buy and where you buy it has political ramifications. The very words we use to describe ourselves have become subject to revision in an effort to make them more suitable to our current agenda. It’s called being politically correct, but correct for whom? Who are we serving when we try to rewrite our selves to be more politically correct? Over the last few years I’ve watched as feminists have neutered the language in the name of political correctness, giving us such gems as chairperson, herstory, and womyn. The Afro-Americans have worked to remove racial slurs from literature, for instance, having quarrel with the attitudes exhibited in Mark Twains’ "Huck Finn". Disney regularly edits cartoons and other programs it broadcasts on their Disney Channel to remove offensive material. We have boycotted products made by companies who did not meet our political standards. We have boycotted entire states for the transgressions of their voting populations. All in the name of politics, or rather political correctness. When Colorado voters approved the infamous amendment 2, the gay community mobilized by calling for a boycott of the entire state. The politically correct thing to do was remove our support from a group that had attempted to remove our civil rights. Who won? The Colorado supreme court struck down the amendment last October. Did we win? It depends on how you look at it. Those people who actually chose other places to vacation during the boycott rest in the warm fuzzy comfort that they actually helped to make a di fference.

Unfortunately that difference was insignificant, and in some cases injurious. The major tourist operations, mostly multi-national, barely noticed our absence. Their revenues, counted in the millions, continued to flow. The injury was inflicted on the ones we should have been supporting, the small Gay businesses, guest houses, and restaurants. More than a few of which didn’t survive the benefit of our politically correct help. The sad thing about the entire amendment 2 debacle was that the Colorado Supreme Court would have struck down the amendment without the boycott. In our rush to do something political, to show our outrage at being degraded to less than human status, we chose to turn our backs on, rather than face the enemy. Political? Yes; but correct, hardly. The end result of our boycott was a minimal change in the state’s overall income, but a serious weakening of the state’s gay financial stability, and with it the alienation of many of the gays in the state. Colorado is just an example of how we degrade ourselves in an attempt to be correct. How we, in our rush to do something, don’t think the process and it’s outcomes through, and often choose the wrong thing. Or worse, nothing. Our opponent in the political arena is usually the Christian right, A savvy, well organized, and well funded militia poised to attack at any provocation, real or imagined, fhey prey on the ignorance of the general population when it comes to gay issues. They draw on references in the Bible, statistics on molestation, drug use, all of which they have conveniently adjusted to suit their needs. They even turn our own images against us. Their use of film footage shot at pride parades is very effective. If the only education someone has of the gay population comes from the right wing propaganda mill, it is no wonder they run in terror at the mention of gay rights. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting we march in formation wearing tasteful tweeds and sensible shoes. I love the Rollerblade Fairie as much as the next fag, but let’s face it, the power of the film comes from our general invisibility. How many of the people influenced negatively by the right wing claim not to know any homosexuals, when in fact they are in the company of them on a daily basis. Does the name Schafley ring a bell? The majority of gay identified people in the U. S. are still closeted to some degree. If more of the population were open about their sexual identities the right wing attacks would be far less effective. How many of you reading this have family members, friends, or co-workers who are unaware of your sexual orientation. Politically correct? No. But I bet you think twice before you decide which brand of jeans to buy. We degrade ourselves by remaining hidden, anonymous. We become tools for the opposition by our

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by Khtysso Faggner (cwagner<g>freenet.columbus.oh.us)

Before I was political, 1 was “Political." In my college days and a while beyond, I was a Religious Right evangelical, a card-carrying member of the Moral Majority (which was at the time an organization and not a generic term for a religious conservative). I voted For Reagan, no less. Twice. (My self-imposed penance has been to suck lots of dick.) I wrote my legislators. I demonstrated for “righteousness" with 3,000 Christians outside the 1980 Democratic National Conven tion. I demonstrated for “decency" in front of dairy stores that sold P layboy and P enthouse Forum. I attended rallies for Republican candi dates at the Ohio State University. I traveled to other cities to stuff envelopes and hang fliers on doorknobs for God-fearing candidates I didn’t even know. For me, there were two types of politics: electoral and legislative. And I was pretty “Political.” July 8, 1988: My personal coming out day. Slowly, I began dating, did a little penance for having voted for Reagan, began the slow transi tion from Christian evangelicalism to my current pagan/Radical Faerie/ Unitarian Universalist consciousness by joining a gay church. Two and a half years after coming out, I took a job as Program Development Director for a Gay & Lesbian (now G/L/B, not yet T) community agency. My salary was paid by the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and legally separate arm of the agency for which I worked. I was allowed to devote no more than ten per cent of my energies to political activity, or the IRS would be pissed. It was in that setting that I began to understand how to be political without being “Political.” In fact, I

educated real fast about the difference between sex (a physiological phenomenon) and gender (a sociological construct). Fortunately, my days with the community center had given me some background in gender issues, but it didn’t prepare me for walking through a shopping mall in Winchester, VA with an apparently male person in a dress. I dare say, with apologies to Rhonda, “the first time you appear in public and the person holding hands with you is the opposite gender but the same sex, then you are political." A year ago I was elected to the presidency of an arts organization on whose board I served. The publicity chair and 1 conferred and decided to write a press release about the transitions in the organization. When I told her I wanted my description to include “gay rights activist" (even though I hadn’t been paid as such in two years), we got into a long argument about it in which she finally said that she had a problem with the “political" aspect of the description, though, curiously, 1 had men tioned no candidates, no legislation, no parties. Who first presented the axiom that “the personal is political"? In the last seven years, I have come to a point where politics, like charity, begins at home. Last fall, I went to my first two gatherings in Radical Faerie space. Although I did no “drag" per se or even any overt gender-fucking, I at once became more comfortable with my own androgyny and have gradually changed the way I dress. Recently I was wearing my big, flowery “I-Dream-of-Jeanie” pants, as I call them, to buy gasoline in my Columbus neighborhood. I didn’t get stared at, didn’t even really get a second look, but I felt not only very right, very empowered, I also felt very political. I still occasionally write to legislators. I attended a Clinton rally in 1992. I’ve marched in Pride marches. I vote—nearly every election, in fact. But these acts don’t make me political. I don’t wear my I Dream of Jeanie pants in public to act out adolescent rebellion. I do it because if I wait around for Society to approve my otherness, my queemess to the point that my hair and my faerie clothes become unremarkable and my pink triangles become pass6,1 will be long dead. C arpe diem is as much a political slogan as “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.” When I be who I am—now—then I am an activist. Then I am

have done far less campaigning, demonstrating, or lobbying in the past seven years than I had in the previous seven, and yet at a deeper level I consider myself to be far more political now. I am acquainted with Rhonda R. Rivera, a renowned Lesbian lawyer who just recently retired from a distinguished academic career in Columbus, Ohio to move to the Tucson area. Rhonda is often quoted as saying something to the effect of, “the first time you wake up in the morning and the person in bed next to you is the same sex as you are, then you are political.” This idea works for me. The day after the 1993 March on Washington, I met and fell in love with a bisexual man. Two weeks later, my boyfriend decided that he was really transgendered and began exploring transsexualism. I got

t o f

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rA Y

'p o v i f 'f C .

in w in w in w in w in w

a r d ru s h n o w o u t w a r d flin g a r d ru s h n o w o u tw a r d flin g a r d ru s h n o w o u tw a r d flin g political social personal lin g

I**015 by Art Cassandra Polanksy|{n g

in w a r d ru s h n o w o u tw a r d flin g in w a r d ru s h n o w o u tw a r d flin g in w a r d ru s h n o w o u tw a r d flin g shogonai (Japanese: There is nothing I can do about this)

faeriefirt

bricks

While walking home the other night, I met a brick in headlong flight O Brick! I cried in nosebleed pain Why fly you here, so near my brain? I grabbed the brick with all my might to hurl it back into the night To left or right, it mattered not; As long as my blood pounded hot A flying brick could hurt a lot... But I threw it not. O Brick! I sighed in mindless awe Why did you rearrange my jaw? Is flying all that bricks are for? The brick swung open like a door.

Thefaeries dance around the firt. They dance their souls like shining gold. O r so I'm told But if a faerie will not dance around his fire He becomes fire. A raging firt. A funeral pyre. H e blasphem es his fa e r ie flam e his fa erie heart his fa e r ie name becom es a Fagan to elect a Reagan to loose the plagu e upon us a ll U pon him self. A raging fire. H is fu n e ra l pyre.

The Pacific Ocean shrinks, sea floor sliding beneath Asia, rocks diving down, heating up I search the tired city streets H e w astes his d a y s in green back prison until — suddenly — they break... past metrobus roar and rat-scramble squeak on e sto ic secon d a t a time. and Kobe is m atchsticks, past the litter of a thousand homeless dreams. V itriol boils through his veins waiting only for a spark. A brick screams through the gathered mists Five thousand souls depart, (you lazy good-for-nothing: — get-a-job.) with each sta le breath, each drum beat scorned, until his h eart can take no more. leaving a woman leaning against a wall, It lands amid the aching throng H is so u l departs. the only piece of her home and slowly splits in two. A so u r husk o f fle sh rem ains not shaken to splinters to m ix the balm o f G ilead by the snap of grinding stone. I walk the quiet country lane with ch ip p ed razor blades, The microphone reaches across the vast Pacific where Olympic heroes used to ski. to sing the son g o f L ear to this woman huddled in a blanket Two hot steel brick-bombs split the sky to ears that w ill not hear against the last concrete thing to blast a child without a dream, A so n g o f fear. left in her life. a mother drained of milk. She says, “ Shogonai,” Four more bricks grow wings in Sarajevo. I know. 1 am fire . A raging fire. “There is nothing I can do about this.” I trudge the dusty desert road But co u ld he, ju s t once, from Jesus Nazareth h ea r the drums. The Hum an ocean sw ells to the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock R eally hear them. washes over G aia’s shores, —All made of bricks. D ance with the fire, Death rates sinking down, birth rates up A million hands leap up from the depths of the earth. silly skirt a 'whirl Until — suddenly — She b re a k s The ground shakes, voices roar. 'til it d ro p s a w a y in the throbbing night and the ethnics are cleansed. A brick sails slowly through the crystal sky... a n d the fir e reaches out to his naked heart, A million souls depart, an d in that m om ent he is fire leaving a child vomiting against a wall, I cannot move... Cleansing Fire. the only piece of her home not blasted to rubble C om plete an d Free. by the guns of passing tribes. It kicks my skull in a blaze of nuclear fire B lessed be. The microphone reaches across the vast A tlantic The million hands reach out., to this retching, sobbing child toward the Road, F o r who cou ld dan ce with the rising flam e clutching the shards of a blanket toward the Wall, an d g re e t the sun with a vicious name ? against the last concrete thing toward the Rock... H ea r the drum s and the gentle flutes left in her life. hands grabbing bricks... a n d te a r his sou l ou t b y its roots ? The polls say “Shogonai.” . , . . .. . Becom e a sou r shell? The peace-keepers come home. now the sky rs red with bricks, The architect o f Hell? Grinding, clattering, smashing, crashing BRICKS! The sky falls. Yes, dance, m y fa e r ie brothers, dance! I see nothing... The Georgian gavel falls D ance with the fir e a n d d ra w me in, Nothing but sand on the House of Klephants. • f o r in y o u r dan ce 1 m ay touch the fire and the choking dust Dissent taken down, trium ph trum peting up a n d su rvive unsinged. of shattered bricks. Until — suddenly — they stam pede F o r in y o u r dan ce / m ay tam e m y fire, and the budget is balanced I m ay fin a lly win. A hand rises in the east, and one in the west. on the backs of the helpless. Quench the raging fire Each hand grabs a brick. A hundred million souls buy a vowel, with drum a n d flu te a n d song. They approach, arms tense, leaving a choiceless teen ripe with child, C o r r e a the wrong. Bricks fly...Again! Again! with no place to call home. Bricks leap up and hurtle down. The m icrophone reaches across the vast middle class Yes, dance! Brick landing on brick to this lonely, sobbing child G ather a ll the faeries hand helping hand... clutching the shards of a promise w ho w ill n ot kn ow th eir names a new eon rises from the dust of shattered bricks. against the concrete overpass who m igh t ex p lo d e in flam es of the Ronald Reagan Expressway, o f all-consum ing fire The door fades back into a brick, the last exit left in her life. a thousand fu n era l pyres wet with my blood, a necklace m ade o f tires. it rocks gently on my toe. With gen tle p ip e a n d throbbing skin I smile and carry it home. Shogonai, Vlr. Speaker? com e, d r a w us in. Sept. 94 SHOGONAI? D ra w the sacred serpents to the fire to the cleansing fire, to the dance.

J a n . 95

July 95 30

frien d

The doorbell rings. Manchild beautiful asking me to wrestle: YES! Tall, slender, smooth-faced youth in grey overalls that have never tasted grass. You come at me too gently to knock me off my feet. 1 catch you in my arms, and lay you softly on the ground.

trees I think that I shall never see a chain saw as lovely as a tree... I go to her in the spring, to her waterfalls and laurels, her sunlit streams and deep sandstone gorge. But she comes to me this once, this summer, to my watermelons and poppies, blackberry fields and deep shaded paths. She runs a tunnel of green, Cindy, joy of the forest.. to lay beneath the trees, touch my hand, drink my water and heal my soul.

We tire — young interest and old lungs. Slender willow against the lardstone. Score: Mass thirteen, energy one. but the points are not the point. You find a stick. Slingshot? No. Spear-hurler? Not quite. We bat stoneballs in the fenway of the road. We toss the stick to one another into the darkening night You imagine. Imagine a cloak of magic tinder: your shield. Imagine befriending all the animals: your sword. You dream not o f being King, but being Nemesis of Kings Marching forth to meet the armies of Evil armed with 10,000 bees and a shark, ‘til school daze drags you to bed.

Two days lata comes John Deere and his yellow Cat with iron teeth. Diesels roar black antlers of soot through the forest. Steel daws shred the furniture of the mountain. Tall is flat. Green is brown. Peace is cacophony. When the last tree is felled, and all the deer are John, When the last flowers are paved and all the weeds are gone. When I get my food from Giant and Giant’s just a store; When I get my brain from Tubeland and Tubeland’sjust a bore, , When Fox is a cable network and Brown is the driven snow. Will Owl give a hoot about us and how will we ever know?

0 My love! My younger generation, You gave me the energy of your youth, the kindness of your soul. You came to me in the drifting hours of middle age malaise bearing gifts of the heart, the strength to go on. How can I return this favor? What will I do for you?

When green is a slogan instead of a field, Potatoes are powder with plasticene peels. When outdoors is asphalt with one dying tree And indoors is radon, with color TV When Mars is a candy instead of a God and peas come in cartons instead of a pod.

1 will drive to the end of the gasoline, that you may ride into town on the back of an ox and arrive three weeks late, with blisters. I will chew holes in the ozone to toughen your sweet, soft flesh, put leather in your cheeks and melanoma on your brow.

When stars cannot shine through the screaming floodlights of the road and the conference hall crushing the heights And the classrooms and dorm rooms and parking-lot fights.

I will eat fatted calves ‘til my arteries burst, ‘til rich farmland washes down the canyon of my maw, that you may eat thistle and pay for my Medicare. I will pave the fields and the forest, that you may rest in the shade of a billboard and run your hands through the glass of a thousand dead beers. I will pour superfund sludge into your river that you may catch two-headed fish and drink chlorinated biphenyl soup.

When faster and faster the carrousel turns and faster and faster the fossil fuel burns, when louder and louder the bulldozers roar, more acres to pave, more concrete to pour. More highways, more buildings, more people, and more! Who really believes that food grows in the store? We race to the punch bowl for drink after drink. We know that the level of punch cannot sink for Mammon will fill it as quick as a wink. No matter how often we come here to drink.

1 will break wind through blackened smokestacks, that the gentle fragrance of flowers will not unchallenged reach your nose.

But all of a sudden, the punch bowl is dry. A tangle of branches and stumps catch my eye. A hazy brown sky and a tangerine sun Shines down on black pastures where cars used to run. The last tree leaps skyward, and suddenly falls...

And I will spray those flowers with Agent Dioxin because it’s easier than pulling weeds. I will make earth, sea, and sky barren out of deepest love for you, because I want to hold you in my arms and have your generous soul with me always, Even in the moment of my greedy death.

O Cindy, Joy of the forest! Tunnel of green! Friend of my soul!

My first homosexual experience was political, as is anything in the so called holy land It was an act of rebellion, as it was not supposed to happen. We weren’t supposed to share our love for each other- so said my Torah and his Koran and my Adonai and his Allah and the PLO and the Knesset and my people and his people and the conventions we've created. Such was forbidden. That’s what made it so powerful. So powerful that it was beyond the comprehension of the forces that forbid it That is why, perhaps, that such was forbidden. What you don’t know -the unknown- it’s scary. I was living in Jerusalem. I’d been there for a few months. It was during the gulf crisis. Iraq invaded Kuwait four days following my arrival. To those who lived there since birth, it seemed that this didn’t bear new significance. The state of Israel had been through several wars since it’s birth 42 years prior. An average of around one every seven years. This land had been fought over by Jews, Arabs, Turks, Europeans, and on and on for centuries. The threat of a fight with Iraq was nothing new. This did not mean that it was easy for the inhabitants to be issued gas masks. All it meant, at least in this context, is that war was reality. A way of life. You may be a Jew who's parents escaped Europe before, during, or after the Holocaust, and you don’t know if this land will exist for your lifetime. You hope your children get lucky and manage to hit their army-time in between battles. Or you may be an Arab who grew up in the occupied West Bank or Gaza strip, that has never known what it was like to have the rights citizens of the state of Israel have. And you, like your antagonists, don’t know if you, your family, or the rest of your community, will remain where you are, or get displaced once again. Or you may be an"Arab Israeli", who is fed the illusion of citizenship, yet is treated as second class. Whether you are an Arab or a Jew, religious or secular, Ashkenazic or Sephardic, Palestinian or “Arab Israeli”, Muslim or Christian, Bedouin or Druze, new immigrant from Russia or Ethiopia, or whatever, you live in a reality of war. It is so normalized that it would be tough to strive for any other way. Again, this would be the unknown. So what is known? Hatred. Societal and Individual Hatred. There’s really no fine line between the two. And the fuel of testosterone which is embedded within the psyche of the masses; the plethora of repressed fear lashing out in fits of rage. The rationalistic illusion- the assumption of the existence of an objective reality to which there is access, leading to the assumption that a situation is black and white and there is a right and a wrong. An oppressed holding a truth and an oppressor holding a distortion. No other possible combination. And who in their right "rational" mind, given this choice, will consider themselves the latter?

outlet, and thus most accessible, is pooling your individual insecurity, lack of trust, anger, and fear, into a congealed, unified, rhetoricallybacked-up, socially-supported force of scapegoating and hatred. Such responses make it difficult for those who somehow decide to look at others not as "others’ but to see them as people in a similar situation, to understand their actions and the fears which motivate them; and likewise, to look at oneself with an acknowledgment of the traits which are traditionally only seen on the other side (in order that they need not be seen within the self)- It is difficult, nearly impossible in some cases. But miraculously enough, some do it, to some extent or another. Some learn to respect the Other and the Self. They are somehow able to partially detoxify themselves of the poisons they have ingested (for lack of accessible supplements), and crumble the illusion of a line between Self and Other. I met one. One that was able to go beyond the hatred for a night One that was able to love someone he wasn’t supposed to. And so it happened. Perhaps it wouldn't have been nearly as powerful had I not met Yosi on my first visit to the West Bank. I went to an underground university (the Israeli government had closed down the universities in the occupied territories at the beginning of the Intifadah), and met a Palestinian student, around my age. Yosi had gone through experiences which were typical of someone his age and gender in the occupied territories. He had spent time in prison. He was randomly arrested for no clear reason other than someone supposedly spotting him throwing rocks at an army vehicle. He was not given a trial of any type, and his family was given no information as to where he was or how long he would be there, or if he was even still living. Meanwhile, he was routinely interrogated and beaten for refusing to say “Yassir [Arafat] is a bastard.” He had grown up with no rights of citizenship. His parents had been displaced during the ‘67 war. He was angry, and I couldn’t say I could blame him. He felt that Jews didn’t deserve a state. When I asked him why, he explained that the Jews were dangerous. They were all conspiring to take over the world. As he went on with his rage, it sounded more and more like Hitlerian rhetoric. I was familiar with this state of mind, but had never had it spewed into my face before. In this particular case, whether or not it was legitimate for him to hold such views, it was obviously unsafe for me to let on that I was Jewish. And so I participated in the alienation. And at this point, abstractions became realities: The Struggle. The Hatred. The Powerlessness. And my part in it. I guess you could say that from then on, also beyond abstraction was my expectation of racism, anti-semitism, and general misguided bitterness and hatred to be radiating out of anyone who was part of this mess. It wasn't a spiteful, or even necessarily cynical stance. And it wasn’t that I really thought that everyone was equally hateful. It was more that I didn't understand how anyone could grow up amongst it and find the tools to bring themselves to any other type of space. And so such was expected and I was relatively desensitized to it, and took it as reality, which was why it was so intense for me when I met someone else and it was challenged...

The Intifadah (Palestinian uprising) was quite intensified by the war season and tensions were exploding left and right. Nearly every week it was another stabbing or stoning or shooting or whatever. And the retaliation which followed: tribes avenging avengements in modem day with modem weapons. So what does one do for emotional survival in an atmosphere such as this? The more socially acceptable

I met him in Akko. This is a city north of Haifa where l felt I needed to spend a couple days in order to get away from the heated energy 1 felt surrounded by in Jerusalem. My friend Gaby and 1 had heard that tensions were not nearly as bad in Akko. We arrived at night, and went straight to the Old City, looking for a certain hostel we had found in our travel guide. The Old City in Akko is all Arab, unlike the Old City in Jerusalem. According to the unwritten rules of traveling in Israel/Palestine, one should not, especially if they're Jewish, go into an Arab area at night It is supposedly unsafe. When Gaby and I traveled together, we felt that we, as American tourists, were not the target of terrorist activity, and how was anyone to know we were Jewish? Nevertheless, according to many we knew, the Arabs were thought of as a violent vengeful, unpredictable people that could not be trusted, whether one is Jewish or not His name was Hannah, but he introduced himself as Jonny. I guess that made his name Jonny. His skin was light brown, and his voice very soft but direct and sincere. He approached us, and something made us trust him and his friends as they took us to a hostel. Jonny worked in a bakery in the Old City. He told us to meet him in the morning. And so he and his friend took the day off and took us around, showing us the city and buying us meals. It’s quite common in Arab countries for travelers to be taken care of. It goes back to Bedouin tradition, where you take someone in and feed them before even asking their name. I was not accustomed to or expecting this type of treatment, especially given the political climate. With pressure from every which way telling them to stop giving and trusting, they persisted. And when he invited us to stay the night, he provided the space for yet another taboo to be broken... The day ended at the sea. On the shoreline, we listened to the wind and the waves crashing against the wall upon which we sat.. And I remember, for some reason, as he softly spoke, being entranced by his silhouette and the magic in his voice, and it made me feel close to him; and I knew then that his energy excited and intrigued me, and that I wanted to take it in to an extent that I thought was out of my access.

his mother and their people their fair share. 1 felt helpless, disempowered, and scared for his people and mine.

And we laid there for a while, just taking the feel of our bodies against each other. An Arab and a Jew. A Man and a Man. We were supposed to be fearing and fighting each other, and glorifying our anger. And knowing the other didn't want to be trapped in such a world, we held and squeezed. And we both took a taste of what we were missing out on as we began to move our hands around. And my heart pounded in shock and excitement as we clung to each other. Touching and holding and both slowly expanding our open territory. Slowly spreading our love and trust for the other. And as we touched it was as if we were giving each other an understanding. As if we felt each others pain. The pain of having to hate. It was as if we were taking back all we've ever contributed to forces that have driven us apart from other men and different races.

And there was no fine line between all that temporarily collapsed our fear of loving men our fear of loving the opponent our fear of loving ourselves our fear of loving the enemy. There was no fine line. And I came. Our pants stayed on and our lij)s never met, but I came. It was the excitement of feeling another man's body and it was the explosion of solidarity and hope. Excitement and hope that he wasn't ready for. It made him stop. And that was it. It was all he could take.

I learned a lot about homophobia the next day. In the midst of a tirade of venom, he went off on faggots. And he gave me a look that said he didn't want to remember. And it made me really sad. He was ashamed. He was afraid. He was in pain. And his denial was so powerful it might just as well have led m e to assume it was all a dream. But I could still feel it My pants were still wet. And I felt the giving and the love and the friendship and the solidarity and the joining and the sharing of the pain. The explosive moment of resistance spurted out and stuck to me and made its mark. It was the mark of loving the enemy.

He lived in the remains of a Crusader Church within the Old City, an edifice left over from the Christians’ turn to brutally rule. It was dark and damp and smelt like a basement. There were two rooms’ - what was once die main worshipping area, and a side room with nothing but a bed no wider than the three of us, which put us pretty close together, with me in the middle. Gaby and I had spent the day with Jonny. And we found out that his mother was living in Haifa, unable to take care of herself, and he made enough to support her, but not enough that he could see her all that often. He felt bad he couldn't be with her, and it seemed that this was partly why, after we stopped talking and started to doze off, he started to cry. And he kept going, harder and harder. The bed was jerking and me and Gaby just laid there and didn't say anything. He finally stopped. And as I laid with his body against mine, I thought about his struggle.. And I felt him breathe. And we felt each other’s sadness. And I laid there. Ashamed of my people and angry at them for misguiding our fear and despair and anger, and not allowing Jonny and

this particular case the girt she helps has just mistakenly killed her boyfriend — I would have killed the asshole ages ago. This intel lectually challenged young lady enda-up falling for a redneck cop who turns her In on some misguided premise of justice and uphold ing the law. This script is completely without beiievability for me. Jane Is constantly baby-sitting these two , bending over backwards to help them with no care for herself and this is one thing that is very stereotypical about this film: strong Black characters enabling White folks with problems. Not to mention that whenever Jane is confronted about her sexuality in any way she scrapes around al most nauseous to apologize for being a dyke. Fuck thatl Her love life appeared non-existent and I’m so sick and tired of seeing Black people meet White people’s emotional needs at the expense of their own. (v) _______________________________ 33

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l was approaching thirteen, and it was time for my Bar-Mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony in which the 13-year-old child chants

a portion of the Torah (th e first five books of the B ible). There are 52 Jewi*>n ^for aportions, the Toran ....so booKs -^portion n n sUv---, of one each w my uncle,u. who was was tutonriy tutoring m one fo r each w eek, eek, soive m uncle, ln.e.t asked ' — Hate of b irth, inyorder towho determ ine which ,portion I m e for my Hebrew date of b irth, in-o order to determ ine which portion th day of the Hebrew month — Kom on the would read. I was bom on the seventh day of the Hebrew month Heshvan. For som e reason though, I told him I w as bom on the seventeenth. And so it cam e to be that the Torah portion I chanted _ m y Bar-M rtzvah, in front o f fam ily and friends, in th e solem n presence of th e W ailing W all— one o f the m ost sacred places to Jew s, the only le ft over from the Jew ish Tem ple th at was destroyed by the Roman Em pire 2000 years ago— was not the portion that I was “supposed” to

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^ -*f p o litic s ,' I read once, “is th e shadow cast on society by big business.* For me it is the shadow cast by the Father on his Son shortly before the Sacrifice. Som etim es shortly after. The core o f my political activism was the realization th at injustice has been— and still is being— done, and th at this is just not OK. Back in Israel the focus w as on religious freedom (Isra el is practically a Theocracy) and on Palestinian rights. Later my political aw areness broadened to any form o f oppression - econom ical, social, sexual, etc. How ever, my anger towards the Israeli governm ent, or G eorge Bush, or m u lti-n at'^ ''^ ' corporations, or pharm aceuticals, never renio— * " anger towards co m p lim en t*-• my * actual fa t^ - ~

read. "m en

- ■J more Anger was an important gate I was passing through in my journey of self-realization. Re-telling my Bar-Mitzvah Torah portion when I was 26 would have sounded something like this: Here’s Isaac on the altar, Abraham’s hand holding the knife above his son’s throat. But suddenly Isaac grabs his father’s hand, and with all his strength and might he says: “No father, you will not do this to me!” Fadeout. Discovering my own Identity, in relationship to Oppression— and my own experience of Oppression was no more personal to me than what I’ve witnessed all around me— is a very powerful place to explore; and my sensitivity to injustice has only deepened through the years.

>es not te ll us much about Isaac after that. Apparently, ___ _ o f the knife, in som e ethereal plane, did cut into Isaac’s tnroat. Deep enough to sever his vocal cords. If he did say anything— to hisitsfather, to God, or to som with readers. Silence=D eath.eone else— the Torah does not share it

oam e a on top

I grew up in an apartment overlooking a valley covered with olive trees. From my window I could see a big stone monastery - the Monastery of the Cross. It was from that valley that the olive tree was cut to make Jesus’ cross. Jesus - another Son sacrificed by his Father, a couple of millennia later. This tim e, however, God did not change his mind. Nor did Jesus remain silent, though. “O Father, why have you forsaken me?” Words that perhaps Isaac had only dreamt

When it was time for me to be drafted to the military at 18 (like everyone in Israel), I declared myself a pacifist and refused to get drafted, at a moment that perhaps was the beginning of my political journey as a Radical, as a Q ueer. However, at the tim e, it wasn’t very difficult for me to turn my Otherness into self-hate. So, eventually I was drafted, after a certain compromise was reached between the army and myself. Still, like every other soldier, I was supposed to participate in a ceremony at the W ailing W all in which thousands of soldiers, holding the Bible in one hand and their gun in the other, put them together and swear that they are willing to die for their country (Israel is a country obsessed with the myth of Sacrifice, a living «nns dying for th eir fath er's sins). Som ehow I finagli There was definitely s

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my way out of that little fascist . limit to what I was going to put myself through, even it i »»a o spend three years of my life as a soldier (actually, a very bad soldier). Those were days when conflict pervaded everywhere. The painful reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was becoming clearer and clearer to me, as was my own personal struggle with my emerging

about. Years later and I was uttering the same exact words. Not directly to my father’s face, but indirectly, through a therapist, or in a meeting of survivors of sexual abuse, or just to myself late at night when I thought

Q ueer Sexuality. It was only a few years later, during the days of the Gulf W ar, when m y awareness of power— and how it is abused by those who fear to lose it— began to deepen, that I realized that W hat I W as Becoming (i.e. Who I Am) had nothing to do anymore with my country of origin.

the cuts would never heal.

-M

The Torah portion I would have read, had I given my unde the right txrttxlate, starts with the words heave your country, your birthplace, your fath er's house, ill show house. and <uiu go yOto to this this new new place place that tnai.I w «... _ ~ ‘I did. ‘4W “ "W hen you you live live on on a a street’ s tre etell; t’ rmy you.’ And so When

father once told me. “you do what the street tells -• ■*Or you move to smother street." I you to do rep»*«d So

___ N^oocuicts of m iles aw ay from my father. realizing th at there is no such place as aw ay. Patriarch oppression, m ilitancy and fanaticism are everyw here. And the Father was w ithin me as w ell as w ithout. I can practice Paganism forever, but I am s till a Jew . I can deny the reality o f borders in my life, but I am ... still an1 ............ me, Israeli. The myth of of ““----politics" is .th th at at change rhbut » —I am *- s till an .............a myth politics" is happens outside - if wn outside - if we vote, or dem onstrate, or w rite letters or do civil disobedience. My journey, how ever, has led me w ithin. And it is s till leading m e - into my own pain.

r‘ *The last aate, as of now. is reclaiming the Sacrifice. The Knife and the Nails have cut into my flesh, that will not

change. Fighting the Sacrifice will only split me from my Self, and keep me a victim. But I am A Pagan For Jesus! I am not scared of the Sacrifice anymore. It is not something that was done to me. It is a gift I was given that refined my sense of compassion and deepened my awareness of pain. Now that I’ve discovered community, I’m learning that I do not have to bear pain alone; no one does. / am choosing to SACRIFICE myself - to make myself SACRED. My pain is a Tool of Healing. With it can share the suffering around me and transform it.

Sacrificing myself means using the Joy in my life to transform Suffering. It means changing the system at its -orv core—myself—through my capacity to create with '•n Autonomous Zones. These are the spaces at we’ve fearhed as R eality and its boundaries can dissolve, places w here hurt and anger are em braced, and, even m ore radically, w here Joy and

Ecstasy are generated.

T h e word Jerusalem in Hebrew m eans, a P lace o f P eace, and is derived from th e root “to be m ade W hole". H aving le ft th at place w here a Father Sacrifices his Son, j’ve discovered m y inner ^ tv o f P eace. And like th e wort rebirthed around m e, w f *o lit and broken, i '* * ' H ealed and Whole

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Other problems from your era, such as disease, poverty and fear are gone forever And as for those evil, or better worded, those ignorant leaders cf your day, they either chose to leave the planet after their fall from power, or are being awakened to a higher spiritual truth through the Peacock Program That's First Lady Hera s pet program. It gives a new, enlightened spiritual vision to all people. So, that’s a quick overview of how life so dramatically changed during the last 25 years. But I contacted you at RFD to share my first sexual experience with President Zeus and to offer encouragement. Trust me, guys, the best is yet to come! The road to my sexual fulfillment began back in your days. You see, my father and President Zeus are old friends from college. They were both part of the radical forces of the 1990's which helped bring in this new era we enjoy. From my childhood, I was attracted to Zeus. Our families were always together, either visiting in Troy or Greensboro, or vacationing with each other. We were all in politics. I worked on his campaign for President in 2020, which was a landslide victory for him. All during the campaign, Zeus singled me out for special attention, kept me at his side whenever possible and promised to bring me to Washington with him when he won. There were no games between us. Zeus knew that I was gay and I, of course, had known of my sexual orientation since childhood. My parents, as all parents today, honoured my sexuality and raised me accordingly. Zeus and my father talked about it openly. Many men today have younger guys for lovers, just as the ancient Greeks did. I suppose that people from the 1990's would say that Zeus is bisexual. But we just consider him sexual. Wnether man to man, woman to woman, or man to woman, people today love each other for their beauty —inner and outer. My parents provided an atmosphere for me to develop intellectually, spiritually, physically and sexually. By the rime I was 16, Zeus had made up his mind to have me. My father encouraged me to remain a virgin, as a gift to his dear friend. I did this, not because I was asked to, but because I wanted to. As I said, there was always a powerful attraction between Zeus and me. As a child, I'd sit on his lap for hours talking and laughing. As a teenager, Zeus taught me to swim. Being near him in the water and having him hold my limbs as he taught me different strokes felt so right After lessons, he would give me massages. I'd always get an erection, but Zeus never touched it. "When I become President, Ganymede, you'll come with me to Washington," was all he'd say. Our families were together on that joyous election night when Zeus was declared the winner. I gave him a big hug and he kissed me on the lips there in front of everyone. "Now you'll come with me to Washington, Ganymede," he said. As I stood engulfed in his massive arms, I knew that I'd go anywhere he wanted.

"Who would believe it! Me, a 19 year old lad from North Carolina, becoming the most revered sexual partner to the most powerful man on earth! It's true and here's my story: My name is Ganymede —Darryl Ganymede. I grew up in a small Tar Heel town called Troy. It's about 50 miles south of Greensboro. My dad is mayo: of Troy and he's also the head of the State Olympian Party. What? You've never hear of this political party? Oh, of course, I forget how easy it is for us to transcend time now. You see, I'm speaking to you from the year 2022. We have the ability to communicate with folks from any period in time. America, the world, in fact, life as a whole is incredibly different for us than it is for you back in 1995. I'll catch you up. Everything began to rapidly change duriug the last five years of your century. Dramatic political, social, religious and environmental unrest causeo a great upheaval across the land. It was utter chaos for awhi.'e. Then Power returned to the people, and Truth, as never known before, was ushered in from the heavens. By the time that I was bom, in 2003, we had entered what you prophesied as the "New Age". We now call it the New Hellenic Age, because the planet has entered a golden age much like the ancient Greeks knew. Love, Truth and Wisdom reign supreme. People are accepted and honoured for being themselves. Race, culture, sexual orientation and other diversities are treasured, not damned as in the 20th century. For gay men, like me, this New Hellenic Age is custom-made for us. It is openly known throughout America that I am the male lover of President Zeus.

$ A d v o c a t in g w h at? ^ Looking at the advertising in our major media reveals much about how our ‘‘community” is viewed as a market. 1took a recent Advocate and tallied up the ad pages. Of 50 ad pages total, the major categories broke down as follows. 3 represents 1 paae.

Viatical services (buying life insurance from the terminally ill) 3 3 3 3 3 6 D 3 3 3 Liquor and prideful recovery programs 333306* T ravel 3333336 Pharmaceutical products and services 33333 Computer services 3 3 6 *3 Idiotic rainbow stuff (like rainbow screen saver...) 3 6 *3 W ater and water filters 33 3 Books, music, film, cultural events 336 Cigarettes 3 Safer Sex 3 Shoes 3

As long as we’re tallying “The National Gay and Lesbian News magazine,” what percentage of the past year’s covers were straight people? But who’s counting? - Media Slut

Zeus and Hera moved into the White Palace (as it’s now called) in January 2021, and he sent for me within a week I took an American Eagle from Greensboro, arrived in DC where the President's personal car awaited, and was whisked off to the Palace. Zeus greeted me at the door and for the entire day, showed me around the mansion and gardens. He explained my duties, as well I would serve as his personal secretary Whether assisting with his schedule, writing letters or even bringing him a cup of ambrosia tea, my job was to serve him. Although there would be plenty of free time for me to swim in the Olympic pool, explore the city, enjoy music, reading and modern Hellenic technologies, I was always to be on call, day or night. Zeus showed me my bedroom, which was a spacious suite next to his and connected by an adjoining door. Hera’s room was on a different floor. Although Zeus and Hera are still happily married, they no longer share sexually. In fact, Hera has her own entourage of men (and women) who keep her happy in bed. I'll remember that first night at the White Palace forever. Zeus treated me to the most lavish candlelight dinner I had ever known. There we were, just the two of us in his royal suite, a roaring fire in the fireplace, a snow falling outside our windows and classical music softly playing. Zeus wore a long blue robe with gold embroidery, which accentuated his hairy chest, beard and dark features. At 51, he was the epitome of power and sexuality. I had chosen to wear a solid white robe, which, along with the candlelight, caused my tanned skin to shine like gold. Midway through our meal, Zeus rose and walked over behind me. He ran his fingers through my hair and massaged my shoulders. "I've waited for this moment since you were a child," he whispered and began to kiss and bite my ear. My heart was racing, because this was the moment that I, too, had lived for. Zeus pulled my robe down around my shoulders, which caused it to fall to my waist. He spun my chair around and lifted me to my feet. The white robe fell to my feet like the unveiling of a statue. The President of the United States took a step back and looked at my smooth, hairless body. My long blonde hair caressed my shoulders, my emerald green eyes shown with anticipation, my mouth and lips were wet with desire. Zeus reached out and ran his finger across my muscular chest, tracing around and pinching each nipple, and trailed on down my firm stomach. With both hands he held my hips, massaged them slowly, but never touched my rock-hard penis. He lifted one of my muscular legs and made long strokes up and down it before sucking on each of my toes. He motioned for me to turn around and slid his hands along my broad shoulders, well-defined swimmer's back and down to my ass. It shone as white as snow against my tanned body. Zeus ran his hands along both of my ass cheeks and squeezed them. "Ganymede", he whispered. Turning me back around he gripped my hips and then with one enormous

hand embraced my penis. My body arched forward Zeus took me in his arms and kissed my mouth 1 wanted to sw allow him or be swallowed by him Our tongues drove deep into each other 1 was on my tiptoes, trying to match him in height Still gripping my dick, the Command-inChiefs hand reached under my hot, hairless balls and stroked them Precum already flowed from my penis, like water from a fountain As elegantly as my passion would allow, 1 removed Zeus’ long blue robe and buned my face into his hairy chest I sucked on his nipples like a calf suckling its mother Downward my tongue made a path across his muscular body Deep through his forest it slid until it reached his castle tower. He pushed his dick deep inside my mouth I was choking at its massiveness, but kept swallowing, for eons, I sucked on my President's cock, tasting it, feeling it, wanting it. His balls I cupped in my hands like two large pomegranates. Harder and harder he pushed his dick in my hot mouth His hands pulled on my long hair painfully. "Gany-mede, Gany-mede," he shouted just before great oceans of hot cum filled my mouth afid throat like hot lava. 1 sucked until his volcano was empty. Zeus collapsed into my chair and 1 lay my head in his sweaty lap. For an hour we remained silent and motionless, simply bathing our bodies in the warm firelight. Soon, though, 1 felt his scepter growing against my head. I climbed into his lap, as I had done when a child. His dick pushed its way against my balls and ass. I longed for it to enter me. We kissed and caressed until the candles burned out. Zeus then picked me up anc. slung me over his shoulder. He carried his virgin trophy to the large bed. The President of the United States then fucked me long and hard for hours. His powerful hands pinned my shoulders down, his thunderous thighs and pelvis pounded my young ^ss, his balls slapped against my bottom and when at last he came, I felt lightning ripping through my body. When he slowly pulled out and lowered himself against me, we were joined together by the pools of nectar which I had long since shot across my chest and stomach. Yes, RFD friends, that's how it all began -- my first night as the President's lover. Now a year later, I'm truly the happiest man on earth. Everyday Zeus and I are together, talking, sharing, laughing, loving and running a country. To mark our first anniversary, he just this morning gave me a red, white and blue steel cockrir g. It's also a pager! Whenever he needs me, it starts vibrating, giving me the biggest hard-on you’ve ever seen. In fact, right now it's vibrating up a storm, so I'm out of here and off to serve my President! ^

Consume. They want me toconsume. They want me tobelievethatTheirproductswillfullfilimy emptinessthatisironicallymaintainedand reinforcedby themateralismThey espouse. They want me tobuy itsoThey tellme itwillgetme fucked. Itwillmake me lookgood and feel thatsecurityThey know thatIlongfor. They promise Iwillbeaccepted and finallyexcited tobe alive...soThey keep tellingme. And inthis war,They have no reservationsorshame about infiltratingmy chosen world,ruthlesslydemanding my attention. PerhapsThey know ofmy resistence-my failuretoown aTV. So They invade my doorstep and my mailbox and my telephone with some freegiftwithabsolutely no obligationofwhich Iam onceagainreminded ofinthemidstofafailedattempt toenjoythesceneryon aroadtripwithbigmindfuckingsizes and shapesand colorsand symbolsand words and picturesofwhat would supposedly make fora much bettertripand here Ioncedreamed ofthe liberation from thiscaptivity in such a twisted religion by fleeing the planet yet Iam now told that research isbrewing for space billboardswhich isa greatreason tonot havechildren which isbesidethe point which iswhat Iwant tosaytocorporateslime that putsus through thiswar on thespiritwhich would be“You have theworld sonow voucan leaveme thefbek aloneand getthefuck outofmy life!” ________________________________________________________ *_________________________________ jj 37

crkm

; i ___

SEXUAL P o litics & S p ir itu a lity

b y kccrsbanantia

We all come into this world through a process called procreation. Our parents have sex (or some use a turkey baster) and nine months or so there we are. This spring I had the privilege of watching my niece come into the world)pictured here) it was an overwhelming experience and an example of what can happen when people have sex(Duh)We all have sexual feelings)even if we are celibate), so I wonder how society has gotten to such a screwed up place around something that is so natural. These are some thoughts and ideas I had about sex.

HETEROSEXUALS Its quite obvious in today’s Het world that people in this sexual label are usually looking for a mate to settle down and procreate with (the Disney American Dream). Although the roles and ideals for this group are changing, history (mostly written by white straight conservative males) shows us that most sexual oppression has come from fear. Fear of intimacy, Fear of enjoyment and many other fears that we still deal with everyday.

HOMOSEX If you are reading this you probably understand a lot about this subject. The creation of Images and ideas that are fed to the public by advertising and by groups of people who have power, money or both. Just take a look at advertising tantalizing us into believing that “If only I could look like that model, I could be sexually attractive too.” So what happens to those of us that buy into these images. You can find out by walking into almost any gay bar in America and most of the people have the same clothes, hair, attitudes and even the same sculpted bodies)the ever boring Gone). 1 think most of this phenomenon is based(again) in fear if I look too different, then people aren’t going to be attracted to me. I admit 1 find many of these Gym whores stimulating to look at. Many of them suck in bed(not in a good way). They are stuck cm themselves(not to mention their self absorbed sexual habits)I mean really, usually you see those guys hanging on to each other in any Gay ghetto. It’s as if they build themselves up to be in this exclusive club. Just look at most of today’s pomo, no originality hardly any beards, tattoos and just ordinary guys. Anyway enough clone bashing. The truth is we are easily influenced by the ideas that are fed to us. The hard part is deciphering what we see and deciding ourselves what we are attracted to.

BISEXUALITY “Stop riding the fence”MYou are weakening the movement” Excuse me? No one has dibs on a movement Besides I have no intention of being a part of a movement, I just want to live my life. It is strange to me that so many gay people discriminate against people who are Bi. Even the Radical Fairies have major issues whether Bisexuals (or women) are Radical Fairies. Usually when I look into peoples eyes, I try to look really deep, for the eyes can tell you an awful lot about a person. If a person can’t look me in eyes I find it hard to trust them. It can also be a very spiritual, and sexual experience looking deep into the eyes of another. I find, that’s usually where the initial attraction for someone comes for me. Beyond the eyes is the important thing for me and that’s the soul (Energy, Spirit, Essence?). I believe that this human existence is here for the enjoyment of the Flesh. Part of this Flesh is sexuality, it joins spirits in the flesh. I’ve made love to men and women and very few of those experiences did I not enjoy.

SEX WORK What is the big deal? Everything in today’s society deals with money, producing a good product and selling it. Why is it illegal to be a prostitute? It’s a much clearer exchange than what happens in the bar scene, people stand around and gawk at one another (like animals) “what’s your Sign? What are you into?”. At least in sex work those games aren’t the focus. It’s clearer that people are looking for sex, they want to pay for it and don’t want to play those games. This whole idea of sex workers more likely to have S.T.D.s is full of crap(unless they are working for drugs or just don’t give a damn). Many prostitutes are college students or educated people that enjoy the trade. I think that these days they know that Safe Sex is a responsibility of both parties involved I feel that if you have two(or more) consenting adults agreeing to a contract, it shouldn’t matter if that has to do with sex.

RELIGION At least in most of the Christian oriented religions there are the obvious judgments of sex(No to condoms, NO to Adultery, NO NO to Homosexuals). Or is it Be fruitful and multiply in the name of God(or go to HELL)? In a way feafrof God, or going to hell )has people believing that sex is not for pleasure but for having babies. Being a Pagan I celebrate sexuality, watching the ebb and flow of life itself The seasons bring us Sabbats or holidays as they change and everyone has its own sexual references. For instance at Beltane(May 1st) we dance around the May pole representing the penis impregnating the earth for a fertile season of growth. An old witches book I have describes a ritual at Samhain that includes an orgy that was to celebrate life. This was also a preparation for the coming cold months.

^ E TH Y OWN PALACE? OR T H E WORLD S A cJAIL

fOHNDONNE 38

OMNISEXUALtand Masturbation) For a long time I have had sexual experiences by myself in natural places. For instance once I was on a surfing trip down on the tip of Badge and........."The sun had gone down and my friends were just hanging out I walked down the beach and decided to go in the water. I took off all my clothes, and headed out to the sand bar. The water was warm and 1 was feeling really homy. I looked back towards the beach and the moon was just coming up over the horizon. This gave me a total hard on, the tide was up. so 1 kept jumping when the waves came and I would let them crash against my naked body. I started massaging my own body, (sore after days of surf, sand and sun). I began pinching my own tits and stroking my hard cock in the waves. I wasn’t thinking of a person , I was just looking at the moon, stars, and feeling the sand below my feet I finally worked myself into a sexual frenzy. Jacking off, breathing hard, and feeling very light headed. Just as a wave came crashing down on me, stimulating my oock and balls even more.... I came- oh boy did I cum!”. That experience showed me that I didn’t have to have someone in mind when I want to masturbate. When we look at nature we see how it is so sexual in itself. Flowers with their little stamens that look like penises, every thing seems to have this inand quj motion like the moon going from empty to full and back again, the seasons coming and going. Sometimes I feel like everything has sexuality(or is it spirituality ?)

SEXUAL LABELS

“We are not humans having spiritual experien ces, we are spirits having a human exp erien ce”

We use labels to make others think that we do something in a certain way (I’m Gay, 1 only have sex with men). We also use labels as a Social and political form of division and discrimination^ am straight, just like most people, why should you have rights?). And we label ourselves to feel like we are a part of a group or part of something that is bigger than ourselves(I am a straight, gay, bisexual, transsexual, radical fairie). Its fine to label ourselves, but its not OK to tell other people what their labels have to be, remember, there are endless possibilities and variations on how to live and how to have sex. Don’t discriminate because people are not like you, embrace differences, “Celebrate Diversity”, most of all celebrate life,

Politically [o rrect?

Continued from page 28

invisibility. Remember the definition "political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices", that sounds like the Fallwell way. By staying out of sight we merely assist in his campaign, first by not helping to dispel his misinformation, and secondly by not coming out we are buying into the premise that we are what the enemy says we are, sick, sub-human and otherwise degenerate. What is politics? The total complex of relations between people in society. How does that relate to me, you ask? How do I know if I’m doing the right thing? Just what is politically correct? Colorado voters approved an anti-gay amendment, our response was a boycott. Who suffered, Colorado? I don’t think so. We did. Activists on all sides are trying to rewrite history and in so doing are denying themselves the reality of their past. Who suffers? We all do by having lost that past. The religious right attacks us for our difference and we rail at them from the anonymous safety of our living rooms. Who suffers? We do, unless we act, unless we accept ourselves and act accordingly. Politically correct, doesn ’t mean just doing something, it means looking at the situation and thinking your actions out first, remembering the intended effect is not necessarily the only effect. c£b

Two weeks ago at this writing fifteen people, who went to the Cherry Hill Bar in New York City toi leaflet regarding a recent bashing, were beaten viciously by the skinheads who hang out at that bar. Some of the people were reporters and others were members of New York City's Lesbian and Gay Anti-violence Project.

The fact is that the white boys (henceforth "the men" meaning the rich men without color whose wealth is stolen from people who work, and whose status costs the rest of us our free identities) the men have been saving up their loose change and stockpiling weapons for the final battle. Armageddon is their fantasy. They've lured many of us into the cities with promises of making us the cultural elite. They've penned us in ghettoes by singing a false song of safety and freedom. They've set us against our natural allies - the poor and the outsiders - by making us dress like the men and act like the men. Some of us have become their allies because we wanted so much to feel worthy by being part of their games. And they want the rest of us true outsiders dead on the field of battle which they will again hastily describe in their books as a battlefield of the

This very real attack was also symbolic. It implies that queers who think they have a right to walk the streets unharassed are the same kind of extremists as the racists who want to rule the world. The bold activists at the Anti-violence Project who defend all of us with their work really only demand the simplest conciliation from our oppressors: safe passage. It is a goddamn shame when people who demand safety for queers or the liberation of women from constant threat of rape and harassment are branded extremists. This narrows the political dialogue so that radical queer activists have to waste time fighting for survival while the socalled leaders of the mainstream movement for lesbian and gay civil rights are selling the movement down the river. They've abandoned the grass roots critique of the nuclear family, the heterosexual paradigm and the demonic patriarchy which spawned them. What we get instead of real critique are Absolute Queer and Compari drinks! called the "Stonewall".

good rich caretakers against the rebellious uppity crazies. If they want war we have only two choices: we can camouflage ourselves again. Dress carefully like them and mimic their sick addictive relationships and buy and sell their toys so they can continue to use the profits to make themselves look big. We can buy their beer and their implants and shave our legs and buy their drugs and act butch or femme and consume 2 pounds of their feces every year. We can go to the parties they plan for us and eat I the flesh and drink ‘the blood of the boy-god of the men. We can only play when and where they tell us it is safe. Then, if we speak only when spoken to they may let us into the power chambers, the oval office, the stanza della signatura, the hotel water glasses and thinly veiled speeches about how to get the poor to pay you for stealing their soul and how cheap commodities are when they are made by children, prisoners or hungry people. That is | one choice available mostly to those of us who are white and have penises. ' They want Armageddon. The men want a fight. They know how to invade their own cities and to set outcasts against each other because they've had | lots of practice. All around the nation-state heterosexuals who believe in the paradigm are ( regrouping, reconstructing the pathetic nuclear family from what they see as the ravages of the sexual revolution. Meanwhile queers are increasingly marginalized, but seem unwilling or unable to stand outside the dominant paradigm without pining for acceptance. The men will not accept us. As they have done for millennia, the

I object to this state of affairs for two reasons. First, gay men who shop are not on the whole qualified to fight a cultural war. I'm not willing to let their

milk-toast image buy them a place at the table while I'm still being fed supper scraps out the back door. Second, I am not allowed into the dialogue because I exist outside its boundaries. I'm not a well-dressed, well-mannered gay man who simply wants safe passage from subway to apartment door (this is in no way a reflection on the work or intentions of the Anti-violence Project). I don't want a place at their table, because sitting at the table with fiends who enforce their brand of multinational corporate exchange with guns and bombs is "for the birds" (and I know the birds and they're also running scared). Furthermore, I want their heads on stakes in my gardens to keep the aphids at bay j and their tired flaccid cocks draped around my waist at the final victory dance atop their mass corporate grave. V'

Continued on Page 43 As an Anarchist, for me the ultim aklil taLinji personal responsibility for my life is to grow my own food. As a pagan my nw»st inspired rituals are those of planting seeds and tending a garden. That act is what gets me in touch with the cycles of the earth more than anything else. This is a call for more people to take up gardening. We need to radically alter the way we live our lives including the foods we e a t There is no denying that our life of excess cannot be maintained. Capitalism is based on econmomk growlh (read consumption). We are running out of resources to consume; thus is born the buzz word of the nineties, “sustain-ability.” The pie is shrinking, even as more pieces need to be cut from it,. This can’t go on without something giving, and that something may be us. It’s no wonder that people increasingly are getting sick. We are too far removed from nature,the food we eat, the nutrition we need to maintain health and vigor. Our soils have been so devitalized that even if our food came from local farmers we still couldn’t eat enough of it to truly nourish ourselves. More people need to garden. Gardening Is a divine act of magic combined with alchemy. -Gwi** 41

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We have a better choice. We can refuse to steal from each other for the men. We can steal from the men for ourselves. We can refuse to be real men or nice girls. We can play wherever we want to play. We can stop this foolishness of the boys playing in one place while the women play in another. We can tear down the house of gender and dance in the rubble. We can talk to our neighbors with kindness and help them keep the men at bay. We can nurture each other and not be afraid. We can take to wearing whatever we want to wear, loving whomever we want to love whenever we want. We can walk gently on earth taking only what we need and singing gentle songs to her We can, for a while, ignore the men with their important papers, their signatures, their stolen grandeur, their pitiable come*ons We can refuse to buy the toys they lull us with and share fruit, drag and extravagant kisses amongst ourselves. We will grow strong.

sto n e w a ll

REBELLION!!

illuminate

men will distract us with toys and candy while their peons are fencing us in and hoisting the gallows. The men have burned, hanged and gassed us for years and don't think for a minute that things have come too far for that.

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Continued from page 41

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he circle will be a ring of fire in our collective soul. Vhen we are apart* the circle will burn fiercely iround us to remind us of our power. When the nen begin to come for us to put up the crowd :ontrol razor wire and fingerprint us and call us by )ur special names and write our names on the vails of post offices and hunt us with their mad jogs and search lites. Then (now) we will have no choice but to sit quietly in the trees and ambush hem. No choice but to go into their boardIrooms

believe.

and limousines and storm their pasty bodies. There will be the brief moment when we feel the tired machine of patriarchy wriggle and hiss on the ends of our plowshares, the heads may even keep mumbling for a few days after they're on the stakes, but it will be over like a sad dream. The queers who refuse to fight or resist, who continue to buy their sexuality and their manliness or femininity on the corporate market will be surprised to feel real freedom.

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Of the two choices I can only choose freedom. I will crawl out of the charade and laugh at the men I pine for queers who are their lackeys I caress my lovely weapon. Bring it on boys.

Limits The latest Propaganda of the religious Right in their campa»gn to usurp everyone's freedom except their own takes great liberties with the words of our founding fathers (or in Alexander Hamilton’s case, founding faeries). They are suggesting the separation of church and state was action taken by these supposedly Christian men in an attempt to protect their beloved churches from regulation and degradation by the state. This line of logical (or illogic, more appropriately named) concludes that this separation is no longer needed because now we know how to let the church get into the state's business while keeping the state out of the churches. They cite Thomas Jefferson on this point as proof of their ultimate patriotism. Their choice of Jefferson as their philosophical forefather shows what they’re up to right away.

In other words, far from being worried about the effect of government intervention on the purity of religion, it sounds like the constitutional framers had some grave concerns about religiosity run amok. Let us not forget these guys had some experience with the consequences of theocracy in New England, and even after the adoption of the Constitution there, the local remnants of theocracy haunted and hampered their liberty minded descendants for some time to come. The famous treatise, "On Civil Disobedience" written By Thoreau was inspired by the author's being jailed for refusing to pay a locally collected tax that went to the support of clergy on the count of he did not consider himself to be of a Christian denomination and was charged the tax based upon the religious affiliation of his parents.

Saying your entire philosophical position can be found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson is equivalent to saying that everything you believe can be found in Webster's Dictionary! Jefferson wrote shiploads of letters, notes, books, memos, and pamphlets. He was the propagandist’s propagandist and often espoused positions completely opposed to his own in one part of a document only to tear it down in another. What is more, this was an old ploy in 19321 Thomas Crum, writing in the Swanee Review in October, 1932 under the title "Every Man His Own Jeffersonian" explains that every political movement to hit our shores since the old guy died claims Thomas Jefferson was their theoretical forefather for this very reason. According to Crum, one can place Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed, and the so called Christian Coalition in the same political bed as the American Socialist Party in Claiming Jefferson as their philosophical forefather.

Before becoming too carried away with the lofty nature of our stature as Americans I will share one of my favorite quotes on the matter. "We are Americans which means our ancestors got kicked out of every decent country in the world." In a word, conformists would never have thought of a place like the United States. Fundamentally the Christian Coalitionists are seeking a fascist state in which their ideology is superior to the Constitution and the rights of humanity. Rather than this being the American ideal, I would say marching naked in the streets more likely fills the bill. Pushing the limits of tolerance, the definition of how far personal freedom should go and debating these ideas in the loudest, most obnoxious manner possible, this is what being an American is really about. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those are pretty heavy hitting ideas that carry with them the weight of over 200 years of millions of people every day trying to find their bliss.

Far from being super patriots, the Religious Right are bigots and traitors of the worse sort to the ideals upon which the United States were founded. In fact, James Madison, Constitutional framer and all around pretty conservative guy, pegged this type of self serving religious bigotry in Federalist Papers (one of Newty baby’s favorites, according to his press secretary) "The Merits of a Republic." Madison points out that, "A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction... but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the (nation] against any danger."

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don't want Jesse Helms to be gay! Or Ollie North, the Pats Buchanan and Robertson, Phyllis Schlafly. Or even the Pope. Why do their likes want me to be straight? Locked up? Maybe even dead? I don’t care what they think or feel about me. They are even free to hate me if that gets them off. But what they are not free to do is act on their thought and feelings in ways that affect my life. They can’t suppress me, harass me, abuse me, beat me or stop me from living as I choose. Still. . . There are plenty of people around these days who want to do all the above and more. Not only to you and me but to anyone who seems different. That’s why Douglas Conwell’s article follows on the Stop Hate! conference held last summer. Though specifics of the conference deal with New Mexico, its concerns mark developments common in all too many locales. Ordinarily this subject might find its home elsewhere in RFD. It’s in the Spirituality section this season both to observe the issue’s political focus and to recognize a call to spirit that the hate-mongers present. Call to spirit? One’s first response with haters is often to hate them right back and with greater force. Yet, for some, eye-for-an-eye vengeance doesn’t work—they are either unable or unwilling to match an attacker’s force. They may also have learned that violence violates all—regardless of who may “win” or “lose” in a given situation. When I’ve matched an aggressor’s anger and force with my own—and even “won” with barely a scrape—I felt just as bruised and hollowed out as if I’d been beaten to a pulp. Doesn’t matter if the haters used fists, words or law of the land as weapons. I’ve also found that little is resolved in fighting back on haters’ terms. One only feeds a vicious cycle and redoubles the violence next time around. Alternatives exist. Instead of buying into hate-mongers’ bids for domination by out-doing them on their own terms, out-spirit the bozos instead. Subvert them in ways that stop abuse without compounding the problem. Neutralize the hate and transmute it. Make magic that transfers engagement to realms that leave the haters devoid of opponents. No prescriptions exist for this magic. Ways that I know involve non participation: being so unmoved by hate-mongers’ bluster that, phantom like, you never need engage them at all. Being so guileless that you never find yourself in the same place or time to engage them. Being “impeccable" enough to appear to engage them on their own terms (as some of our brothers and sisters cited in Douglas’ article have dedicated themselves to do) without actually feeding their self-delusion. In all cases the magic of non participation leaves hate-mongers groundless—striking thin air at a non opponent who has stripped them of their presumed power.

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-rimes of violence and hate against gay and lesbians, Jewish people and people of color are on the rise nationally. The murder of gay men in

Nation. “We are the conscience of society and we call attention to the injustices that are done,” she said to the 250 participants. “O ur greatest weapon is to know the laws and use them .” Dr. Joanna Grey, professor in the sociology department at the University of New Mexico, believes that “haters have a deep and abiding fear and find socially-sanctioned targets like homosexuals, people of color and Jewish people. They have to dehumanize the objects of their hate.

Albuquerque is grim testimony to this fact. In response, a broad coalition of organizations co-sponsored “Stop Hate! A Com m unity Call for Action” on June 28-29 in Albuquerque. Several gay/lesbian/bi groups were co-sponsors, including New Mexico Gay/Lesbian Political Alliance and the Human Rights Alliance of Santa Fe. Keynote address at the evening opening for the conference, attend ed by over 500 people, was Morris Dees, chief trial counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who won the first major lawsuit against the Ku Klux Klan—for a settlement of $70 million. Dees commended Albuquerque for holding the conference and urged other communities around the country to follow suit. Dees believes that words translate directly into action. When gays and lesbians are demonized by groups like the Christian Coalition, a climate of violence and hatred against them is fostered. People are reaching back to a simpler time in reaction to this confusing age of computers, job losses and major change,” Dees said. “America is angry and divided. But our nation is great precisely because of our diversity, so why can’t we all get along?” Dees sees no magic solution but he counsels that hate be answered with love. O ut of this love, his Center sued the United Klans of America for the murder of a young African-American man in Alabama to set an example that such action would not be tolerated. During the trial, the murderer confessed and with not a dry eye in the courtroom , asked for the victim’s m other’s forgiveness. “I’ve already forgiven you, son,” the mother said, in a true act of loving compassion. Dees also shared a story that relates to gays and lesbians coming out. A young black elemen tary school student finally was accepted by his white peers once they interacted with him and got to know him as a person. The Stop Hate! conference was coordinated by the Albuquerque Human Rights Office and Project Change, a national program launched by the Levi Strauss Foundation in 1991 as an initia tive to address racial prejudice. Albuquerque was one of the three pilot communities for the project. Opening address at the workshop was by Genevieve Jackson, one of six women who has served as a Council Delegate to the Navajo

“They externalize all their problems, feeling that everything happening in their lives is being done to them and is out of their control. “Most experience fear from childhood, being brought up in an authoritarian atmosphere. Their own self-hatred reflects outward to others. They view the world in polarities—right or wrong, etc.—and ambiguities only further their personal fear and insecurities.” Grey said the most effective weapon against hate and bigotry is an individual’s education and exposure to a wide variety of people. “Never allow a hate statement or action to go unchallenged,” she urged. “And be sure to use humor and lots of light to illuminate hate agendas. Fungus can’t grow in open sunlight.” Looking at hate groups in New Mexico, Susan Seligman, director of the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League, revealed that there are representatives of many white supremacist groups in the state, although at this time they are small and not too effective. She identified several communities as places with “serious” white supremacist groups. “The glue that holds these groups together is their anti-government attitudes,” she said, “but often times, they are anti-Semite, anti-gav and racist.” A ttorney Lillian Apodaca agreed with Seligman, stating that 87 percent of the hate crimes in Los Angeles in 1990 were for race and sexual orientation; 99 percent of the perpetrators were males.

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“Hate crimes legislation is not just to protect gays and lesbians," asserted Martha Trolin, co-moderator of the New Mexico Gay and Lesbian Political Alliance. “The term ‘special rights’ is being used now against women and people of color in the debate against affirmative action. We must all get involved with legislation against hate crimes for all groups. “Silence is the most powerful weapon hate has,” Trolin said. “Some people are unwilling to report hate crimes but we must all come out of the closet together.” H enry Valdez, district attorney for the First Judicial District in Santa Fe, discussed the need for hate crimes legislation. “Victims of hate crimes feel more helpless and humiliated than those of other crimes,” he said. “The crime will bring up memories of past acts of hate and prejudice against them. They will be afraid to go out in public. “People who are not members of the victim ’s group may recon sider associating with them, further victimizing the individual,” he added. Linda Siegle of the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance said that hate crimes legislation in New Mexico received strong bi-partisan support in the past legislative session. Although the bill would have protected a wide variety of groups and individuals, all the attacks on it were because it included sexual orientation. The state’s district attorneys urged G overnor Gary Johnson to pass the bill, but the Christian Coalition and other hate groups were able to send 200 to 300 phone calls and letters a day to dissuade him from signing the bill. “The Governor says all crimes are hate,” said Siegle, “but does that include embezzlement and robbery?” Siegle said that plans are to get G overnor Johnson to place the bill on his call list for the next session or reintroduce the bill in 1999. She soberly reminded the group: “The first group repressed is never the last group repressed.” ^

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SPIRIT ALERT!

(Douglas Conwell writes frequently on environmental and gay /lesbian issues. He is also director o f Earth Walks, an endeavor that conducts trips into nature throughout Mexico and the southwest U.S.— dedicated to environmental awareness, healing and ceremony.)

W H A T DO

“SPIRIT” A N D “SPIRITUALITY” M E A N T O YOU?

H O W A R E T H E Y P A R T O F Y O U R LIFE?

Share y o u r responses to these questions. In a few w ords (o r pictu re s) o r many. Be funny an d /o r profound. W rite to S p iritu a lity E d ito r % RFD Responses w ill be featured in Issue 85— Spring 96 ft

model: Richard Hawkinberry photos courtesy Richard Hawkinberry

♦ a lw a y s lo o kin g fo r general submissions to S p iritu a lity . Inundate us!

Lizagna's wedding ceremony

By MaxZine Four lesbians left our queer community of IDA after a sum mer of women living with faerie men here in homo hollow in Ten nessee. It was a dramatic departure, with a going away party which was really an ecstatic sharing of emotions and feelings, particularly focused on the celebration of a queer men and women's land. At 4:00 in the morning the four adventurous heroines hit the road for the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. In their wake, our hot, dry spell of midsummer yielded to cool rains. A few weeks ago IDA had a vision quest party, wherein we all dressed as our vision of IDA five years from now. There was a robot, Miss Garlic 2000 (celebrating 243 acres of garlic harvest), and many more fun outfits. The women entered the affair topless, with "women" painted across their chests in red. It was a bold de sire displayed in the flesh: the dream of turning IDA into a queer space where women are residents. When I hear some gay men talk about creating safe space (without women), I wonder what are they trying to be safe from ? I love men and their bodies in ways that I cannot imagine interacting with women. And I love women and love the unity of outcasts I have shared with dykes at IDA this summer. I love the expansion of safe space for men and women. I love seeing women be sensual with each other. I love seeing women comfortable without clothing in a group of mostly men. I love the new possibilities of genderfuck when men and women work together. I love being challenged by and exposed to diversity, including learning about the sexism which exists among gay men. I don't want to be safe from my loves.

One of the most memorable events of the summer was the Lesbian Wedding of Liz and Anna (known collectively as Lizagna). Lizagna printed invitations inviting each IDAho to play a specific role at their ceremony. They also admonished each person to un dermine the role of someone else, thus ridiculing the institution of marriage. The wedding contained every imaginable manifestation of m ayhem . A tten d an ts (m en dressed in see through curtains)graciously saw to the needs of the brides (including Kombucha tea and coffee). The garden was decorated magnificently. There was mad dancing following a crazed ceremony led by vicar Phil (who donned a hat with the letters Rx). Honorable guests from Short Mountain and elsewhere filled the "pews" and gaily drank wine (which interrupted the proceedings!). Lizagna went on a hon eymoon to nowhere and everywhere as the festivities continued into the night. Earlier in the summer, Lissa had spent a month with us as a garden intern, also known as a party intern. She left her mark on the land and her memory with us as she left shortly after a piercing ritual honoring her blood. Andrea and Johnny Girl came. LizAnn Shazam visited from the West Coast. As did Jeannie. Johnny Girl came back for a few weeks. Lisa and her daughter Ruby have been frequent visitors. Sue came down from New York. Our neighbor Jim Ann started frequenting our hollow. Women came with a tour ing bus of communitarians. And many men visited as well. We remain a queer arts community, emboldened by the vi sion of fags and dykes together. We are uncertain what the future will bring, but we are fortunate to have a glimpse of the power of women and men together at Idyll Dandy Acres. 48

Revised Autumnal Constellation Guide for 1995 by K. Hass

Take the map outside and stare at the sky (at night). The chart held in this position depicts Southern sky. Quarter turns of the magazine from left to right give correct views successively of Eastern. Northern and Western sky. To those of you who have objected to my so-called excessive inclusion of a “personal mythology” in the ascertaining of certain zodiological facts hcrcwithin and previously, 1 should like to point out that there is a long standing tradition among scholars of the heavens, like myself, to take command of solar bodies, to attach to them their own personal significance, if not their namesake, and to thereby determine their usage (or associations at the very least) for all posterity. To say I have slandered the field to the same degree as certain predecessors (Galileo, Copernicus, Aristotle, Alpherat/ .) is. 1 suppose, a just and accurate criticism, with which l shall have to come to terms in my own time. Until then I respectf ully submit to you my revised Autumnal Constellation guide for 1995

The Autumn sky has always held great fascination for the novice astrologer and stargazer. This season of dramatic change is paralleled by subtle but important events in the heavens. In this season of decay and return to the earth, it seems only fit that we should reexamine our conception of the constellations we hold in such high esteem, allowing their meanings to decompose before us and be bom again, anew, afresh from the dead heat of the summer sky gone by. The map above shows the principle stars visible from Latitude 40° N. at:

9:00 P.M. October 1st 9:30 Sept. 22nd 10:00 Sept. 14th 10:30 Sept. 7th

8:30 Oct. 8th 8:00 Oct.. 14th 7:30 Oct. 22nd

The times are Eastern Standard.

COMMUNITARIANISM A Prospectus for Revolution

Lineaus Hooper Lorette

C hapter I In tro d u ctio n

PURPOSE OF BOOK Commentary

PURPOSE OF BOOK

The atmosphere and the oceans arc things that cannot be owned, nor can they be alienated. The right to breathe clean air and the need for clean oceans belong to every generation The right to alienate the atmosphere and the oceans for economic prosperity does not exist Every generation has the obligation to leave the Earth clean for the next generation Our duty to our children is to begin this task of cleaning

To define Communitarian ideas and methods

PURPOSE OF COMMUNITARIAN IDEAS AND METHODS

To create the global governmental system required by the realities of the 21st century.

COALS OF COMMUNITARIAN IDEAS AND METHODS

• To extend all people their Rights to the basic necessities of living.

The future of our species is on the planet that created us. It is nice to know the truths of the Universe, but it would be wonderful to guarantee every child a fair chance to a happy life. The experiences of a beautiful Earth are more valuable than sending people into space Earth defines our life, and Earth defines our death. We cannot escape the fate of the sun nor the fate of every species Those who speak of other futures beyond Earth are children, fools, or thieves. Chapter III: Theories

• To extend American Constitutional Rights to all people

COMMUNITY

• To achieve global peace for ourselves and our posterity • To establish one global governmental system. CONCEPTS

• To grant all people their Rights to live in a clean world

• All human life is associated with a Community. • All Communities are unique.

• To recognize the sanatty of the environment

• The Community is destined to replace the family as society’s basic building block.

• To recognize the sanctity of all life • To give the urban centers the political authority to provide for our general welfare. • To create a global system of autonomous urban centers functioning within global systems for free trade and mobility

POLICY

Create Communities with the political power necessary to provide for the necessities of living and the general welfare

Commentary

The purpose of this book is to define a new global governmental system and the methods of achieving it Communitananism is the creation of new territories and a new division of the responsibilities and powers of government. Communitananism shall be implemented in stages first by country and finally globally. The present system is the result of the violence of history and the nationalism of global conquest The needs of the present and the future require government designed to facilitate the realities of the global economy and global peace.

Human life is described by life in urban centers. From small towns to large metropolitan areas, people come together to live. But the generalization ends quickly, for every urban center is unique. The thesis of the Communitarian system is that people should be in control of their lives. Urban centers should have the authority and responsibility to design their own governmental structures to meet the needs of their unique public and to have the opportunity to fail. If democracy is to have meaning, the urban center must be free to choose its own path. The goal of the Communitarian Revolution is to give urban centers the political authority and resources to deal with their unique problems and population. The goal of the Communitarian Revolution is to create a system of self-sufficient and self-reliant Communities existing in peace within a global community of free people.

National governments are perplexed by unique urban problems and the speed with which urban problems arise and change The requirement to legislate national programs to solve the problems of unique urban populations results in program failure. National programs cannot be flexible enough to solve distina urban problems. The pace of national government was designed by the writers of the Constitution to slow the political process, while 200 years later our lives are defined by cities castrated of the power necessary to find new solutions to their problems. The contradiaion of centralized, national power and the urban and global realities creates useless and yet expensive government.

Technology and the pace of modem life are destroying the family. The family is dying. In the past the process of living was defined by the family; education and retirement security were functions of the family. Now children learn more from television than they learn from their families. The family is breaking up; divorce is the expeaation. Single parents dominate the descriptions of poor families. Governmental structures are slowly filling the void left by failing families, but backup systems to a failure by the family to produce successful adults do not exist. Urban centers define the realities of our lives and are the natural substitute for the failing family. The right and the chance to live in a sane world should belong to every person. The future is a world of mobile people living in independently funaioning Communities which govern to meet the needs of an ever-changing population The Community is bom. *

The human species has matured The term of our maturity depends on our ability to live on Earth without destroying it Human organization should facilitate global preservation. People should be free to live as they and their neighbors choose, but they are obligated to live in toleration and peace and without destroying future generations' ability to experience the wonders of our home Scarcity is an occurrence of our past Abundance and charity are our future A world at peace is our gift to our children. Chapter III Theories

Chapter III: Theories AIR, SPACE, AND OCEANS

CONCEPTS

POLICIES

• Air, space, and oceans are public property

CORPORATIONS

CONCEPTS

• Multi-national corporations are perpetual business institutions.

• One generation does not have the right to alienate clean air and clean oceans from another generation.

• Multi-national corporations are institutions organized for profit.

• The use of air. space, and oceans reflects the will of the people of Earth

• Multi-national corporate decisions are not mitigated by human conscience.

• Establish global government with the jurisdiaion over standards for air and ocean quality

POLICIES

• Abolish all corporations. • Prohibit the existence of any perpetual institutionalization of business.

• Establish global government with the duty to clean the air and oceans for the next generation

• Prohibit any business form which attempts to limit the owner's responsibility for business decisions.

• Establish global government with the jurisdiaion over the use and exploration of space

Chapter V Method COMMliNTTAJUAN PARTY

Commentary

Corporations are institutions created bv law to be perpetual business organizations Their purpose is to operate a business Stockholders are the owners Corporations are divided into two categories mutu-national corporations and stale-chartered corporations State-chartered corporations are owned by a feu individuals and are perpetual only as king as the owners are entrepreneurial State-chartered corporations are essentially small businesses m d their operations reflect their owners conscience Multi-national corporations are organized to be truly perpetual Stockholders and managers are not the same Then perpetuity is assisted by governmental structures of national governments

CONCEPTS

• A political organization is necessary to achieve a political revolution • The process of achieving Commumtananism defines Communitanantsm

POLICY Multi-national corporations are the institutionalization of profit Their business decisions are motivated only by profit As alternatives for business operations are evaluated, the effect on profits is always determined Ultimately no decision is made without its profitability being calculated Small businesses do not operate in that way Human conscience is a factor in small business operations The voice of conscience is not heard in decisions of multi-national corporations The needs erf multi-national corporations are those of a child Their need for profit is blind They are institutions of the past, of an adolescent world driven to dominate others, to exploit without human conscience, and to have as much as possible

PURPOSE OF COMMUNITARIAN PARTY

Practice non-violence, democracy, and toleration

• To provide the organization necessary to achieve the Communitarian Revolution • To develop party programs • To entertain the party membership

Business is not evil, but the multi-national corporation is without good Morality demands its abolition. The separation of business ownership and management is a moral contradiction. Multi-national corporations exist beyond the control o f even our national government Commumtananism would fail if corporations existed beyond the control of the Community. Corporations are institutions created in law, and the people have the nght to abolish that law. All corporations shall be abolished, and any institutionalization o f business expressly prohibited Business owners shall be responsible for business decisions

• To provide for the education and training of the party membership • To promote Community self-reliance and responsibility' • To promote individual self-reliance and responsibility • To expand party membership

Chapter IV. Agenda

• To select and run candidates for local offices

COMMUNITIES

GOALS OF COMMUNITARIAN PARTY CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

• Land within each Watershed shall be divided into Community territories.

• A smooth transition to Communitanan Democracy Chapter V: Method COMMUNITARIAN PARTY

• Each Community shall provide for the general welfare including systems for: • • • • • • • • • •

• A successful General Strike

Commentary

Health care Retirement security Education and training Full employment Construction, operation, and maintenance of the Community's infrastructure Adequate housing Establishment of business, craft, and professional ethics Definition of property rights Definition of criminal behavior Taxation of people, property, and commerce

Revolutions require agency. The agency of the political revolution is the political party The agency of the Communitanan Revolution is the Communitarian Parry. Revolutions are processes which take years to mature. There are no breaks in that process which allow changes in methods The methods in the beginning are the same methods required at die moment of success. Both non-violence and local party autonomy are definitional methods Communiiarianism is a system of autonomous cities within a global network and will be achieved by a system of autonomous local party organizations within a global network of the Communitarian Party. The structure is organic so as to allow the idea of Communiiarianism to grow and mature through the contributions o f many people. Without a head, where can the authoritarian powers strike? There are no national dues, no national organization to dictate local party actions. The needs of humanity have grown beyond dictatorships and revolutionary vanguards.

• Community government shall be composed under the prin ciple of one person, one vote.

Every local party is responsible for building the political organization necessary to win electoral control over its city government. To win the pieople's trust. Communitarians will govern the cities as now constituted while developing programs for post-revolutionary government and for the General Strike. Using the power of the cities to facilitate the General Strike creates the circumstances for a successful General Strike.

• Communities shall give full faith and credit to the laws of other Communities. • All powers not expressly given to Watersheds and Earth are reserved to the Communities.

Chapter V Method

• All subsurface property rights shall be transferred to the Community.

NON-VIOLENCE Commentary

• The right of technological innovation is subject to the will of the Community'. Commentary

The territory of each Watershed will be divided into Communities so that no Community shall exist within two Watersheds In the United States, Communities would most likely resemble our present counties modified by the restriction that each Community exist entirely within one Watershed Communities will be responsible for providing for the general welfare The will of the Community can mandate systems ranging from socialist to capitalist provided the Community sustains the general welfare of its people. The general welfare includes the right of every person to the necessities of living health care, employment, education, adequate housing, and secure retirement. The government of each Community will be composed under the principle of one person, one vote. The administration of Community law will be the responsibility of the Community; however, Earth will provide and maintain the judicial system. The Community will have the governmental responsibility of living, but people will be protected by Earth courts of justice. Local autonomy will be balanced by the right of every person's access to Earth's courts of justice

in all actions. Communitarians practice non-violence, toleration, and democracy. The Communitarian goal is a non-violent, tolerant world This future cannot be obtained by violence nor by intolerance. Communitarianism seeks the death only of institutions, not of people. Every life has value, or none has value By choosing non-violence as our revolutionary method, Communitarians castrate the power of national governments Justice and morality are on our side; injustice and violence, on theirs We shall win because humanity commands us to win Human progress shall not lie stopped by the violent and authoritarian needs of the few Communitarians do not take up die weapons of evil to light evil, for to do so only perpetuates evil. There is so much, anti humanity is capable of producing so much more, there is certainly enough peace for everyone Chapter V Method GENERAL STR1KI

Commentary

The people's weapon against the capacity of national violence is the non violent General Strike By gaining power in the towns and cities. Communitarians will hold all the power necessary to change the system When the General Strike is called, national officials will be eager to convene the Constitutional Convention to implement our agenda The system of national governance is but a trivial house of cards in 1990 Things will not improve Local parties need to develop plans for the General Strike by coordinating with the police and fire departments to insure the safety of property and people Inventories of corporate property are required Much work is needed and details worked out People hold more than enough creative power co accomplish this task Peace Is our future

Long live our Great, Non-violent Communitanan Revolution 'ST

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I hope all of you endured the heat of summer all right. Here in Georgia we had unbearable heat and a drought Hope your summer was better. I’m really looking forward to some cooler weather. We start October off with the moon conjuncting Saturn the evening of the 6th. The moon will be above and to the left of Saturn. The Draconid meteor shower, on the evening of the 9th, will be the first of a host of meteor showers to come this quarter. They will be coming out of the northwest at a rate of about 10 per hour and will pick up about 10 PM EDT. The early morning of the 14th, there will be a penumbral eclipse of the moon. The beginning will be visible in the northwestern U.S., western Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. The moon enters penumbra at 6:28 AM PDT. Those of you in the western pacific region will get to see it all; but here in the U.S. we’ll only see the beginning. The early morning of the 20th, we will pass through the Ononid meteor shower. They will peak about 5 AM EDT at a rate of 10-70 per hour, coming out of the south. The morning of the 22nd, the old crescent moon will be conjuncting Mercury. The moon will be above and to the right of Mercury. There will be a total eclipse of the Sun on the morning of the 24th. We won’t be able to see it in the U.S., but it will be visible from eastern Europe to central Russia and surrounding regions. I have not seen any data on the exact path of totality. The evening of the 25th, when the faint crescent of Diana’s moon makes its first appearance in this cycle, it will be in good company. Just below it will be Venus; just above it will be Mars; and just above Mars, we’ll see Jupiter. The next night, it will be between Mars and Jupiter, and the following evening, the 27th, it will be above Jupiter. What a wonderful way to end the month.

November starts off with the moon conjuncting Saturn on the evening of the 2nd. The moon will be above and left of Saturn. For those of you in western Europe, the actual conjunction is at 10:01 PM GMT. The evening of the 9th, we will be passing through the Taurid meteor shower. They will be coming out of the south at a rate of 5-15 per hour, peaking about midnight EST. On the evening of the 15th, Mars will move up to conjunct Jupiter and form a double star. Jupiter will be above Mars. The exact conjunction is at 10:44 PM EST. The next morning, on the 16th, we will pas through the Leonid meteor shower, coming out of the south at a rate of 5-20 per hour and peaking about 5 AM EST. The evening of the 18th, Venus will be in conjunction with Jupiter. Venus will be below and to the right of Jupiter. The evening of the 22nd, Venus will conjunct Mars, with Mars just above and to the left of Venus. This is a very close conjunction. The next evening, on the 23rd, the faint new crescent moon will conjunct Jupiter at 8:18 PM EST with Mars and Venus just above. The next evening, the moon will be above all three of them. The 25th through 27th, we will pass through the Andromedid meteor shower. They will come out of the south at about 10 per hour and should peak about 10 PM EST each evening. On the 29th, the month will end the way it started, with the moon conjuncting Saturn. The moon will be just above the planet, actually conjuncting at 10:01 PM EST.

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There’s not much going on until the early morning of the 12th of December. Then we will pass through the Geminid meteor shower. This is one we hear very little about, although they come out of the south at a rate of 50-80 per hour. They peak about 2 AM EST, and 1 think this one is worth staying up for. On the evening of the 16th, Venus will conjunct Neptune at 7:45 PM EST. Neptune will be the faint star just north of Venus. The next one is for those of you in Alaska and Hawaii. On the evening of the 20th, Venus will conjunct Uranus at 6:49 PM HAIST. Once again, Uranus will be the faint star just north of Venus. On Solstice morning, the 22nd, we will pass through the Ursid meteor shower. It will be coming out of the north at a rate of 10-15 per hour, peaking about 5 AM EST. The evening of the 23rd, the crescent new moon will be conjuncting Venus. Here in the U.S., the moon will be below and to the right of Venus. For those of you in Hawaii and Alaska, the actual conjunction takes place at 7:49 PM HAIST. To end the year, we have the moon conjuncting Saturn. How Fitting! The evening of the 26th, the moon will be below and to the right of Saturn.

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FIR S T QUARTER

WAXING

FU L L

LAST Q U A R T ER

WANING

» In October, the best planting days for above-ground crops are: 1,2,5,6,25,28 and 29. For below-ground crops, the best days are 10,11,15,16 and 20-23. November’s best planting days for above-ground crops will be: 1,2,6,24,25, 29 and 30. For below-ground crops: 11.12 and 16-21. December’s best above-ground days are: 3.4.5,22.23.26.27.30 and 31. Below ground: 8.9.10 and 13 - 19. I sincerely wish all of you a Happy New Year, and may love be the wind beneath your wings, (f

PAVLIK inspires with his thin smooth belly m uscles, eyes cut sharp like a captain of a Tatar regim ent Though, utterly peaceful he snores lightly and stays on. No cab fare need be produced. no regret to muster. He is one among many and few. If 1 had to struggle to hold him tightly one crisp October n ig h t under an azure sky against a brick wall lost in provocative scents, with the guys in the park ‘yelling each to the other, or keep him faith fill would I?

—

RonCaldwell

BURLESQUE A Hercules, tall broad and bare-chested you saw on the hot beach of Puerta Vallarta what you wanted; engorged loins pouting in red net on a man wiry-slim, your opposite. I did as you asked: 1 fucked you hard, bruised your hard buttocks, bit hard into the armor of your pectorals. Still you whimpered. “More — make me feel it!" as your cock lay inarticulate, drowned in our sw eat I might have been a shutter banging in the wind and no one, no one home.

IMAGE MANIPULATIONS by John Greenwood

— Darrell g.b. Schramm 56

TO T ET Of H 'POP GOBS THE WEASEL' 1 tried to run from them, breathless In my sky-blue, sweat-stained school uniform. 1 streaked across the black-topped playground; past the jump-rope dancers, the ball bouncers in the four-square boundaries, the girls in plaid skirts casting stones onto their hopscotch paths. 1 wanted my assailants gagged. or cotton balls to suddenly form in everyone's ears; I wanted all those gaping kick-ball players blinded; it’s not me

it’s not me

it's not me

But all I could manage to do that fourth-grade afternoon, was run, and feel the hot rush of blood come to my face as I bounded onto the school bus, crouching in a back-seat com er as their taunting song swirled in through the open windows; “He used to chase the girls around but that seem s quite contrary, ‘cause now he chases the boys around, oops, he’s a fairy." ‘ Twenty years, and still that dream but it is they who are running: everyone on that playground is struck with silence. jump-ropers have tripped and fallen hopscotchers are splayed over ‘home’ with mouths unlatched like huge O’s and I’m there flying over them butterfly wings the length of football stadiums, and like the spirited TinkerbeU, I’m glowing; luminous, phoenix-like, my star-spun wand keeping the planet below alive. my words pierce like arrowheads my gaze dissolves any pedestrian pillar of brine 1 dredge them in my faerie dust and they begin to dance, spiraling, spinning.

PAST HORNY

singing in high-pitched voices

If we seem twisted, shy are you surprised? We did not ask to step into this circle of the deprived, inferno for the too alive. Ordinary amounts of loving won’t do for us. Once lucky again we find ourselves taking it in doses lasting three hours, with shoving, or w itnesses, doing what we said we’d never do. We can't see how this extreme disfigures us. Believe it Mirrors don’t lie. It was you.

and I’m leading the chorus: it’s me

it's me

— Gerard

— Roger Weaver 57

it's me

7i fileyou o e i to file AT MIDNIGHT

By the time you get to me 1 have lost hope Of meeting the one the few Who take time to know our culture

Martin takes the ultraviolet light out of the tent to look for scorpions. DON'T TELL ME ABOUT IT. I say from my sleeping bag. I DON’T WANT TO KNOW. OKAY, he says, zipping the front back up. still awake when he gets back. I turn & wait for it GUESS WHAT, he says, & I flash on him hovering over a bug that glows from within. an ultraviolet wand held over an arching ta il legs tensed to leap if the darkness above bends any closer than this.

I have spent years Reading your books Learning your ways Almost losing touch with ours I’ve been accused of being better than whites By some who think it is the highest compliment To tell me I can compete with anyone Even the best Caucasian boys Something I have always known Have demonstrated time and time again But can many white men vie with me In ways that matter to us

— Robert earl Penn, Jr.

— Michael

PAPER PULP, My te A f WOOD HOMe can’t nap day long wake to mechanized gnaw sounds forest ants in Weyerhauser khakis sawn boots say out my window anti social stuff but only when ropes pulled taut sing is roughest lunch time and blond m ustaches arms push Colonel Sanders Hostess Puff Puffs thermosed orange poured heat just sm ile smell the redded log roar dust still settles in new exposed cavities to the sky our eyes yellow chalk each others’ for future cuts

— Peter Layton

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R ic k G r a f 1 9 4 9 - 1995 Ooe of the founding coHecttve members of R F D , Rick Graf died in he home in lowa City on Tuesday evening. Juty 11 surrounded by a cirde of famify and friends including he husband of 24 years. Donald Engstrom Rick was bom in Arwnosa, lowa. August 21. 1949. attended the U of I, mamed Donald in lowa City on May 1. 1971 and earned an associate of science degree from Kirkwood Community Coflege as a legal assistant in 1991 He was a political activist, anti-war activist and lowa City area contractor and carpenter. He had served on the Human Rights Commission, Ryan White Care Consortia, and the Johnson County AIDS Coalition. He was a co-founder of the University of lowa Gay Liberation Front, and also co-founded the lowa Center for AIDS Resources and Education (ICARE). He was deeply involved with the Midwest Men’s Festival, the Radical Faeries, the Deep Ecology Movement and Queer Spirit. He was a candidate for the lowa City Council and was a member of the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee. Diagnosed with HIV 11 years ago, Rick contracted the disease in 1993 and his health began deteriorating about a year later He remained active in the Democratic Party and local AIDS and gay programs untl a few weeks before his death. For aH of Rick’s activistm, Donald said it will be the little things about his partner that he will miss the most. ‘He could build a house or bake a cake, and they’d both be perfect. He did so many things out of compassion and love.’

Mish

Lyn d a Lu n a 1945 -

1995

When we dedicated last summer’s SMS Goatzette to Lynda we sang her praises and expressed the fervent hope that she would recover from the cancer so painfully debilitating her. No such Ynirade came but we did have another cycle of seasons with our beloved sister. For that gift of ‘a little more time’ we are grateful. Having been bom on All Hallows in 1945, Lynda Luna, VI Empress “Towanda" of Short Mt., died at her home in Dunmire Hollow on Friday afternoon June 30. She was in the immediate and loving care of her daughter Alma, mother Eileen and brother Larry. Much comfort and support during her illness came from the Dunmire family, her lesbian sisters at Spiral Land in Ky, her faerie brothers of the Short Mt and IDA communities and her greater circle of loving friends in Nashville, Waynesboro and Middle Tennessee. A resident of Short Mt. in the early 80’s, Lynda served almost continually on the Board of Directors. Of Eastern European and Italian ancestry, she was most proud of her gypsy origins. Early on she identified herself as a faerie womyn and brought to our community the gift and power of drumming circles and led us through transformative experiences of more traditional Amerindian sweat lodges. Always a powerful priestess and honored witch at our holy rituals, she nurtured in us a deep awareness of the Mother’s mysteries. For many she embodied the spirit, wisdom and integrity of the Crone. She spent her life as a healer, mostly as a nurse, always as a caregiver. She was an ardent champion of feminist, communal and environmental causes and social justice issues. Her life exemplified the political as personal. The day after her death we performed a home burial at Dunmire in their Meditation Grove. Her nephews Tadzio and Theron dug the grave. Harvey constructed the pine coffin. Alma dressed her mom in the garments of Lynda s choosing: a white cotton blouse, black vest and midnight blue, fulllength Indian print skirt with stars and moons. Sr. Mish crowned her corpse with a garland of willow and lavender bergamot. We processed to the site singing a song composed by her niece, Adanta. As the sun set we buried her in the earth with drumming and more songs. We very much grieve her passing and we trust her spirit and visions will continue to guide us in the years ahead. 59

E ditor's N o te : When w e last left Peebles a n d R ah-Rah, th ey w ere ru n n in g ou t o f room. Therefore, th is tim e w e have g ra c io u sly a n d g en erou sly g ra n te d them not one but T W O pages. W ill th ey be able to g e t all their ram blin gs covered in th e space a llo tte d ? O r w ill th ey need three pages next issu e ? (Som e o f us here at RFD w o rry that it's a n ot-so-su btle plot to take o ver the w hole m agazin e.) For the a n sw e rs to these qu estion s . . . an d other cu ltu ra l concerns . . . don't m iss out! S ta y riv e te d to this v e ry spot . . right here . . .o n :

C w lfcR C

And did you see that disgusting photo spread of her in Vanity Fair magazine, where she is all propped up on pillows. How truly tasteless! And why must she always wear red?

tew . se?

PEEBLElt

R H - r RH

Rah-Rah: Hi again gang! Peebles: Hello everyone. R-R: What's the matter Peebs? You a sound a (little down. Well, I am. And don't call me that! R-R: Geez! Sawrreee! Now just WHAT is the matter with you? P: Oh come on, Rah, you've got to admit the response to our last column has been less than underwhelming! R-R: Yeah, I know. And I don't know about you, but I sure do feel different this time being in typeface and all instead of just penciled in!

P: Oh mais oui, tres modeme! R-R: Yeah, and less primitive. P: Well, for the political issue I think we should talk about one of the most powerful and influential ladies our Imodern day culture has seen. R-R: Oh — Maggie Thatcher?!? P: NO — power, glamour, Hollywood! |R-R: But Lucille Ball is dead and Roseanne has quit! Oh wait, I know', I know, you mean RuPaul. P: No, Rah-Rah. I am talking about the lady who had the smarts to marry one of the biggest B-rate film actors of all time. R-R: Oh you mean Mrs. Bonzo — I just loved her on ''Falcon Crest." She was glamourous wasn't she, when she was a Chesterfield Girl. And speaking of glamourous Chesterfield Girls, did you know that Lucy was once one as well? She was s o o o . *.. P: NO! Rah-Rah, I mean Nancy Anne Davis Reagan. R-R: OH! Doesn't she run all those expensive Hollywood drug dry-out clinic oases? P: No, though rumor has it she is in need of one. But you have her confused with the former First Lady, Betty Ford. I'm talk ing about the former First Lady married to Ronald Reagan. R-R: Now wait a minute! Who was First lady first? P: STOP! Enough of "Who's On First?" R-R: Oh, yeah, yeah! You mean the china; the designer dresses; the pills; the Frank Sinatra affair. I remember now — but why her? She's just an old has-been Hollywood bimbo. E ditor's note: RFD does n ot condone nam e-calling, especially when d iscu ssin g p olitical fig u res. This m ay offend som eone.

P: Well, according to Kitty Kelly's unauthorized biography of Nancy Reagan, red is her favorite color. But I can't authorize that as a fact. R-R: Well, she does wear it enough . . . too much actually . . . and that's more than enough for me. E ditor's note: W e sin cerely hope that o u r readers do n ot confuse fashion co m m en ta ry w ith red-baitin g. T his is a political issue, an d w e w ish fo r tolerance o f colors o f ideology as w e ll as clothing.

P: Well, according to Patti Davis (Nancy & Ronnnie's daughter) in her book, The Way I See It, she says Nancy is obsessed with her figure and the way she looks.

R-R: Yeah, well she looked pretty damn ridiculous that time she fell out of her chair. How disgraceful! Her figure was all over the floor. P: Yes, that was very sad. R-R: More like pathetic, I'd say. P: Patti said all that clumsiness was from pills. 60

R-R Oh, so we're talking about the politics of pills. I guess she couldn't "just say NO!" to the valium and the . . . P: Rah-Rah, STOP! This is one of the greatest w omen of all time.

tak en

Editor's note: Yes. please stop! In case these writers hadn 't noticed, there is a war on drugs. It is obtnous that in times of n>ar political leaders will display the most hypocritical behavior. We hope our readers will not interpret this column as a call to turn in friends and family who use drugs.

tlit

R-R: Yeah, well she sure did grate on my nerves, that's for sure. P: Rah-Rah, 1 will not stand for this broad-side attack on one of

my personal icons. R-R: I do not for the life of me understand what that woman has to do with politics today!?! We'll never get more pages in RFD if you keep wasting time and space. P: Okay! Let's move on to the politics of sex.

paenks

I walked into what seemed to be a sacred space, a temple instead of a theatre. It felt like the inner workings of a dream manifesting itself: semi-circular arena, incense burning, candles alight, the faint sound of bells, lights low. The mood had been set. The viewers were then transported into a series of short pieces, giving the experience a sense of faerie space/magic. The issues presented couldn’t be more relevent: violence, dysfunctions in our families, and the impact of AIDS on us all. I was deeply moved by what was offered. Most people, with few exceptions, have not been touched by what Taken by the Faehes is dealing with. Elkalina provides the primary dialogue, from interviews with the departed to jagged-edged autobiographical songs, and Tom Sepe’s movement is compatable with the minimal amount of music. Together with Lisa doing the sound and Rachel doing the lighting, they give this performance power and dimension. After the performance, the audience was invited to an impromptu feast in the performance space, and considering the visceral nature of the piece, our meal was, for me, a sacred one. The audience was encouraqed to stay on for a heart circle, and for most of the audience in Nashville's Dark Horse Theatre, that experience was a novel and challenging undertaking. How’s about that for EDUTAINMENT?! Get Taken by the Faeries. I was. So were people in Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, where they recently toured. For further information, contact: Mark Elk Baum, 922 El Cajon Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303 (415) 856-9479 ^

Editor's note: I don't think we want to go there. Not in the culture column. There is plenty of discussion o f politics and sex in the rest of the magazine. W hy not instead write about cutting edge gay culture. Assum ing (on a political note) that there is neio, interesting gay culture. Send information and artistic samples-videos, cassettes, a rt-to Culture Comer at RFD, and we'll try to convince the writers to cover culture instead o f politics.

R-R: Move on? Move on?!? Just when we were finally about to get somewhere. She was known as "the blow-job queen" of Hollywood. Talk about fu - er, excuse me - sucking your w'ay to the top. P: Rah-Rah, please! I am trying to segue-way into talking about Hathaway and It Never Was You. R-R: Huh? P: Remember last issue, that wonderful 5 minute film that Hathaway reviewed. R-R: Oh yeah, we watched that the other night. Now that was really something! P: How non-commital Rah-Rah. I happened to find it brilliant. R-R: Really? I thought it was kind of dark . . . in a light bright sorta way. Anyway, we watched it the other night at DARA. P: Now, Rah-Rah, don't drop names unless you're going to ex plain. R-R: Oh, okay, sure I'll explain. DARA is the new Queer house hold extension of IDA just down the road from there. And a most welcome addition to the neighborhood/ community, too, I might add! P: I agree, but I also think we're losing our focus here! R-R: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize we had one. What was it again?!? P: Oh honestly, politics . . . you know, the political issue, et c. . . . oh never mind! Just say goodbye Rah-Rah. R-R: Goodbye Gracie! Good night Dick!! P: Oh ha-ha, very funny. See ya next time folks! R-R: Toodles . . . Rah-Rah . . . Editor's note: The expansion of the rural queer com m unity in Middle Tennessee is a brazen attempt at creating com m unity in post-capitalist, post-Reagan years. The existence of a television to watch artsy/political/ porn like the film "reviewed" above demonstrates theconnection with technology which we all sluire. Technology is a religion, and perhaps part and parcel of the faerie faith. In the editor's note above where we encouraged you to send video tapes, we were perhaps not sensitive to those who arc politically repulsed by the technological domination of culture. We also welcome stories about low-tech artwork and culture. Are there faeries out there performing by moonlight and beeswax candles? How about music made with homemade instruments? The political possibilities within the subservise, neo-luddite paradigm sug gest a post-existentialist magazine without commentaries like this one! ,

rfd books

describing, so familiar a figure is he. In his more accessible guises, he's your insurance agent, he's the cop on the beat, he’s the shop stew ard, he's the late evening new scaster "

PATTERNS OF MALE INTIMACY: TH« Secret Lor* of G ard en in g (Book 1) and The Living Room Mysterie* (Book 2). By Graham Jackson Inner C ity Books, Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, C anada M4T 2P4 1991 158 A: 143 pgs $16 00 soft, each

The baby-blue m an, the Fraternity Brother, is the first subtype described. H e is the college jock trying to prove his masculinity through sports The second subtype is the Professional, the lapis-lazuli blue He is the type one usually has in m ind w hen he thinks of blue man. The last of the blue subtypes is the C hief of Staff, a rare type. He is not concerned w ith m aking it. He has m ade it. In a sim ilar fashion to the Cavalier, he uses his blue experiences to form a philosophical platform from which to view the world.

Renewed by Donald Dimock Book 1 M ankind has alw ays been concerned w ith the question of opposites — their separation and reconciliation." Thus, G raham Jackson begins his descriptions of a pair of polar opposites in m ale bonding. He contin ues to give reasons for bonding patterns according to Jungian psycho logical theory in this delightfully readable account.

Since the red-blue polarity is cultural, it m ay overlay the green-yellow polarity. Thus a yellow m an m ay also be strongly influenced by red or blue, or vice versa, in varying am ounts. Much of this book, as in The Secret Lore of G ardening, is devoted to describing relationships betw een the different types. As before, the relationships are of tw o types, the initiatory and the com rade-in-arm s type. Jackson gives us m any exam ples that w e m ight be familiar with, such as Gus Van Sant's good show of the com rade-in-arm s type in My O w n Private Idaho.

He re feres to the polar opposites he describes in this book as green and yellow These sym bolize tw o archetypal positions. Men are som ew hat on the axis betw een them and relate to each other accordingly. The green m an relates to the earth god. "Green is the innocence of undiluted nature." The green pole is often seen as the most feminine of the two. "A m an or boy w ho w ears green proclaim s his closeness not just to earth bu t also to m other and h er n u rtu rin g world. He is a 'M am a’s boy,' a 'sissy,' concepts that have traditionally led to suspi cions of homosexuality." Green m en are not necessarily homosexuals, how ever they ap p ear to others. “By w earing green, a m an or boy also dem onstrates his fam iliarity w ith the body and its feelings or sensa tions, just as those of the m aternal w orld that a patriarchal JudeoC hristian ethos has m ade such a profound source of em barrassm ent and ridicule."

Again, this book is useful for understanding oneself and one's friends and acquaintances. O ne can sense the masks, the facades people wear, and how they truly are. All of this is discussed in A pproaching the Rainbow, the final chapter. THE LAMBDA DIRECTORY OF RELIG IO N A N D SPIRITUALITY. Edited by Brian Cranford. Pyram id Press, 13237 M onfort, Suite 810R, Dallas, TX 75240. 1994. $9 soft + $3 s&h. Reviewed by John Wright

The subtypes of green m an begin w ith Flower Boy. They darken into the Green G ardener, and then the Prophet of the Land. Jackson uses exam ples from m yth and literature to illustrate. For instance, Tadzio, of D eath in Venice, is a Flow er Boy — light green, radiating the beau ty of youth. The Greek gods, D ionysus and Pan represent a branch of the Green G ardener's ancestry.

The search for spirituality am ong Am erican adults has not escaped the gay and lesbian community. The Lambda Directory of Religion and Spirituality aids this com m unity's search. The directory catalogues over 400 entries of literature, resources, organizations, and support groups that foster spiritual grow th for gay m en, lesbians and bisexu als.

The yellow m an relates to the sky god. He is m ore masculine. The color, yellow, above all, signifies su n and light. "Words like illum ina tion and en lightenm ent autom atically evoke images of attainm ent touching the celestial spheres. G reen, by contrast, is 'lowly,' entirely depen d en t on the beneficence of the suprem e yellow ....“

Many denom inational boards and congregations have followed a "d o n 't a sk -d o n 't tell" posture tow ards, or overtly rejected, sexual minorities. As a result, sexual m inorities have form ed a vast array of welcom ing groups and organizations. Some groups form ed new denom inations, such as the U niversal Fellow ship of M etropolitan C om m unity Churches. G ay and lesbian groups are also found in the shadow s of alm ost every denom ination and faith, from Baptist to Buddhist. These believers form a scattered church outside the m ain stream structures w hich ignore their existence. O thers have rem ained w ithin the denom ination and developed autonom ous fellowships. Dignity, the largest of such groups w ith over 5,000 m em bers, provides services to Catholic gay m en and lesbians. Integrity (Episcopal), A ffirm ation (U nited M ethodist), M ore Light (Presbyterian), and Reconciled in C hrist (Lutheran) sponser h u n d re d s of local chapters in the U.S.

Beginning w ith G olden Boy, the yellow subtypes lighten, rather than darken, as they m ove tow ard A pollo. The Hellenist, and finally the Lunatic (not in the sense of bedlam bu t in the sense of the su n ’s reflec tion) are increasingly A pollonian. As Tadzio is Flow er Boy, Aschenbach is a Hellenist. M ore exam ples from novels, m yths, and literature describe the rela tionships betw een these tw o poles Street Lavender, C hris H u n t's sentim ental, picaresque novel of life and tim es of a Victorian hustler, brings the flower-boy hero, Willie, together w ith a dazzling young aristocrat nam ed Algernon in a painter's studio, w here Willie has decided to try his luck as a painter's m odel Of A lgernon’s entrance one detail stands out, 'The sun was shining through his fine blond hair,' The pair fall in love." Jackson goes on to describe how the novel describes the relationship betw een flower boy and golden boy. M any such exam ples fill the book.

In addition to furnishing contact inform ation on these groups, the Lambda Directory annotates the abundance of educational curricula and m edia available to congregations struggling w ith gay and lesbian issues. The directory provides a bibliography of books on the subject of homosexuality, spanning 25 years of publishing. O ne chapter con tains lengthy lists of AIDS interfaith m inistry resources. The directory also includes a unique index of 35 graduate-level theological d isserta tions dealing w ith gay and lesbian spirituality.

After reading this book I tried to exam ine my ow n life and attractions to decide w here I should go now. The book is useful for tha purpose. Jackson includes descriptions of case m aterial from his practice as a Jungian A nalyst bringing the book to an excellent conclusion.

The Lambda Directory not only deals w ith C hristian sources, it also pro vides substantial inform ation for non-C hristian seekers. O ne section is devoted to gay and lesbian Jew ish resources. Two chapters detail groups and literature supporting gay m en a nd lesbians affiliated with New Age, W icca/G oddess, pagan, and alternative spirituality.

Book 2 In this sequel to The Secret Lore of G ardening, we are introduced to another polarity. Sym bolized by the colors red and blue, this polarity has to do w ith culture, the art and science of daily living. "Where green-yellow relationships often have the num inosity of an encounter w ith Self, the higher p o w er of the psyche, red-blue relationships dem onstrate the fascination exerted by the shadow."

The Lambda Directory of Religion and Spirituality serves to connect seek ers w ith sources of support. It is a reference long overdue. The arrival of this volum e m ay spark new hope for gays and lesbians of all faiths.

Red is the color of blood, of passion, of heat For that reason m en have feared it Blood also has a sacred significance, such as in sacram ents of the C hristian church. Red is used in signs w arning of danger. The red rose is also a classical sym bol "With A phrodite (Venus) and her son, Eros (C upid), the red rose w hich they also claim as their emblem assum es the m eanings of carnal love and im m oderate desire mixed w ith mischief." Red is also used as a sym bol by the prostitute. It is con sidered a fem inine color. N o w onder red m an has suffered from so much bad press The first subtype of red m an Jackson describes is the Embellisher, a pink type, w ho often "Is labeled 'sissy' as a boy, and w orse as an ado lescent." It is his intention to try to m ake the w orld more beautiful. The Connector, a d ark er red, has "an uncanny ability to connect people to their deepest feelings, desires, and needs." Jackson lists people like Derek Jarm an a n d Jean C octeau as connector types. The third subtype, the Cavalier, is the crim son m an. H e uses his red artistic and em otion al experiences to form a philosophical base for his life. The polar opposite, o r course, is the blue m an. "The blue m an enjoys feelings of purpose, strength, pow er, m astery; he soars on the exhila ration these can bring him , in both his private and his public lives." Jackson points out: "The b lue m an is everyw here. H e hardly needs

th e p ro d u c t. I d id cover t h i s s u b je c t to a g re a t e x t e n t i n The B a k e r ' s Buns S p r i n g '9 4 i s s u e b u t w ill b r ie f ly r e i t e r a t e here. L i q u i d s u g a r s (honey, b a r l e y m a l t , r i c e and m a p le s y r u p s ) , o r e v e n no s u g a r a t a l l , l e n d t h e m s e l v e s v e r y w e l l t o p i e f i l l i n g s , e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e m ost f o l k s i n t o e a t i n g n a t u r a l fo o d b a k i n g w ant t h e t a s t e o f t h e f r u i t ( o r w h a te v e r ) t o p r e d o m i n a t e r a t h e r th an th e s e n s a tio n of sw eetn ess. I t is easy to th ic k e n a f r u i t p ie w ith o u t u sin g w h ite f lo u r or c o rn s ta rc h , j u s t use t a p i o c a , th o u g h i t i s much more e x p e n s i v e . T h i s summer I made a bu n c h o f f r u i t p i e s u s i n g t a p i o c a f o r th e f i r s t tim e . G reat s t u f f ! I used th e m i n u t e v a r i e t y a v a i l a b l e i n most s u p e r m a r k e t s . I d i s c o v e r e d t h a t i t had t h e d e s i r a b l e q u a l i t y of a d d i n g a n a t u r a l s w e e t n e s s o f i t s own. C r u s t s a r e v e r y e a s i l y made w i t h o i l a n d , a l t h o u g h n o t a s f l a k y a s t h o s e made w i t h a s o l i d f a t , t h e y w e re q u i t e t e n d e r . An a d d e d bonus i s t h a t you n e e d much l e s s o i l t h a n s o l i d f a t . I u s e d 3 t b . o f c a n o l a o i l t o 1 cup o f f l o u r p l u s a t a b l e s p o o n o r s o o f w a t e r . Of c o u r s e , you w i l l n e e d t o make more c r u s t a s y o u a r e u s i n g l e s s f a t . 3 c u p s o f f l o u r made a g e n e r o u s t o p and b o tto m c r u s t f o r a 9" p i e . T r u t h b e t o l d , I p r e f e r t h e o i l c r u s t t o th e one I u s e d t o make w i t h b u t t e r n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e d e c r e a s e d f a t p e r s l i c e (w hich m eant I c o u l d e a t m ore p i e ! ! ) but a ls o because th e l i g h t e r c r u s t allo w ed th e f i l l i n g (b lu e b e rry , in t h i s c a s e ) t o s t a n d o u t m ore. Yum, yum! Rub t h e f a t co m p letely in to th e f lo u r , t h e n add t h e w a t e r , a r o u n d a t a b l e s p o o n p e r cup o f f l o u r . Such c r u s t s made w i t h w h o le g r a i n n e e d t o h a v e a w e t t i s h dough i n i t i a l l y b e c a u s e t h e f l o u r a b s o r b s w a t e r a s i t s t a n d s . A d r y c r u s t i s more d i f f i c u l t to r o l l . I f I r e c a l l o o r r e c tly , I used 3 p i n t s of w a sh e d a n d p i c k e d o v e r b l u e b e r r i e s , a b o u t a 1/2 cup of sugar (read: honey, e tc .), and 4 ta b le sp o o n s of tap io ca. Gosh, they w ere d e l i c i o u s . W ith t a p i o c a , t h e f i l l i n g m ust come t o a b o i l i n o r d e r f o r t h e s t a r c h t o f u l l y g e l a t i n i z e . I f y o u u s e a l i q u i d s w e e t e n e r , more t a p i o c a o r o t h e r s t a r c h w i l l be i n o r d e r t o g e l t h e p i e f i l l i n g p r o p e r l y . Some d r i e r f r u i t s , s u c h as a p p le , need th e a d d itio n of a l i t t l e w ater ( 1 /2 cup o r so ) , b u t w a t e r y b e r r i e s d o n ' t . One a d v a n t a g e o f t h e o i l c r u s t i s t h a t i t i s more r e s i s t e n t t o t h e a b s o r p t i o n o f l i q u i d from t h e fillin g .

Hi! For t h o s e o f you new t o RFD {and I hope t h e r e a r e many), a l i t t l e i n t r o t o t h i s colum n: The B a k e r ' s Buns i s a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e o f RFD. I t s aim i s t o p r o v i d e t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e hows, whys, w h a t s , a n d w h e r e s o f b a k i n g u n d e r t h e p r e m i s e t h a t a b a k e r who u n d e r s t a n d s t h e m e c h a n ic s a n d c h e m i s t r y o f h i s c r a f t w i l l make b e t t e r p r o d u c t s . T h i s column i s g e a r e d t o t h e l a y as w e l l a s p r o f e s s i o n a l b a k e r . R e c i p e s a r e n o t t h e m ain p o i n t h e r e . The K i t c h e n Queen d o e s t h a t v e r y w e l l ! A l s o , you c a n u s e t h i s column a s a forum t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n s and s h a r e y o u r know ledge a b o u t t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s u c c e s s t h a t you h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d w h i l e b a k i n g . P l e a s e , f e e l f r e e t o s e n d any a nd a l l l e t t e r s , i n q u i r i e s , s u g g e s t i o n s , a c c o la d e s (!) to : P e te r B a k e r P .O .B o x 554 N .Y .C . ,N .Y . 10025 Many o f my r e a d e r s a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n n a t u r a l fo o d b a k i n g , w h ic h i s n o t my a r e a o f e x p e r t i s e , th o u g h I do h a v e many t h o u g h t s on t h e s e m a t t e r s . I n t h e l a s t colum n, I was e s p o u s i n g t h e n e e d . f o r n a t u r a l food bakers to come up w ith th e ir own u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f b a k e d goods t h a t w ould l e n d t h e m s e l v e s t o u s e o f n a t u r a l i n g r e d i e n t s and f a l l w i t h i n t h e bou n d s o f b e i n g t a s t y , re aso n ab ly te n d e r , and v i s u a l l y a p p e a lin g . The b a k e d go o d s t h a t m ost o f u s a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h w ere c o n c e p t u a l i z e d u s i n g i n g r e d i e n t s l i k e w h i t e c a k e f l o u r a n d s u g a r . You ca n n o t make V ie n n e s e p a s t r y u s in g b a r l e y m a lt, t o f u and c h ic k pea flo u r! Nor can to p -n o tc h , m elt-in -y o u r-m o u th c r o i s s a n t s b e p r o d u c e d w i t h w h o le w h e a t f l o u r and o i l s , p e r i o d . T h e se p r o d u c t s and o t h e r s l i k e them were d esig n ed around c e rta in ty p e s of i n g r e d i e n t s . I f we c h o s e t o u s e o t h e r t y p e s o f i n g r e d i e n t s , l e t ' s t h e n d e v e l o p o u r own p a r a d ig m th at e x p lo its th e c h a ra c teristic s of th e i n g r e d i e n t s we c h o o s e t o em ploy.

F o r some r e a s o n , when I t h i n k o f p i e s , I t h i n k o f f r u i t p i e s . Some t y p e s s u c h a s p e c a n w ould n o t , I b e l i e v e , come o u t v e r y w e l l i n a t r a n s l a t i o n . However, I c a n im a g in e t h a t c u s t a r d p i e s w ould w ork f a i r l y w e l l s i n c e t h e s u g a r i n them o n l y h a s one fu n c tio n , in p a rtin g sw e e tn e ss. One can su c c e ssfu lly su b stitu te liq u id sw eeten ers. In t h i s c a s e , r e d u c e t h e m ilk a c c o r d i n g l y so t h a t t h e t h i c k e n e r (e g g s a n d / o r s t a r c h ) w i l l g e l t h e same amount o f l i q u i d . I h a v e made a c o c o n u t c u s t a r d p i e w i t h m a p le s y r u p t h a t w orked j u s t f i n e . A b a n a n a c re a m p i e c o u l d be made s i m i l a r l y , e x c e p t t h a t t h e c u s t a r d (p u d d in g , r e a l l y ) w ould be c o o k e d on t h e s t o v e and p o u r e d i n t o a p r e Â b a k e d s h e l l l i n e d w i t h f r u i t . J u s t be s u r e t h a t th e c u sta rd , when c o l d w i l l be s u f f i c i e n t l y g e l a t i n i z e d t o c u t an i n t e g r a l s l i c e .

[ I am h o p i n g t h a t t h e o p i n i o n s and s u g g e s t i o n s I e x p r e s s e d t h e r e w ould p i q u e some d i a l o g u e , so d o n ' t h e s i t a t e t o d i s a g r e e ! Love t o h e a r from you a l l ................... ] In t h e l a s t colum n, I d w e l t upon t h o s e i t e m s t h a t l o s e s o m e th in g i n t h e t r a n s l a t i o n o r a r e n o t t r a n s l a t a b l e a t a l l , c a k e s b e i n g t h e f o r m e r and f r o s t i n g t h e l a t t e r . Today, I w i l l t a l k a b o u t some p r o d u c t s t h a t do l e n d t h e m s e l v e s t o a d i r e c t s u b s titu tio n of in g re d ie n ts.

F u rth e r jo g g in g th e im ag in atio n , I cou ld see a " c u s t a r d " p i e made w i t h f r u i t k a n t e n , ag ain , p o u rin g th e s e m i- liq u id k an ten i n t o a p re -b a k e d s h e l l covered w ith s l i c e d f r u i t .

P ie s r e a l l y s h i n e a s an e p ito m e o f t h i s , b a s i Â c a l l y f o r two r e a s o n s . One, p i e s a r e n o t l e a v e n e d and tw o, t h e f i l l i n g c o m p r i s e s t h e b u l k o f 63

I t ’ s e a s y t o t o p p i e s made w i t h n a t u r a l fo o d i n g r e d i e n t s i f you c h o o s e n o t t o make a d o u b l e c r u s t e d p i e . S u g g e s tio n s ? G ran o la, co c o n u t, f a t c a k e crum bs ( t o a s t e d ) , c o a r s e l y - g r o u n d n u t s , r o l l e d o a t s - s e e d s - o i l m i x t u r e s and so o n .

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Now, t a r t dough i s made w i t h w h i t e f l o u r , s u g a r , b u t t e r , a n d s o m e tim e s , e g g s . T h i s w ould be h a r d t o d u p l i c a t e w i t h n a t u r a l fo o d i n g r e d i e n t s . A t a r t c r u s t made w i t h o i l and honey j u s t w o u l d n 't c u t t h e m u s t a r d . But p e r h a p s , one c o u l d make a dough u s i n g a c o m b i n a t i o n o f an o i l - b a s e d dough, g r o u n d n u t s , a n d r i c e f l o u r . Why t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c o m b i n a t i o n ? W e ll, t h e r i c e f l o u r , a s I s p o k e o f i n t h e l a s t colum n, w i l l i n p a r t a d e l i c a c y t h a t m im ics t h e s h o r t n e s s i m p a r t e d by f a t . The n u t s c o n t a i n a l a r g e amount o f o i l a s w e l l a s t h e i r own p a rtic u la r fla v o r w h ic h w ill h elp in p ro v id in g real sh o rtn e ss. S i n c e m ost o f t h e f l a v o r i n t a r t c r u s t comes from b u t t e r , t h e n u t f l a v o r w i l l come i n h a n d y t o a dd t h i s q u a l i t y . The o i l dough w i l l a c t a s a b i n d e r t o u n i t e a l l t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t s . I f you c a n u s e an e gg, so much t h e b e t t e r .

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EURO-FAERIE GATHERING Cont. from p. 9 Bunks claimed, straightsville ‘samsonite’ cases thrown open to reveal the usual array of frocks, hats, chiffon and bin lioners with not a him of polyester in sight! And then our first meal together followed by the welcoming go-round with some familiar rituals and the group was already going well. Throughout the week familiar activities took place, with the emphasis on spontaneity, underpinned by a daily go-round. I surrendered my need for formality and allowed spontaneity in so that when Efthemios decided that he would add basket-weave to a certain dance, this became ‘icing on the cake’ rather than interference. Cooking happened with the minimum of organisation as did most other things, but we being daeries the “no-talent" show was serious business not to be messed with. An array of outfits that would upstage Royal Ascot were paraded, as one faery after another swathed in anything from silk to cellophane strutted the invisible catwalk to wild applause. There was near drama when Stephane’s Maria Callas, complete with soaring black wig, got tangled up with a sticky fly catcher, but he deftly managed to avoid parting with the coiffure.

Y o u ' l l be t h e Queen o f T a r t s ! A g a in , t h e m u s in g s p r e s e n t e d a b o v e , a l t h o u g h n o t t e s t e d (and t h e y j u s t m ig h t be a w f u l ! ) , a r e b a s e d on k n o w le d g e o f i n g r e d i e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and i n t e r a c t i o n s . I u r g e t h o s e who a r e i n t e r e s t e d t o u s e t h e s e i d e a s a s jum ping b o a r d s f o r new h e i g h t s i n n a t u r a l fo o d b a k i n g and l e t t h e r e s t o f us know t h e r e s u l t s . Use t h e kn o w le d g e t h a t you h a v e g a i n e d a s a r e s u l t o f y o u r e x p e r i e n c e s (a s w e l l a s t h i s c o lu m n !) t o ta k e n a t u r a l foods b a k in g t o th e n e x t l e v e l of d evelopm ent. I am open t o l e a r n i n g from and s h a r in g t h i s in fo rm a tio n w ith y ' a l l . A long a s i m i l a r v e i n , I d i d , a t some p o i n t , o f f e r t h i s colum n t o someone who h a s a more i n t i m a t e k n o w le d g e o f n a t u r a l f o o d s b a k i n g t h a n I . Anyone i n t e r e s t e d i n b e i n g a g u e s t w r i t e r f o r an i s s u e ? You c o u l d s e n d me a t a p e w h ic h I w ould t r a n s c r i b e f o r o u r e d i t o r s i f you d o n ' t f e e l l i k e w r i t i n g o r t y p i n g t h a t much. And b r o a d e n i n g t h a t i d e a j u s t a b i t , i f anyone w ould l i k e t o w r i t e t h i s column f o r an i s s u e o r two a s a f e a t u r e , j u s t l e t me know. A f t e r a l l , t h i s i s o u r m a g a z in e . My s o l e r e q u e s t i s t h a t you k e e p t o t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s column w h ic h i s s t a t e d i n t h e o p e n in g p a r a g r a p h a b o v e . HAPPY BAKING, BEGUMS!!

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Gathering samphire, a kind of sea asparagus, and cooking it in garlic over an open fire, watching the dawn break, dancing round the bonfire and some magical conversations are treasured, as was the impromptu adoration of Abba. And with a bike apiece the island was our oyster. ECC member, Robert Bramwell-Jones said it was a powerful experience and lots of fun. “My heart was full several times over, with the interplay of myth and reality never far apart. For me there was definitely a magical spell that bound us together. Perhaps that had more to do with the laid-backness and openness of the other nationalities which helped unblock the traditional reserve of the Brits. Add to that laughter, tears, lots of hugging and caring and nakedness and it was a “Beyond the Borders"* par excellence. *Beyond Borders is a gathering event organized by the Edward Carpenter Community of London. NB: Richard McCance helps co ordinate “Stonewall Breaks," a series of gay men’s weekends in England. For more info: Stonewall Breaks P.O. Box 4, West PDO Nottingham, NG7 2DJ England (ffih

*When it comes to sex in prison, the most difficult thing for outsiders to understand is the sharp distinction prisoners make between dominant and passive homosexual partners. In the skewed world o f prison, the thminaniinserter man in a homosexual relationship is not considered a homosexual, whereas the passhe-inserter boy or punk is.' | Steel Nation!

t ra i g h t n u m b 9 r$ ?l Introduction After you get past the snickers and uncomfortable giggles, opinions on the amount of homosexual behavior actually taking place in America’s prisons divide between those on the outside who think inmates spend 24/7 “Fucking like rabbits!" and those on the inside who “Don’t wanna talk about it!". Any attempt to engage in meaningful dialogue or establish useful statistics on prison homosexual behavior meets with opposition from both side; of the prison fence. On the one hand, prisoners complain that even bringing up the subject “makes everybody on the outside think we’re all perverts!”. On the other hand, prison administrators fear any frank exploration of the subject will—at best—paint them as overseers of an out-ofcontrol Sodom and Gomorrah, or —worst case scenario—reveal how they regularly manipulate—dole out or restrict—homosexual activity to meet their particular institution goals (e.g. controlling violent or bothersome prisoners; using sex as an inducement to snitching). Like their military counterparts, prison administrators fear the possible revelation that a sizable percentage of their charges might qualify as “homosexual" would force such administrators to rethink their overall (mistreatment of gay prisoners; place gay prisoners in a better position for demanding equal coasideration when it comes to such things as prison programming; and force iastitutions to put claims of homosexual rape and sexual slavery on the front burner. General Population Statistics Difficulties in accurately determining the number of homosexual participants in prison are not surprising considering experts still disagree as to the percentage of homosexuals in society overall. The problem of compiling reliable statistics on the number of homosexuals—both inside prison and out—is further compounded when toleration for homosexuals in society in general vacillates depending on prevalent political climate. For example, responses garnered from questionnaire-based studies done in the 1970s (the height of Gay Liberation) might be expected to differ in degrees of openness and disclosure from similar studies done after the beginning of the AIDS scare (and its initial association with Gay men) in the early 1980s. According to Psychology Applied to Modem Life: *The best empirical data on the issue (which area't very good) suggest that roughly 2% o f women and 4 to 5% o f men are exclusively homosexual. These figures probably are on the low side, however, given the widespread wariness among gays about openly acknowledging their sexual orientation." [Weiten & Lloyd, 1994; 288-289] Most estimates for the percentage of male homosexuals in the general U.S. population are based on, or at lease take into consideration, the pioneering work of Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s. Kinsey’s work indicated that 10% of men were predominantly homosexual, although more recent estimates have put the actual number lower, fPainter, 1993: 1DJ The Kinsey finding of 10% is constantly being challenged. For example, a 1990 survey claimed the percentage of persons who were exclushely homosexual was actually less than 1 % of adults. | Benokraitis, 1993: 148| The operative words when considering Kinsey’s findings are predominantly homosexual; meaning that homosexual activity was the preference of 10% of his subjects. There Is a big difference between an on-going preference and isolated or intermittent experience. For example, a 1974 survey determined that upwards of 25% of all males have a homosexual experience sometime during their lives. Subsequent research has rendered similar statistics: “One recent analysis by researchers at the National Academy o f Sciences and other institutions found that I in 5 adult American men has had some sort o f sexual experience with another man in which at least one partner reached orgasm, usually during adolescence." (Psychology Today, 1989: 801 A 1991 survey determined that 14% of American adults were engaging in sex with someone of the same sex at the time of the study.

| Benokraitis. 1993: 148) Complicating the process of accurately documenting the percentage of homosexuals in the general population is the problem of bisexuals and “straight" men who. while regularly engaging in homosexual behasiors (e g. receiving fellatio from other males, frequenting transvestite prostitutes, etc.) do not identify their behaviors as homosexual, either to researchers or to themselves For example, in one of the few comprehensive studies ever done exclusively on the subject of prison homosexual behavior (completed in the late 1970s at a 2400-man California prison), rather than establishing a standard scale-criteria to catalogue homosexual preference and/or behavior (e g. number of homosexual encounters, etc.), researchers made the fatal mistake of permitting prisoners to self identify themselves. As a result: "According to our data. 10% o f this prison pxipulation were self-atlmitted homosexuals. 10% identified themselves as bisexual, and the remaining <50% identified rhemselxrs as heterosexuals, although over ha)f i55%) of this heterysexml group reponedengqgLng in sexual aairip white in prison. ’ (Emphasis added.) |Wooden & Parker, 1982: 18| As we shall see. this problematic attitude of denial and non disclosure by “straight" men also confronts researchers attempting to accurately assess the degree of prison homosexuality. By extrapolating current statistics for the general, non-prison, population, we can reasonably estimate that between 4% to 10% of males entering prison already identify as homosexual. The keyword here is identify. since this estimate undoubtedly falls shy of the true mark since it couldn't possibly reflect the number of bisexually-active males entering prison as well as those males who harbor same-sex curiosity but, because of various personal and/or social restrictions have never acted out that curiosity. In addition, according to one estimate: “...25 to 30 % (of male prisonersl have intermittent homosexual experience before imprisonment." (Williams. 1979: 99( Inside “Experts" Accurate prison statistics are twice as difficult to come by thanks to conflicting volumes of viewpoints penned by ersatz prisoner-writers who, whether well-intentioned or self-serving, spew out unscientific, illresearched statistics. For example, in his 1981 In the Belly of the Beast, noted inmate author Jack Abbott claimed: “... The majority of prisoners I have known—something like 90%—express sexual interest in their own sex ’ (Abbott, 1981: 80| Such statements are not confined to only male prisonerwriters. In her autobiographical They Always Call Us Indies: Stories from Prison. Jean Harris explains how her “informal questioning" of staff and inmates brought in estimates as high as 95% for the amount of lesbian activity going on in her respective institution. Harris’ own “guess" was 25%. (Harris. 1988: 1141 Apart from the “guesses" of secular prisoner-writers, religious-oriented prisoners also write books, too often replete with gross, unsubstantiated, statistics for the amount of “sin" that goes on in prison. Take the author of Twice Pardoned for instance: “/ believe that 85% o f the men in prisons throughout the country participate in homose xual behavior, and that the practice is also widespread in women's prisons." [Morris, 1986:73-74) Morris bases his nationwide “85%” “statistic,” and his knowledge of what goes on in women's institutions, from his experiences in one men's prison in Georgia in the 1970s. This kind of “Bibleback" (Steel Nation slang for prison religious converts) rhetoric would be laughable were it not for the fact that many parole board members, prison program designers, and prison coordinators are Christian and actually take such reckless “statistics" to heart. This kind of distorted “reporting” only increases the task of trained researchers in determining the truth about the incidence of sex in prison. Such overblown and unsubstantiated “statistics" also contributes to confusion and conflict between straight prisoners and outsiders; causing wives and families of straight prisoners to look askance Outside “Experts" Even when we turn to qualified outside researchers, we are confronted with a complex of conflicting data, half truths and out and-out guesses. When it comes to prison homosexual activity, speculation and shoddy calculation are nothing new As far back as 1788. government officials inspecting Australia's Norfolk Island penal colony estimated “5% to 12%" of prisoners practiced sodomy. Their methodokigy for arriving at this statistic was not recorded, neither was the specific acts associated with the catch-all “sodomy" elaborated on. |Hughes, 1986: 516( Even today, haphazard observations and speculations abound For example, some experts would have us believe sexual tension is all but non-existent in prison; " M o s t r e s e a r c h e r s b e lie v e t h a t d e s ir e d u r in g in c a r c e r a t io n

in m a te s d o n o r e x p e r i e n c e m u i h \ e \ u a l

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in c lu d e th e la c k o f s o c ia l c u e s a s s o c ia te d w it h

s e x d r iv e in p r is o n

s tim u li, t h e r e a r e n o

opportunities to visit cocktail lounges, attend dances, or engage in other activities that arouse sexual responses * (Williams, 1979: 99) Did these researchers even consider that their subjects— paranoid from surviving in an environment where the least perceived weakness is exploited by prison predators- -might be wary of, and/or embarrassed to, discuss their most intimate activities with outsiders? Faced with prisoner stoicism, researchers often turn to extrapolating statistics based on minute numbers of subjects. Over the years, estimates from qualified researchers have ranged from 40-45% in a 1940s study of a maximum security men’s iastitution to 85% in a maximum security female institution (Smykla, 1980: 152). . .estimates cluster in the range of 30-45% and refer to the male penal population having homosexual relations at some rime during their incarceration. * (Williams, 1979: 99J Most current studies also estimate that between a third and half of male prisoners engage in some type of homosexual activity depending on the particular prison setting: "Based on the few studies that have examined the question o f homosexual behavior among prison inmates, estimates can be made that between 30 and 45 % of inmates have experienced homosexual behavior, with the variations associated with the intensity of custodial surveillance, the characteristics of the inmate population, and the average length o f confinement in a given prison. ’ (fnciardi, 1990: 6011 Comparisons F.fforts to dehumanize prisoners and keep them separate— figuratively and literally—from people on the outside, include shackling them with a stereotypical image of bestial behavior including indiscriminate, forced, sex. According to one noted writer, homosexual behavior in men’s prisons is to be expected and differs little from other sex-segregated environments: ‘Several decades ago, lawyer-sociologist Paul W. Tappan commented that homosexual behavior is a universal concomitant of sex-segregated living; that it is a perennial problem in camps, boarding schools, and correctional facilities; and that from a biological point of view homosexuality is normal behavior in the distorted institutional environments that characterize our nation's prisons. ’ (Inciardi, 1990: 600( Tappan’s basic observation is supported by a recent American Psychological Association study that revealed 10% to 13% of Catholic priests are active homosexually.” (USA TODAY 8/13/90] We also find evidence of actions and attitudes comparable to prison within the U.S. military. The problems faced with getting accurate estimates for the number of homosexuals in the military are the same for those in prison: powers-that-be not wanting to know C Don’t ask, don’t tell!”); personal fear of disclosure; and the fact that the majority of those regularly engaging in homosexual acts do not self-identify as either homosexual or bisexual. Randy Shifts, in his CONDUCT UNBECOMING: Gavs and lesbians in the U.S. Military (1993), recounts tales of homosexual relationships, rapes, and subsequent rationalizations taking place in all branches of the U.S. military that, but for the color of the uniforms, could easily be mistaken for prisoner behavior. Obviously, sex-segregated institutions do provide more opportunities (or is that, “excuses”) for the homo-sexually curious to taste forbidden fruit (pun intended!). Experience vs. Orientation The problem for most researchers is that they fail to distinguish between prisoners who see themselves as homosexuals per se and “straight"prisoners who regularly engage in homosexual behavior, but who do not self-identify as being homosexual or even bisexual. Rationalizations (read: “excuses”) by “straight” men for taking an occasional “walk on the wild side” are not confined only to prisoners. According to Shifts: "Straight guys had a hundred reasons why such behavior did not make them queer. They were just horny. Years later, scores of gay Vietnam veterans recounted the rationalizations: As long as they were not having sex with a woman, they were staying fiiithfid to their wives. Getting a blowjob from a guy wasn't real sex. anyway. ’ (Shifts, 1993: 44(

Alpha Publications of Ohio 8.) Painter, Kim (1993) “Studying the Nature of Being Gay”, in USA TODAY. March 8. 1993 9. ) Psychology Today. (November, 1989) “Personal Questions: Bom Gay?” pg. 80 10. ) Smykla, John Ortiz (1980) Coed Prison. Human Sciences Press/University of Alabama/NY 11. ) Weiten, Wayne and Lloyd, Margaret A. (19941 Psychology Applied to Modem Life: Adjustment in the 90s 4th Ed., Brooks/Cole Publishing Co./CA 12. ) Williams, Vergil L. (1979) Dictionary of American Penology: An Introduction Guide. Greenwood Press 13.) Wooden, Wayne S. and Parker, Jay (1992) Men Behind Bars: Sexual Exploitation in Prison. Da Capo Press/NY

About the author: Despite spending over half his life in

Brothers BehindBarsBullitenBoard.

prison, Half Dean Omar has succeeded in publishing numerous poems and articles in several nationally- and internationallydistributed periodicals. In addition he has written, illustrated and sold over a dozen full-length books including Stwl Nation; liflW to Survive and Prosper in Prison (Alpha PublkatMfflfi of Qlb 1995.) The above article is part of a current book project: Graveyard Love: The story of Sex and Slavery in PnsQB- Ralph currently lives in prison in Mansfield OH.

Conclusions

Prison life is a deprived, alien landscape for a human being: depriving prisoners of dignity, depriving them of human contact, depriving them of validation of their basic self-worth. It is also no mystery that, with rare exceptions of those prisons permitting conjugal visits, incarceration also deprives heterosexual prisoners of sexual intimacy. While the actual percentages of homosexuals incarcerated, as well as the number of self-defined “straight" prisoners who regularly engage in homosexual behavior, may never be determined with any across-the-board accuracy, we must not permit ourselves to fall into the easy—comforting for some—prejudice of believing prison (or any “sex-segregated” institution for that matter) causes homosexual behavior by “tempting" heterosexuals. Surprising many and disappointing more was the 1965 study reporting the incidence of homosexuality within one co-ed correctional facility at 23% for male prisoners and 24% for female prisoners (Smykla, 1980: 152). We would be on more solid ground arguing that sexsegregated prisons promote homosexual behavior by giving sexually curious inmates, who might not otherwise engage in homosexual acts on the outside, an excuse for doing so inside prison. Sexual curiosity and the need for human contact are human universal, to be expected, and understandable. The need for rationalizing by those prisoners who selfidentify as “straight” yet who daily engage in homosexual behavior is, while reprehensible, also to be expected, and perhaps forgiven, given society’s constantly shifting attitudes toward homosexuality in general, and homosexual behavior inside the Steel Nation in particular. What can’t be “forgiven" and should never be forgotten is the way such rationalizations, while easing individual conscience, help to perpetuate sexual slavery and abuse in prisons across the country. No matter how hard prison administrators, religious agendaists and that unknown percentage of self-defined “straight” men—daily engaging in homosexual acts with their “boys”—try to convince us, and themselves, the fact remains that prisons don’t cause homosexuals. Whether the origins of homosexuality in general are one day determined to be nature, nurture of a combination of the two, any future study hoping to map the true extant of homosexual behavior inside our nation’s prisons must begin with a viable methodology capable of navigating the gauntlet of myopic—inside and outside—experts, secretive prison administrators; and, most importantly, those “straight” prisoners who regularly engage in homosexual behavior... and haven’t got a clue! Sources Quoted 1.) Abbott, Jack (1981) In the Belly of fee Beast: Letters from Prison. Random House/NY

Constraints. Prentice Hall/NY 3. ) Harris, Jean (1988) They Always Call Us Ladies: Stories from Prison. Charles Scribner’s Sons/NY 4. ) Hughes, Robert (1986) The Fatal Shore. Vantage Books/NY 5. ) Inciardi, James A. (1990) Criminal Justice 3rd Ed., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich PuMishing/NY 6. ) Morris, Harold, with Barker, Dianne (1986) Twice Pardoned. Focus on the Family Publishing/Arcadia, CA

“..charming but dangerous.’ BBB received a letter from a subscriber in Pa. who wants to warn anyone that may have written to Michael Joseph Taubman, formerly of lone Correctional Institute. ’ Michael stole some items from me and a Madza pick up truck,....this man is extremely charming but also extremely dangerous.” He’s out now and has a parole violation for attempted murder . 66

Elmer Tony Hamilton EF-317975 W 21 5*8 150 br bu hoping to be out soon, I S O someone special to come home to- interested?. tefs see if we are compatible. HIV-, I know you are out there, take a chance you might be that special someone Hassan Hawkins E F -230268 B 29 6*2 220 of solid mass, well educated, responsible, honest sincere about the heart, seeking a positive minded and caring companion, any age or race, please send photos, all ans. Luther C Huggins 528739 A UNIT E-2 W 37 5*9 152 br gnbu seeks penpals, friendships, and possibly relationship Age and race unimportant, but honesty is My hobbies are camping, working-out jogging and movies I like quite evenings and fun filled days. Out soon hopefully

CCI RT 7 BOX376 LAKE CITY FL 3205 5^ 8705 Derrick Wood 616754 F4-5B 24 5’10 156 bd bu inside tor short term, seeks older man for long term monogamous relationship, will relocate

UCI POB 221

RAILFORD FL 32083

Stephen V Avageanos 255918 T -14 2 5 Greek/ltalian God. big, built and powerful, dominant seeks all potential slaves to serve and worship totally, and fully submit to the Master completely, 1 T o f beef. Matthew Armitage 094209 W 39 SEU B 20-136 32 bd bu bodybuilder, surfer, black belt, very attractive and lonely in a cage, seeks friends who are sincere and real, feminine a plus, will ans. all. Mark Craig 739315 S-23 Jewish Bi 27 5’8 152 br br full beard, consider myself attractive, inside for 5yrs. out in’97, seeking penpals any age or size to possibly visit me. Timothy Hampton 579240/30-165 34 5 '1 1 170 dk In search of a down to earth man for friendship and possible senous relationship, I've 10 months before I'm out, age and race unimportant, please write.

FSP POB 747 STARKE FL 32091 The purpose of the pen pal listing is to offer the community at-large the opportunity to relieve the pain and loneliness that most Inmates endure. RFD assumes no responsibility for claims made in these Brothers Behind Bars listings, and we urge all respondents to exercise caution, especially with any financial dealings. Inmates can submit their ‘ads’ as short as possible, (30 words or less to RFD, PO Box 68, Liberty, TN 37095. The coordinator reserves the right to edit ads according to his judgment. Over the last several issues the number of pen pal adds has increased dramatically. In order to maintain the same space the RFD collective agreed on several ideas. Firstly, to limit the number of adds to under one hundred, and try to include photos. Se c o nd l y , not to repeat adds. Thirdly, the communication sent to us would Indicate that the prisoner was gay or bi, and genuine in seeking correspondence as a pen pal. Lastl y, unpublished adds won't be returned. We welcome responses on these policy changes from all readers, both prisoners and non-prisoners. In an effort to save space, inmates’ addresses are given once per facility. Notes: Inmates are listed in Zip Code order within the same Zip Code. All inmates are supposed to be gay unless specified otherwise. Bi=bisexual, W=whlte, B=black, NA=native American, A=Asian, H=hispanic, PR=Puerto Rican / age In years/ height/ weight In pounds/ color of hair/ color of eyes: ab=auburn, bd=blond, bk=black, br-brown, bu=blue, gn-green, hz=hazel, rd=red, gy=gray, drbr=dark brown. ADTC

BOX 190

AVENEL

07001-1697

Sean Kilpatric C -2050 Bi W 32 5'9 190 br hz hairy chest, clean shaven, I like camping, specially in the nude, animals, biking, hiking, versatile, well endowed, soft rounded butt, ISO someone who has similar interests.

GSP

REIDSVILLE

GA 30453

AstanieMann EF046O7 M-4-Cell16 B 27 6'2 195 br with a beauty sparkle, great body, hobbies: basketball, racquetball and having a great time, I.S.O. a nice person to help me through this dramatic experience.

GSP

HC01

REIDSVILLE

Cristobal Aparicio 148826 H 34 seeking correspondence, meaningful friendships and more, If your ready for a one on one relationship write to me, prove me wrong, are there no fun loving, serious minded, down to earth gays left in the world?

30499

Ronald Davis 096134 W 5’9 170 br bu HIV-, seeking friendship to turn into a rel/ship. Wilson Bracy 038806 B 35 5*11 180 honest, caring, understanding, open minded, enjoys a variety of activities, seeks someone special to share correspondence and more, please be my Queen and I will be your King, Ts, Ts welcome, please write I will not let you down. James Hutchison 656970 W 28 br bu 6'5 sensitive, caring, sincere and honest person looking for the same in friendship, possible relationship to build, will ans. all, I'm very lonely. Frazier Keluin 099699 N-1-N-6 Sincere, I'm a nonsmoker, AIDS-, I’d like to meet a sincere friend for writing and more or just to share some wild adventures, please write. William Kunkle 078238 W Looking for relationship minded men, I'm tall, good looking, Intelligent, and sincere, I get out soon and want to find that special person, all letters answered Lee Massey 686875 25 5'8 170 Scorpio, masculine. Into mature, honest, adventurous relationships with people who have no hang ups about life, mentally incarcerated but my mind is ever soaring like a space shuttle, hope to hear from you. Jerome Nelson D C N-392680 W 32 I'm in search of someone who wants to be a friend or maybe more I'm seeking bottoms of all ages, who are serious, honesl, caring, for friendship or more Will ans. all. David L Nuetzel 077780 1 R -3 N 10 W 27 5’6 145 d.o.b.6/25/68, H IV , 7 Scut, honest, sincere, romantic, fun loving, open minded, understanding, sexually versatile, monogamous relationship, please write

1150 SW ALLAPATTAH RD INDIANTOWN FL 34956 Ronnie Brown 302836-350 Ebony stud, seeking friendship and possible long lasting monogamous relationship, hobbies: movies, sports, music, reading and most of all sex Ben Cauley 185446 MB-425 24 5'11 171 Seeking me unexpected, wilting to collide lonely hearts together until we form a cure for loneliness, happiness, and desire, will respond to all. Cleo Collins 089126 B 28 5'9 160 seeking true lover, Tv, T s , Be, she males any age/race, financially secure, intelligent, honest, patient and a real good lover, I'm lonely and need a true lover, awaiting those serious about a relationship, ans all

Chad Strwt 686280 W 20 5’6 175 bd bu hobbies, weight lifting, boxing, seeking secure, feminine. Tv, Ts, she males all welcome for friendship and love, looking to learn, out in ‘96. Maxie Turner 068068 728 Well endowed ebony stallion seeks warm and caring male for friendship and possible long lasting monogamous relationship, hobbies: chess, movies, sport, music, reading, psychology and romantic evenings out, will and. all.

KY 42038-

Jim Helton 83147 6.F.11 W 42 5'1 1 180 br bugr good looking rugged type, well hung, in search of sincere, loving, long lasting relationship, possible release soon, give this romantic guy a chance to make both our dreams come true, any age or race, ans. all letters. Marvin Kidd 116232 W 20 br br seeks professional who is honest and sincere, please no games, my interests are reading, walk in the park, hiking, camping, spending time together, inside for bad checks, lets correspond and get to know each other. Clarence Moore 95944 W 34 br br 155 seeking correspondence with male 3050yrs. Dave Youngerman 114108 W 20 6'1 170 br br very clean, healthy and in great shape. I'm seeking sincere’ others for correspondence, friendship or maybe even more.

POB 120 OH 45036

Scon Rhodes 208 584 1 D-225 W 31 6'2 225 br bu not all prisoners are hardened criminals, some are guilty of bad judgment. I'm very laid back. Fr a/p, Gr a/p, seeking someone 40-60 yr., for friendship poss long term relationship, exchange photos

POB 30

207-El

PENDELTON

Davis Mictchell Jr ADC 44009 B4000 Eyman Unit Young, well hung Nubian King, seeks honest and sincere correspondence with gay friend. Not afraid of open communication and new experiences. Will answer all letters with honest response.

Timothy Smith 854951 106-B1 B 30 6'2 205 10'cock, college student seeking friendship, love, companionship, passion and sex, out in 2 yr„ I'm exceptionally handsome, non smoke, drug or drink, enjoy cooking, any race, age or weight.

PLAINFIELD IN

Norman Goodtoe 22410 B 36 5'9 170 sincere, loving, seeking sincere corr., I will ans. all letters.

Samuel A Springer B 645864 6 -d 9 6'1 192 A lonely smile awaits for you. Are you willing to spend 5 min. to reach out and touch someone who wants to share a pretty smile?, 6"x9" lightning rod and ready to electrocute you with it, all questions will be ans honestly and promptly

RCI

Bobby Patterson 22916 206-B1 45 top, seeks intelligent, sensitive, faithful bottom Interested in a serious tong term relationship, no games, tired of being alone and wanting the basis of a relationship ready upon my release, age no barrier, interests: boats, driving, water skiing and outdoors.

IYC 727 MOON RD 46168-9400

Ernest Dickerson 073996 Bi 32 5'11 185 raised in FL, down to earth with a good sense of humor, is there anyone out mere willing to share a bit of time, released soon, will ans. all.

128 EDDYVILLE

Steve Mitroy 68025 33 rd bn 5*5 170 non dangerous, non repetitive, interests-:meditation, yoga, numerology, astrology, religion, philosophy, bettering my self, penpalling, tarot cards, telepathy, astral projection, turn offs: liars and masculinity.

Ricky Thacker 901871 FDOC D.S.2R23 W Aries, 20 seeks the companionship of a father/friend, aged 25-?, released 2003, If you love your self and others please write, ans. all.

Leon Hay DC 182616 W 5'6 5 175 Seeking correspondence for friendship and or relationship and that has a great sense of humor, I will be out in '96. photo appreciated

KSP POB 0128

Calvin Evans 882452 207-E1 W 25 dark complection, young, intelligent athletic build, college student and unhappy prisoner, but hopefully not for long, seeking down to earth guy who is not into head games, l*ve plenty of time to tell my whole story, please write

46064

Edward l Beghan 10081 202-A1 50 5'8 168 gybr br Looking for intelligent, sensitive, faithful bottom, interested in serious long term relationship, I'm not into head games or any type of power play, I’m tired of being alone for such a long time and interested in having a meaningfull relationship established before my release

Gregory L Owens 860815 M-Dorm W 42 5'8 155 bd full beard, I'm healthy and run 3-5 miles a day, seeking pen pals.

POB

MICHIGAN CITY

IN 46361

Robert Antrobus 904978 B-309 Bi W 34 6 ’1 200 br hz Wiccan, interests: wiccanism, reading, cats, making N/A jewelry, new age music, safe sex, nature and saving it from further destruction, I’m HIV-, seeking pen pals with many interests and intellectually stimulating in corr. Blessed Be.

WCC

POB 473 WESTVILLE

IN 46391

Michael Morkeski 922258 ICPL Bi W 23 5 '1 1 180 hz athletic build, seeking bottom that’s extremely sweet, caring, intelligent, financially secure, and willing to devote himself to a well hung, lonely, looking for a rel., please be sincere in response

2727 Ml

E BEECHER ST POB 49221

1888

ADRIAN

Shawn Martin 188553 W 5’9 bu long hair, young, bottom, built, very athletic, out going, I'm seeking an older gay man for friendship and penpall.

BOX 76405-6B DRAWER A FT LEVENWORTH KS 66027-1363 Andrew Aull A.K.A. Leo 25 seeking pen pals who are free or excons. I'm in a military prison and will be out in about 7 yrs, I am a writer, lets correspond.

POB

260

LEXINGTON

OK 73051

Steele A Smith 164070 2 6 been inside 9 yrs, out in a few years, I’ve no gay friends but would like to establish some friends now so I won’t be out in the cold when I’m released, I’m a babe to the scene and need helpful gay friends to aid me in my integration into the social scene, Blessed Be.

RT 4 BOX1200

ROSHARON

77583

Jeffrey S Mouser 613457 2 3 165 5’1 1 bd bu I love men with body hair and a large c h e s t especially a mustache !, I’m very energetic and I love to body build, where are the men?, please write.

USP POB 250 DRAPER UT 84020

M chael E Simmons 79953 4000 W 23 6' 185 seeking correspondence, must be out spoken, possible long term friendship.

PNM

POB 1059

SANTA FE NM 87504-1059

Chris Cullen 41394 2ANorth W Bi 39 5 '1 1 160 bk hz British, seeking penpals, I like all outdoor activities, animals, art, aesthetic quality a must.

POB 1989

ELY

NV 89301

Fredrick Harvey 17153 25 6’2 213 bk br muscle built, out in '96. I’m lonely and just need someone to talk to, you really can't open up to people in here, there is no respect, I am sincere and lonely, please write. Randy Kalal 29224 seeking correspondence with open, honest person who will share their freedom with me, no games, no hustle, no cons, friendship is fine but I’m open to any type of relationship. Jon Newman 34217 W 26 6’1 180 sandy hair hz Canadian, smooth, HIV-, versatile, seeks ‘life mate', If your looking for a sincere, compassionate, life time mate please write. Jose Luis Valdez 27833 H 33 5’10 172 bk br seeking pen pals for friendship or poss. rel.

NSP

POB 607 CARSON CITY

NV 89702

Derek Ellwood 444408 W young, attractive, seeks serious secure male for fulfilling relationship, I’m educated, articulate, inside for short time. Kennith Settergren 44119 W 27 5'10 br br well built, 6 mths. short, looking for possible future relationship.

POB

409000

IONE

CA 95640

Emmanuel Insinna J11050 M1C-8u W 35 6'1 175 not bad to look a t here in prison I've discovered I'm gay and have come out of the closet, I am alone with no one out there to care about me or write to, I’m seeking corr. with a gay man of any race, I need a friend. Jason Moore J -60634 B-10-105-UP 22 6’2 180 muscular with a dark tan, I have feelings that I really need to share with someone that understands me, if interested please write.

POB

290066 REPRESSA CA

95671-0066

William L Combs D-33450 A-1 -111 38 5’6 175 bd bu Scorpio I am different, I actually am me and I made a terrible mistake, I took a life, I’m in prison and yes it does suck, I’m isolated here no one In my life that gives a fuck, I'm seeking correspondence with a friend on a regular basis.

EOCI 2500 97801

WESTGATE

PENDLETON

Russell Sabourin 23347 Tim 4-C-3-Top W 39 6'4 180 bd bu seeking friendship, companionship and maybe relationship, Tv, Ts, she males, please send photo, will ans. all.

Dennis Davis 4761807 W 22 5'8 176 Igbr bu athletic, seeking gay male with drive, determination and sense of self, age unimportant, I enjoy sports, movies, traveling, affection, I just want a buddy.

Rasson Sanders 20703 HuWasatch A-EastfM 16 W 23 140 br bu seeking anyone from 18-36 for friendship or relationship, I’m sensitive, kind, loving and caring,interests: swimming, camping and dancing, please don't send sexually naughty letters or photos.

Clyde E McGinnis 10042337 W 23 6' 165-170 br hz honest, sincere and straight forward, seeking same from older men, seeking friendship maybe more, hope to hear from you soon.

ASPC BOX 85232

Keith Reynolds 4022257 W 46 6’ 165 br br I would like to correspond with any male, doing time and need a friend.

8400-SPU

FLORENCE

Jeffrey Brown 71385 B4000Eyman W 24 5'9 185 Looking to meet some new friends and possibly build a relationship, I enjoy most things people can share together, no drugs, no games! interested please write

Jimmy Rogers 7376822 W 30 rd gy la m an artist and romantic, looking for a honest, fun and loving person, age unimportant, I want to care for someone and to be cared for by someone

LETTERS RFD PRINTS CONTACT LETTERS FREE OF CHARGE WE ALSO PROVIDE A FREE FORW.ARDING SERVICE FOR READERS WHO PREFER NOT TO PUBLISH THEIR ADDRESS DONATIONS. HOWEVER, ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED WE INSIST THAT YOUR LETTERS BE BRIEF (UNDER 200 WORDS) AND WILL RETURN ANY THAT ARE LONGER WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU BE POSITIVE IN STATING YOUR PREFERENCES. SAYING NO TO A PARTICULAR TRAIT OR CHARACTERISTIC MAY UNNECESSARILY OFFEND SOMEONE. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CORRECT SPELLING AND EDIT AS WE SEE FIT FEEL FREE TO SEND A PHOTO (BLACK AND WHITE PRINTS BETTER) WITH YOUR LETTER. AND WE WILL TRY TO INCLUDE IT RFD ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLAIMS MADE IN LETTERS. AND WE URGE ALL RESPONDENTS TO EXERCISE CAUTION. ESPECIALLY WITH ANY FINANCIAL DEALINGS.

We have a Inn and Farm on 5 beautiful acres in the Western North Carolina Mountains. We grow about 1 acre of produce and fresh herbs organically for the Inn and Co-op which we buy most of our grains and staples. The area is surrounded by National Forests and has Hot mineral springs and numerous hiking trails within walking distance. I, Brian, am 35 and love to bake and garden, backpack, and travel during the off season. Frank, my partner, is 37 and a builder, finish carpenter, and also loves to garden and help around the Inn on weekends. We have been together for 9 years. Our dream is to develop a retreat center and a place for gathering and to provide an environment in which we can enjoy, seek wholeness and uncover our spirituality. We are interested in having an additional staff or possibly a third partner to share our wonderful home with . The Inn would provide Room and Board plus modest stipend. Please no drugs and we would prefer a non-smoker. We are vegetarian, non-smokers, very involved with regional environmental issues, and politically active as well. Please send photo and reason why you would like to live here and share our dreams. We are open to all visitors, write or call. Peace, Brian Duckett House Inn & Farm P.O. Box 441 Hot Springs, N.C. 28743

Professional lad working in N.H. in the summer and in Florida during the cold months and would like friends and visitors, young and older. Interests; dramatics, flower

pot gardening, gourmet cooking, sex, money, flea markets, barn sales, antiques, dining in or out if you bring the cash!! Making strawberry jam, strawberry bread, building boneless duck with orange sauce, blueberry muffins all served to the lucky friend or guest. Try Me. John P.O.Box 149 Dublin, New Hampshire 03444

Looking for love and friends. My name is Scott and I am looking for men 35 years old or a little older and anyone younger. I am 35 years old, 5'5" tall, 130 lbs. with sandy blond hair and blue-green eyes. I am looking for a relationship or just friends. My hobbies ai£ art, Indian lore and stamp collecting. I like some sports, auto racing, basketball, and watching ice skating. Oh yea, also Baseball. I like the outdoors a lot. I am a loving person and hope to find the same. Sexually, I like to satisfy my man. I like walks in the park or a drive. I like candle lit dinners. I like to read. I am also looking for a set of twins to get together with. Hope to hear from you. Scott H. 725 E. Brooks Galesburg, 111. 61401

Hello, I am a 32 year old homesteader living and gardening in Northern New England where I grew up. I would like to communicate with others near my age who are homesteading-anywhcrc. Spring and summer I work long

THE POLITICS OF SAYING N O

days outside week after week; winter is time to relax and, if there's opportunity, travel a bit for the good of the soul. A companion would be super, a relationship great, someone to write to just as nice (almost). I get along especially well with people who blend wholesomeness with crazy intelligence and rural inhabitants who feel tied to nature, but don't let isolation or solitude interfere with a COSMOPOLITAN existence. Geography matters but any kindred spirit should write. Chow for now. Turtle , C./0 RFD #83

Greetings, My name is Nigel. I moved from Atlanta to West Virginia last year after my lover Died. It was just one of those things they tell you not to do during grief-make big changes. I don't really think of going back to Atlanta. I do miss N Georgia. I am back in school now to become, first, a nurses aid I am 44 years old. I’m, 150 lbs., dark blond hair, green eyes, masculine, 5’8" tall. I am friendly easy going and pul a great deal into my spirituality. I’m tolerant, a dog lover (I have a big dog ),and into nature religions &

. by Muckee Muck

NO! DON'T DO THAT! DON'T PLAY WITH THAT THING! NO MORE! I have typed too many contact letters for RFD. I have typed and facilitated the layout of contact letters for the past two years. I have also had lots of assistance in the typing and w ant to thank those folks. I am saddened at the thought of w hy m en think w ith their cocks or their fears. We alienate people when we don't have to. I think we are taught this by society, and we perpetuate it w ithout thinking how other people are affected. I implore you to think about what we say and why. For Example; If one w ants to travel to the N ortheast, w ould one put "N O SOUTH WESTERNERS"? If one wants to ask for someone to care for their home, one knows not to w rite "N O JEW S"(pardon me), because that HURTS someone. If one wants to meet a 30 year old m a n , w ould one write "N O 40 'S MEN"? If one w ants to meet a healthy-stable-masculine-squeezed out of a tube-straight actingstraight appearing-m an w ould one say "N O CANCER PATIENTS, MENTAL CASES, RADICAL THINKERS, NO WIMMIN" ? Pause for a moment and think about how a person w ith AIDS feels w hen they read "N O DISEASE". Try putting on press-on lesions, then visit 69

new age Christianity. I am lonely here. I'm not a bar person so I don't meet many suitable gay men. I like tall men who arc masculine, have a mustache, strong inside, loving, tolerant and around my age. Spiritual Boy Scout? Nigel "Cody" Jennings Old Bramwell Rd. Rt 4, Bx 12 Blueficld, WV. 24701

I, 55 years old, 57", dark skin, 190 lbs, submissive, sincere, honest, friendly, obedient, understanding, and I was bom in Puerto Rico Island. I'm bald. My sex preference is to serve and to please, since I'm a bottom. I’m am oral expert, too. In sex activity, I like to receive only. I'm single and I live alone. That’s why I'm looking for good men to be my fnends. Well endowed men to use my body the way they like. If you have "a good tool for the job" Write to me! Emilio Cruz P.O.Box 1574 Bronx, New York 10451-1574 or call me Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays, from 11:00 p.m. to ll:a.m . and Mondays, Wednesday, and Saturdays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. 1(718)993-3336

Friendly-masculine country dude 57"-160#, looking for guys that like rubber boots and tight jeans. E in Vermont C/O RED #83

Hey Faeries, It's been a little over a year since I took a flying leap into the Faerie madness for the first time at Stonewall, yet it seems like a hell of a lot longer. So much has since happened. So much growth has occurred. Never in my life would 1 have imagined an end to the

treacherous alienation I was at one time learning to live with. Never did I dream of finding, not just one person, but a whole community that supports and appreciates and loves who I am, and reciprocates what I am giving. A community that isn't afraid of my lunacy, my intensity, my love. Thank-you Faeries. Thank-you for not being afraid of me. Thank-you for the love and affection and the space to be who I’ve always wanted to be. Since Beltane, my Faerie name came to me, and it is now my last name- my family name. The aspects of myself it represents seem to explode when I'm in Faerie space. Yet I now need to get used to the idea of being away. I'm off to nursing school, and may not make it to the next few SMS gatherings, and therefore will not see most of you for a while. My mailbox is wide open, and I'm pretty good about reluming letters. I'll miss you all, but at the same time, I know you're always with me. So until we meet again, KEEP ON DANCING WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, and in the words of Sly, THANK YOU FELETTINME BE MICE ELF AGAIN! Jonas J. Cricket The Wet Box 909 Spaight St.. #4 Madison, WI 53703

I live in the country, near the beautiful beaches and wooded parks along the lake Michigan coast. I'm a GWM, 40's, slender, brown hair, non-smoker. I have a sense of humor, am honest, discreet, dependable, creative, emotionally stable. I have lots of interests, including classical music, writing, movies, plays, hiking, canoeing, bicycling. Some of my turn-ons arc tight Levi's wrestling videos, cuddling by the fire, being on the beach after sunset, and safe sex. I'm looking for a slender GM my age or younger who wants a long-term friendship and/or monogamous relationship. If you're interested, please write-you won't find me in a bar. Ty P.O. Box 5011 N. Muskegon, MI.49445

Hello! MY name is Kory and I live in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am 33, 5’10” tall and 150 pounds. I have dark, sandy blond hair, mustache, hazel eyes and wear glasses. I am seeking down to earth, rugged, masculine, confident, take charge, fun, playful, older(7).

hirsute (?) guys with similar qualities for workouts, buddies, travel, pen pals, more?? I enjoy working out regularly, camping, canoeing, hiking, biking, boating, swimming, riding horses, water-skiing, the beach, travel, new adventure like parachuting. I enjoy being outdoors regardless of the activity. I don't mind sweating and getting dirty as long as I am enjoying myself! I was raised partly in the city and partly in the country around horses and dogs and have a soft spot for most animals. On the quieter side.... I enjoy reading, plants, animals, old cars, old houses, movies, some concerts and plays, bearded, fit, hairy men, black and white photography, British comedies, neon lights and stained glass. I am active, masculine, aggressive, somewhat shy, responsible, dependable, conscientious, determined, serious, practical (yes, practical!), bright, witty, adventurous, independent to an extent, healthy, stable and stubborn. I say strong willed, but maybe need someone to keep me in line! Kory P.O. Box 13370 New Orleans, LA. 70185-3370

I live on a small broken down little farm in SW Missouri. I dearly love the spot where I live, unfortunately I feel rather alienated from most Queerfolk around here. I tend my big garden and mow my yard. I read and am finishing up a degree in Biology and English. I've just about had it with the homophobia and heterosexism at my university and have decided to embark this fall on a mission to get on the university’s nerves. I intend to be OUT, QUEER, and MOUTHY. I'm aware of the risks and the benefits and am willing to proceed anyway. My energy is Queer / Fairy / Intellectual. I tend to be serious and intense, though I can be a little boy and play and play and play. I seem to swing back and forth from MO. to N. CALIFORNIA. I love the earth here and the people there. I would love to simply connect with other queer men. I welcome visitors, penpals and anyone interested in a leisurely cocksuck on an old quilt out under the mulberry tree. I am particularly interested about Queer Christian Spirit. I go to an absolutely wild AfricanAmerican Pentecostal Church. I recently read an interesting paper on how homosexual courtship in male newts enhanced reproductive success. If any of the ideas I’ve hinted at in this letter piques your interest, drop me a line. Frank Vincent RR1 Box 18 Goodson, MO. 65659

MORE ON NO....____________________________________________ friends and see how your friends respond to you. It breaks my heart w hen I think about the PAIN that is perpetuated in this world w ithout thought. We have been called all kinds of names by hurtful people. Those people try to alienate us and thus we have learned what it is like to be excluded. That teaches us w hat is not acceptable to write. We have learned not to write "N O FAGGOTS". So why are we compelled to w rite "N O FATS, NO FEMS "? If RFD was to edit these w ords out of the contact letters, the w riter's public aura would be fluffed, while the person's thinking w ould rem ain the same. That could be w asting everyone's time. If RFD was to POLICE what is w ritten, far to m uch time w ould be wasted returning letters for revision. Contact letters may not get in the appropriate issue. What if we spend a few m oments m editating on the w ord "COMPASSION" and allow that word to sink into our HEARTS ? I have had to in order to finish this article. ^ I WISH FOR MORE COMPASSION IN THIS WORLD...... ! ^ 70

Dear Brothers; Hello! I am in a major transition point in my life - it is past time for me to move from my unfulfillmg life among concrete, violence, and high tension to a much quieter life at one with nature. Just one problem - I am not sure how to make the transition and although I've live^in Chicago. New York, and Los Angeles in the last five years. I'm afraid I won't be able to find housing, work, or other gay men. Sounds familiar? If anyone can offer any advice I would be greatly appreciative. I would like to relocate to Colorado or New Mexico— a small town but not reclusive. I am an artist by trade but would like to work gardening, cooking, and with carpentry. Any and all replies would be wonderful. Thank You. Peace and Love Douglas Allen 849 W. Buena # 2E Chicago, 111. 60613

I am a 39 year old blond, clean, interesting GWM-5T0", 217#. I am predominantly an aggressive bottom with a lot of love to offer. My sign is Taurus and as such I'm an intense, romantic and very loving man. You'll find me motivated, functional, and hardworking and sincere. I am a professional working for a large teaching hospital. I am looking for hot times, romance, caring, sharing, communication and love. I want to build something very special with a truly remarkable man. (No games.) I am on a quest to love, learn, and grow. I have a 7" cut, hot cock. I love to kiss, cuddle, caress and sleep with my man. I want to be happy, uninhibited and united in a "one-ness" with someone who understand how. I want to enjoy my partner and get him wild while making love. I know all things take time, but I'm confident in finding you. Let's stop being apart and start a life of love and intimacy together. Feel free to share any and all of your thoughts with me. Let's meet! Frank in Upstate New York C/O RFD #83

Recently widowed & fallen pre-op transsexual-white, 30 educated out-spoken, secure with self, seeks correspondence/other, with Bros & sisters near or far. No head games given or received! Jackie L. Johnson 318 W. Broad St. Livingston, Tennessee 38570

I'd really like to correspond and share experiences with some other gay males. I'm 34, 5' 11" and weigh about 175 lbs. I'm of mixed race, black and white, and have somehow ended up looking sort of Puerto Rico or Indian (as from India). I like racket sports and am an avid spectator of othei sports. I'm attractive (so I'm told) and fairly in shape. I like guys who arc humorous and in shape to muscular and somewhere in the 30 to 40 age range. I prefer black guys but any race is OK. My interests include books.

movies, and people Write & tell me about yourself. Hams 1 St. Lucia Ave Shop 35. Suite 2 Spanish Court, Kingston 5 Jamaica W.I. Peru, 43. 6’, 175 lbs, glasses, hairy, tattooed, into Satyrs, phalli, butts, Bears for lengthy SM rituals; primarily top but can be had' also relish chocolate; good sci-fi / fantasy. Heinlien, Pers Anthony, Spider Robinson, McAffery's dragons, Rice's Vampires & Sleeping Beauty; good food / cooking-still a carnivore; laughter; puns;kissing/cuddling/touching writer-nonfiction, fiction, poetry, pom; hugs; nudity; shared massage. Have weakness for tall furry guys over 35 & 6 ft. who are at ease with their age & sexuality & body, esp. N/S, N/D non-drugs. Please no $ or B/S or headgames. I'm real and I expect the same open, honest, realistic. Seek ongoing interaction/ dialogues with all others with similar interests. Good sense of humor a must. esp. if twisted. Oh yeah, one last point I bite! T.R. in B.C. C/O RFD # 83

Brother, All life is energy and light The collective soul are the elements in which everything is a part. To nurture and respect these elements is to have true vision, and a sacred witness to completion, like the circle. To revere a Paper Birch, listen to the wind or find sanctum under our expanding universe, (critical value theory, of course) is to empower, and to be empowered. Empowerment is to love, this is my offering. This 29 year old, Saggitarian GWM stands 6ft 15 lbs, brw eyes/brw hair, beard/mustache; Handsome, manly and endearing. Interests include; Painting, writing, astronomy, geography and geology. My objective? This ad will reach the brother I've seen in my mind's eye. He is fair haired, bearded, rugged, always out-doors. He feels an affinity with colder climates and "wild places' like The North Woods, Alaska/Yukon, and the mountains. He is nurturing, connected and sentimental. He too, enjoys the physical sciences and feels deeply for the elements. I can see him standing by his cabin, miles from any town, thinking of this brother he has seen in his mind’s eye. Our journey has begun brother. Placidus Circumfero. Mailing address: Robert S. P.O. Box #396 Brandon, S.D. 57005 P.S. Placidus Circumfero is Latin for Peaceful Centering.

to our Brothers: We had RFD for many years and dropped it,, we missed you all. We're back. We're 2 guys been together 30 yrs. We have an organic garden, can & freeze & sell some. We're in the suburbs, but have a place to go to in the country. We're 5'7", 6'4", we're country guys at heart, skinny dip, walk nude

after dark, nude moonlight ride in the truck. We're country guys at heart, on no drugs, looking for singles or couples, for friendship, no age barrier Wc arc both very active guys, down to earth, can help anyone who needs knowledge of gardening or anything about farm or animals or flowers, raised on a farm, wc do have a green thumb on raising plants, anything and everything grows wc have. This includes guys--We love you, for just what you are-cveryonc is different, we're not asking for sex. Friendships are a fun valued thing, with our years together, raising garden, flowers & experiencing life together -30 years- I am sure all of you out there, let's talk -write & visit, our home is welcome to you. We make terrific home cooked meals, with down to earth, caring guys -please do write. We re looking for Rand Lee, from Santa Fc. N.M. Wc wrote on and off for years & Ik

wanted lu start a sclf/sufficicm rural healing sanctuary for men. & was very interested. Lost his address & if he got his community started. One last thing, we're AIDS clean, we do not drink, smoke, don't need that to turn us on. Just love good clean healthy bodies, always wanted to meet truck drivers or Indian guys-but that’s ok, come on country guys, drop us a line. We re sincere guys- want & need friends. Art & Paul 10360 Concord School Rd ST. Louis, MO 63120

Hi everybody. I'm a single GWM who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia. I believe, as Mapie sings in one of its great songs "We belong to the earth." I'm hoping to meet a compatible guy so we can settle here for a time, while making plans to locate in a more rural area where people are more in tune with the land. I'm a young 54, 5'8", 149, brown hair, green eyes. G/A, like being outdoors, county fairs, growing herbs and flowers, all types of entertainment. I am a movie and music reviewer, publish my own newsletter and write free-lance for several publications. I like music everything from Cajun and C/W to Grand Opera and in between, also like theater, dance, art, crafts. I am very grateful to be able to do something I love for a living. I don't make much money, but I seem to get what I need, if not always what I want. I’ve been in recovery since 1973 and my 12step program means a lot to me. I am grateful that I now am and can follow a path that makes life more meaningful each and every day, a day at a time. I am generally attracted to guys in their 30's, tight slender build or thin, optimum 57", 135. Don't expect perfection and open to the exception that becomes the rule. It would be nice if you were willing G/P and liked J/O, could fix Jeeps, cook, and proofread copy, but one out of five would be okay! I would also like to meet someone who is kind to his body. I'm out with smokers and would obviously prefer to meet someone who can take or leave alcohol. Write to me honestly, with your thoughts and ideas, send a photo if you can, or want to, and I will promise to reply. Keep it simple, but do it. I'm a man who once committed,

gives 100 percent, so it might be worth checking out Rad Rd 2, Box 543 Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Greetings I have recently been uprooted from the city and planted in the desert. I'm going a little crazy in this town, since I have not had much success in finding any of the sisterhood. I have found a nudist colony that is straight, but very accepting and friendly. I'm 6'4", 215 lb, 46" chest and 38" waist. Moderately hairy with a full head of brown, close cropped beard and green eyes. I'm 39 y.o. and have two children who are only here a few months of the year. I'm interested in meeting anyone with spiritual substance that is passing through, whether you're a truck driver, vacationer, or drifter. I have enough room for overnights, in my bed or not. I like different men at different stages of the moon. Mostly masculine and hairy, but the look in your eye out-scores any physical feature. I'm versatile and prefer tenderness to pain, although, on a full moon anything is possible. Dean Donovan 501 E. Virginia Way #82 Barstow, CA 92311

As a gay heyokah, shaman, I attract many young men looking for initiation into manhood and the male mysteries. Through this work I have also attracted my spiritual partner who shares everything with me accept sex. Most of the young men who are attracted to the work I do are heterosexual and most of the gay men I meet in my area arc not interested in spiritual work. In fact, it was only when I discovered the radical faeries did I find the kind of gay men that I really enjoy being with. So 1 am looking for a young gay or bisexual faerie man 22-26 years old that is attracted to older men and is interested in personal growth and spirituality. I am 47 years old , yang oriented non-smoker, student of Aikido, Ram Dass, Rajncesh. Into Native American/Earth spirituality. I am a residential designer, artist, wood carver and outdoor adventurer. I live in a rustic small house under live oaks near the bay in Pensacola. I would like to correspond and have visit me, a faerie brother with yin oriented personality interested in learning more about loving. Prefer non -smoker, outdoors-type man, neat self-sufficient and energized to be part of a small but growing spiritual community of gay and non-gay faeries. Crazy Bear 2911 1/2 East Jackson St. Pensacola, FL 32503

WANTED: PAGAN MEN desiring a religious vocation in a rural monastic setting. The Order of Dragon Temples, 1202 E. Pike #1084. Seattle, W A 98122-3934

LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY My ideal life would be to live in a Perm aculture Village; a small rural com m unity devoted to responsible agriculture, earthcarc and, well, people like you. It doesn't matter to me if you are gay, lesbian, bi, any age, race or belief I embrace you, my brothers and sisters and I am thankful for your diversity and your imaginative dreams. If you are like me you have had quite enough of the urban cliches and suburban isolation and, if like me, you would prefer cooperation and consensus over the usual competition and power games that characterize so much of 'modern' society, I say contact me and begin a dialogue about the community you want. I've seen Tennessee and it's great country but what about Louisiana? Anybody for Latin America? I'd like to hear your ideas but act now, ’cause I've promised myself that I will decide on my destination by Nov. of '96. What's that? You have little money? I have an opportunity for someone skilled in agriculture or wellread on Permaculture. Just ask! Peace. Michael Littlejohn 21-IL Diamond Street Brooklyn, New York 11222

Dear Brothers: It is now summer, as I write this, in Georgia. I’ve just started/opened a concession stand called "Wimpie's Snack Bar" at a fairly new gay campground in Dewy Rose, Georgia. This campground is called "The River's Edge". It is owned and operated by two gay men. A middle aged white and a younger black. Both are good looking, super hospitablc/accommodating and loaded with personality/humor. The River's Edge is a true country hideaway on 60 acres of beautiful, scenic land with a river flowing through and most of the campsites on the river. An inground swimming pool is centrally located and their policy of clothing optional also presents beautiful sights (bodies of all ages) around the pool. Fees are very reasonable at only $5.00 per year membership and a $5.00 fee for daytime visits. The name Wimpie could be from my passive, submissive personal history/personality as a bottom or from the cartoon character in Popeye who is remembered saying "I'll pay you Tuesday for a burger today". You will find delicious burgers, hot dogs, drinks, etc. at Wimpie's. I'm seeking a personal (top) partner and business partner, all in one, who would share all the work and fun with me. There is also a wonderful old home down the road from the campground where we could open a restaurant, start an herb garden, and begin a gay community. Well "over the hill"...40, I'm still goodlooking, healthy with a lot of love to give and receive. Interested? Den of Bee Natural Herbal Den P.O. Box 184 Ila, Georgia 30647 (706) 789-2935 1 am GWM and like many other gay men. I am lonely and desire to correspond with other 12

men regardless of their race. I welcome all who write and begin a friendship that might develop into something else. I like the country life. I hope to hear from you soon. I love good hot sex too. Write soon. I will answer. John P.O. box 180 Peterstown, VA 24963

GWM 59, 5-11, 180 lbs. WANTS TO FALL IN LOVE AND SETTLE DOWN WITH A HANDSOME, LOVING, LOYAL & AFFECTIONATE MAN TO ABOUT 55 FOR A ONE TO ONE RELATIONSHIP 1 LOVE DINNERS FOR TWO, MOVIES BIG DOGS AND AUTUMN TO MENTION A FEW. MY FANTASY IS A PERNELL ROBERTS LOOKALIKE, STOCKY TYPES & ITALIANS BUT OF COURSE ALL CONSIDERED IF PHOTO IS SENT. Louis P.O. Box 2(X)73 Baltimore, MD 21284

Looking for a kindred soul or souls- I am ready to ease out of the fast lane and set up housekeeping anywhere in the temperate or tropical world that offers cheap housing, a place to grow vegetables, and less stress than New Jersey. I'd like a friend who likes classical and other music, books, occasional theater and opera, hiking, camping (both kinds). I'm sixtyish, lots of energy, almost vegetarian. Non-smoker, light on alcohol. If you have similar interests- please write me! Ed c/o RFD replies

Dear ones, Having courage, seeking fulfillment of dreams/dcsires, hopefully enough sensibility to share life; with a man who: laughs a lot, \frorks hard in his own evolving ways, lives truly free, can grow; change; learn together, one who is strong in the spirit of loving life, knows I'm cuming when we are loving. Here is one of my love calls. If this might be you, do write memy fantasy; my dear, is a stag who lives to rut, washes his face in the morning dew, seeking and finding his peace in the green woods shade, naked/painted in a stone circle we have crafted together, he awaits our union, in our own grove where we strengthen our bonds and have enjoyed our sacred ways; of love/joy, where we maintain and honor each other. Having sent many love calls to you, on the winds, on the wings of divers creatures, hoping to mind-touch you. longing to know your heart-beat-song, on the earth requesting our meeting, calling from mountain tops and my pillow at night come to me;., two-for now, sharing lives delight! "Tal" H R. Carter 35 Spence St. Spfld. M A 01104

Hello brothers. I'm a 21 y.o. Junior at Central Washington

University. I’m in search of Pagan men for friendship and correspondence. Faenc Wicca especially interests me. I d appreciate any letters on finding a group to work with, a teacher, or just others who arc in the Craft. I enjoy drumming, alternative healing, trad. Insh music, reading, camping, cuddling and being held, relaxing by the serene flow of rivers, creative writing, leather, long walks by moonlight, the nurturing spirit of man, and tall, simple sunflowers. I consider myself a masculine bear cub. I have shaved brown hair and a full beard, blue eyes, glasses, and 2 tattoos. I’m 5'10 1/2". 205 lbs, fnend of BUI W. Sex, looks, age, and race don't matter. Although I do love hairy bears and big brothers. Blessed Be! Kevin Elbert 705 E. 5th Apt. 4 Ellensburg, WA 98926

Greetings: I'm looking for a partner and/or friends who's hearts sing similar songs! Holding Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit most sacred in my life I want to live very simply using minimal earth resources while learning to maximize my internal resources. Living a lifestyle that enhances acute visual awareness, subtle listening skills, physical strength and agility, and creative thought and intuition in a way that accomplishes basic tasks of a simple life. Improving my ability to take less and give more. Developing more balanced growth personally therefore globally. Things that help me do this: Old growth forests and wildlife Loving healing touch Sensitive, loving, playful sex Walks/Runs/Swims in natural beauty Organic and wild foods Building sacred living space (Portable yurts, Japanese-ish post and beam cottages??) Making useful artistic objects Draft horses, dogs Stories with heart, wisdom and knowledge I'm a very young, handsome and healthy 42 yrs. old, 6ft. 2in. brn/blu, HIV-, 170 lbs. Sexually I prefer mature slightly older looking men, medium body hair, and well proportioned. Tall, active and very coordinated is a big plus! If living well simply in the spirit of the "Give Away" rings true, write me. Any contacts of communities or people of similar interests would be appreciated. Brad P.O. Box 703 Stowe, VT 05672

How to tell the truth of oneself? There are 100's of shades of "me": stormy, peaceful; outrageously assertive, embarrassingly intimidated; withdrawn, aloof, adventurous, bold; deafened by silence of city-life, invigorated by bustle of Nature; purring snuggled with one I love, content alone; annoying in my undem andingness, exasperating in my childlike insistence; scheduled, spontaneous, carefree; legalistic, exacting, crim inally accom m odating;

impressed by politeness, repelled by pretension and dishonesty; intuitive, compassionate, empathctic, sometimes take myself too seriously; open, caring, accepting, affectionate, sometimes too intense and dominant, enchanted by intelligence, wit. creativity, humor, vitality. I’m comfortable (perhaps too) with my own beliefs, values, world view; though excited by strong, independent types, I need (and want) lots of closeness, caring, sharing; expect (and demand) a lot and give as much (or more). Physically: responsive, utility grade body (more Frog than Prince), 49. 180#. 5'11", Br/Br (40+-% bald), classic (prominent) nose/ears. N/S, N/D, N/Dr. vegetarian (no preach in g), liberated top (m utual satisfaction), incurable romantic, sensual, eclectic, spiritual (down-to-earth). Soulfully seeking self-respecting, lifeaffirming, emotionally available, heartcentered, self-reliant GM who's his own person and ready to share his Journey. Dreams and Life unapologctically. Gordon do RFD #83

Hi Guys, So how is everyone doing? Boy this is weird. Being able to write an ad of 200 words leaves my mind blank. This a^minds me of my school days and trying to write a term paper! It's a beautiful day in June. I'm sitting on the front step drinking a cup of coffee, soaking up some early morning sun, watching my birds, and listening to a John Denver tape, (yes, John Denver.) I was bom and raised on a dairy farm, but work in town now. I enjoy some hunting and fishing, and still live in the country. My main hobby is raising exotic waterfowl and fancy pigeons. I've raised several different kinds of ducks and geese. The Canada Goose is the most majestic in flight. I would like to make friends with others who have similar interests. I'm 38, strawberry blond, 5T0", 190 lbs. If you are about the same or a little smaller...well, who knows? Dark hair is a plus but not a must. Looking forward to hearing from interested guys. Terry M. CIO RFD #83 Dear RFD Readers: GWM in southwest Virginia seeking a sincere friendship and possibly more. I am discreet, honest and caring person. Don't have anyone so any responses welcomed. Let me hear. E. of Southwest VA d o RFD #83 I am 45, 6’2”, 190 lbs., have short dark brown hair, brown eyes, short gold brown whiskers which are a bit gray, am considered handsome and “very butch” — I’d like someone of the same kind. It is also said that I don’t look gay and that I look young for my age. My interests are horticulture and travel. I am not interested in smokers, bar folks, drugs or prisoners. Am only interested in someone for a monogamous situation, preferably white. Dave d o RFD #83

l am a white assimilationist macho male country bcarstud. You would never know I’m homosexual by looking. I have a 12” dick to plug you with But I’m a gentle country gentleman and I like long walks in the woods. What's missing from my life is you. I see you so clearly: you are a 19 year old Libra virgin with long red hair, a goatee, beautiful teeth, certifiable blue blood, long slender lingers, able to identify wildflowers and the constellations and cook fine pastries. You must be w illing to sever all ties with the life you have had until now to merge with me and become my fantasy. Send photo and plaster mold of vour hard cock. Conrad d o RFD #83

I finally got out of the city. 1 live in a small town an hour south of Washington D C - in a nice old house with 2 cats- but it’s very lonelyIt's time for me to enlarge my horizons and seek now friendships and a lover. I am of Scandinavian descent. 5'10" 145#. brown hair and greying trimmed beard, blue and HIV-. I enjoy a quiet life without barssmokes or drugs. Interests are: painting, sculpture, the male nude, reading, gardening, travel, old houses, cats, picnics, a simple diet, etc. You might be a slim, young, healthy, long haired gay man with a good body (a model for various art projects) a sense of humor, not into games but interested in life's possibilities and a desire to begin a long term relationship based on love, respect, mutual attraction and shared times from early morning coffee to warm winter nights in a cozy bed. If you can connect with this, if it's part of your desires and wishes- please write with photo and let's get acquainted All Answered John do RFD

LOYAL SON with a passion for raunch, watersports, bondage and foreskin seeking an affectionate, older gentleman for guidance/discipline only a father can instill. If you are a super thin. 52+, non-leather disciplinarian, exclusively G/A and F/P, needing service on a regular basis, kindly forward photo/letter of introduction to this handsome, slender, self-supporting, preppy boy" of northern European descent HIV . UB2. Rural/mountain lifestyle preferable lor relocation. Thank-you in advance for your prompt response Ty Fran/ P.O. Box 1602 Key West, FL 33041-1602 305/292-5008

WM 33 y.o.a . 6'2". 190#. black hair, blue/green eyes My interests are an. pivtry. boating, legal research, and model boat construction Age unimportant I am warm, sensitive, and lovingly passionate I'm also hard-working and dependable I seek no less from my partner 1 will give my all and

pledge my honesty and loyalty to the right person Stand hy me now and I'll stand by you forever. Photo appreciated Brock Perkins 624758 Ellis Huntsville. TX 77343

Dear RFD readers: I'm an adventurous sort, originally from small town Indiana, with a residence in NY City, but have been traveling since 4/23/95. Planning to bicycle down the West Coast from Seattle in Fall, and in Nov/Dec from San Diego to Florida. Might rent cars occasionally for side trips and sights too far flung for biking. I would like to meet interesting people along the way who can offer suggestions on local scenic routes, must-sec places (natural wonders, off-beat museums, etc.), places to stay for a night (or longer, depending- I’m on no fixed schedule),, or even work (for pay or just room & board). Or even to join me for awhile, either biking or driving, if you need a companion for your vacation! This trip is very open-ended. I'm white, 5'6" 130 lbs, with dark brown hair, blue eyes, goatee, good looking, with many interests (culture, politics, traveling, learning, nature, etc.). You may write or phone, I'm able to retrieve either, but please include your phone number, if possible, since I'm on the road. Favors extended will be happily returned; either there, if I can, or in NYC if you ever visit. Thanks a lot. Alan 105 West 13th St. #1 IE New York, NY 10011-7845 (212)741-3264

Dear RFD readers: Eclectic 34, Cancer in search of life co-existing with Mother Earth and other Pagan(s). Wish to become an integral part of a self-sufficient homestead, community. Dirtying my hands, arms, body within Her rich soil to reap Her rewards. Whether forming community partitivc/employecemployer/or one-on-one relationship - all situations considered. Some interests of many: All-loving Magick, phallic worship, God/dcss and Faerie realms, scyclad - work and play. I'm a 5'9", weigh 150#, bl/bl hair/eyes, if it matters. I smoke and enjoy ice-cold beer on a hot day (GASP!). Don't do drugs but couldn't condemn others that may. Try diligently to retain an open-mind in AI.E situations, yet being human, know I'm tar from perfect. Wish to sharc/lcam/nurturc all knowledge for change and most importantly - Spiritual Growth! Will respond immediately to all, anywhere. Even if unestablished but willing to work toward this goal: se lf-su ffic ie n t, harm onious living/breathing/cclebrational Ties with Mother Earth! Ye harm No One, Witch Way, Do as ye May! BLESSED BE ALL! Michael d o RFT) #83

INFORMATION REQUEST I am called to be a priest of Aphroditos, the herm ap h ro d ite "H airy A p h ro d ite ”

worshipped in ancient Cyprus. This has been revealed to me although I know little of the history or specific nature of this god/dess. I seek information from any who are called to answer: knowledge both historical and cultic, visions, insights or interest in reviving the worship of this honorable god/dess...I am also called by the gods to work with and minister to our incarcerated brethren, and will welcome contact with them and with those called to them Paul Miles PO Box 38032 Greensboro NC 27438

Dear Brothers, Greetings from the beautiful Pacific NW. Life if fairly wonderful here on the Oregon Coast. Spectacular sunsets, beach walks with the dogs and the peaceful mellow life. I'm 40's, 5’11" short blond, hazel and very hairy muscular body. I'm looking for friends/relationships and usually attracted to guys opposite from me but is no way limited at all. I'd like to hear from other country guys and city boys that are interested in life away from the bright lights of the city. I enjoy good food, good companionship, hot sex, film, almost all music, intimacy, flower and veggie gardens, big trees and earthy people. Write me and let's see what happens. JOHN P.O. Box 86 Seal Rock, OR 97376

Caretaker/companion wanted on small farm in Ozark Mountains-warm, humid summers, mild winters, clean air, quiet, secluded brook on property, mostly woods, some nudity possible. Ideal for a loner who likes to read or do other self-sufficient activity. Separate quarters provided. I am not well off but will share what I have with an economical, trustworthy person. I am of English & Dutch decent, tall, medium build, m id-forties, health-conscious, articulate. I am an educated scholar, musician, and writer. My interests include classical and Chinese music, astrology, natural healing, public television, watching basketball and football, home-made beer, quiet times at home. I have been a religious Catholic, but recently am curious about the dark side of spirituality. I am sexually attracted to a functioning, passable TV or a hung top, preferably younger, but older is okay. Iam 8", versatile, and open minded. I would like someone of my own race who is a nonsmoker, reasonably intelligent, and is into personal hygiene. I am not attracted to Bb, bears, or S/M. I am intolerant of liars. I'm dependable, caring, passionate, insightful. I enjoy horses and dogs. Sometimes I have to travel and need someone to watch over the place. If you like gardening and cooking, that would be great. This is a rural, Bible belt community, and discretion is absolutely necessary. Please send a photo; I will do same. Thanks. L c/o RFT) #83

Bearstud seeks top teddystud. Pontiac MI handsome, virile, tall, educated, w/bi/m bearstud seeks local top w/m teddy stud. Mutual stimulation mind/body, nudity, massage. Clean, safe, discreet, sensual, sincere; seeks slender masculine healthy joyful drug-free guys. I want a “REAL” man who is not afraid to show his sensitive, sensual nature. Prefer local, Michigan studmen. Send your complete description, contact and nude photos. Kevin P.O. Box 430624 Pontiac, MI 48343-430624

Announcing A Call for SUBMISSIONS The Spring, 1996 issue, # 85, will focus on rural homesteading. We are currently soliciting articles, graphics and other contributions revolving around gay folk living in the country. We welcome material ranging from the practical: * Energy: Solar / wind / hydro * Construction: Homes, cabins, outhouses, etc. * Animal Husbandry * Husband Husbandry * Legal/Financial: finding property, zoning, insurance, generating income * Gardening / Farming to the Spiritual: * Isolation/ Solitude in rural living * Ecstasy in Nature * Spirit and Seasonal Cycles and anything in between or beyond. Writing from your personal experience and knowledge will best inform others. You may want to describe your homestead (See suggestions on page 19). We especially seek articles on how to earn income while living in the country. This is often the primary barrier keeping people from rural life. How do you manage financially? Deadline for submissions is January 15, 1996, for publication at the Vernal Equinox. See page 80 for details on preferred format of submissions.

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