Back Then in London... And Now? Miqhey Miqxtja

Back Then in London... And Now?

by Miqhey Miqxtja

During the 1970’s in London, getting involved with the newly formed Gay Liberation Front changed my life. GLF was exactly what I had been yearning for, but previously unable to articulate.

Intersectionality as a word was not used then, but the concept was very much there.

In June 1970, the Black Panthers put out a call for a People’s Revolutionary Convention to meet in Washington DC. Various feminist groups were also meeting in many places globally to implement women’s liberation. These initiatives led directly to the formation of the gay liberation meetings in London later that same year.

Our London GLF was formed consciously to stand alongside the Women’s Liberation Movement and was directly inspired by our founders’ attendance at that very Peoples’ Revolutionary Convention.

Arising from this vortex of energy in the early 70s, the Brixton Fairies in South London inspired me with (among other things) their practice of Radical Drag and Out Visibility on the streets.

In various places, we had encounter groups, consciousness-raising circles, rallies, creative protests and chaotic assemblies.

Flavours of those times here can be gleaned from “Blowing the Lid” by my friend Stuart Feather and the newly issued “United Queerdom” by my combabe Dan Glass (Fae-name—Our Little Pony).

Later, as social order began to break down in London, our Pride marches were viewed by the authorities and the police as connected to the violent terrorism of the IRA (Irish Rebublican Army) so we came under similar suspicion. Nor was this entirely state fantasy, as I knew certain cells who were directly planning for violent disruption and/ or armed revolution at the time.

Those years are not much celebrated now in Britain, and the knowledge of these histories has not reached much across the seas to other lands. But for me in the later 70’s, our own place being the postal address of the East London GLF at Balfron Tower in Poplar, I then got news of the Radical Faeries and other such goings on in the

USA, and happily got to check this out and so live my life.

I believe it is vital for us now to recall how Radical Faeries grew directly from these turbulent and acutely political international activist times. Like others, I felt a need for more creative approaches than some of the hierarchical-centralist old-left ways, and we also sought a deeper connection to living with the old and eternal ways of the earth.

Some who have joined Radical Fae since those days seem to have formed their consciousness in the rather more hedonistic times that followed on after—and who can blame anyone for wanting to have a good time, especially in recovery from the traumas of the decades?

Yet we still maintain “Radical” in our name, our identity and our aspirations.

Viewing Hope Along the Wind the film made of Harry Hay’s life, we can see how the later joiners of the Mattachine, found the more overtly political founders to be an awkward embarrassment, to say the least, and kicked them out. But, with us, I feel it is good to see Harry and the other early risers as folk who at last found the people that they were waiting for, rather than simplisticly as our founders who created us.

Over the years, we have found that our flexible and decentralized, organic approach has stood the test of time, where other groupings have dwindled away. But that culture will not necessarily always work just by itself, and it does not excuse us from constant re-evaluation of our ethics, methods and aspirations.

Our situation today calls for dialogue and networking to take our histories forward into sharing a common vision for action on key points of distress in society. Questions are frequently debated within our Radical Faerie Circles, Sanctuaries and Gatherings. Here are some that I get caught up with.

Are these key points being worked through to your personal satisfaction, or they framed here in too “political” a way for you? *Race and Class—Black, Indigenous and People of Colour are encouraged to be good capitalists and/or consumers, as if that will make it all better. *Health and Well-Being concern us all - access to this is clearly being privatized in Britain as elsewhere—this is now a very urgent and major issue.

*The labour movement and the Unions are being sidelined but still have potential to re-connect with more activist communities and initiatives. *The Extinction Rebellion is inspiring many to take action to save the ecosystems of the planet - the call for people’s assemblies on this can be widened to revitalize democratic engagement across the board *People with disabilities and/or who are homeless and marginalized in other ways are suffering and even dying without any prospect of an adequate response to deal with their issues. *Hate Crime against minorities and vulnerable groups is increasing with a political culture that encourages intolerance and self-centred violent behaviour. *Rights and abilities to protest freely and be disruptive are being eroded, sometimes stealthily but very steadily and sometimes forcefully. *LGBTIQA+ people are being affected by all of the above and more, but the fragmentation of our opposition and the complacency of many does not yet provide a platform to combat the problems and get a grip on these and many other issues.

Indeed concerning “our own” communities, I wonder if now too many think in much the same way as the mainstream and would be happy to absorbed in there.... if and when better accepted.

Even within Radical Faeries, maybe there is still too little connection between our naturebased spirituality /ritual and magic, and actual political activism.

I would love it if we campaigned internationally and locally to have numerous Sacred Groves, Deep Caves, High Hills, or low marshlands recognized as our “Churches” where we “worship”.

I would love it if we had a better networked infra-structures that supported Rad-Fae housing/ living-spaces and life-work opportunities.

And mutual care, and inter-generational exchange and learning, and system-change and what methods, strategies and tools work well and many other things.

Yes, look, I have not even touched on issues of Migrants and Borders... of Gender and Sexuality....

Still, our culture celebrates being creative, so I offer an inadequate little piece of doggerel by way of ending just for now: (page 10)

Photo courtesy author.

A Little Marching Song (with diverse and disruptive rhythms)

Sing of the forever Kingdom of I of the People’s Republic of Me /Not Me Sing of the always hue and cry Sing of the needs that needs must be Let’s serve this greater good of We— We are in this together, of the People’s Republic of Me /Not Me What of the lost Ours?

They say pledge Forever.

And who is the We? What of the Us? Who lost the Ours? Don’t make such a fuss.

“Just The Way It Is” is persistent “Just The Way It Should Be” is strong This system will re-inforce itself. Of circling and sharing to serve more than me

It’s only kidding you that you belong.

Those that climb, still pull away their ladders; But wait well, when the chips are down; When alone and lost and bladdered, More even than whatever our minds could foreshadow,

You then call out to the strong. You think you have a country. And your country is your country. You’re wrong.

Yet this is true, yes true! Cheer for your country - it is yours too. It is your state when wanting much from you; When they’ll tell you “just stay kool....” When you need them, it will be different. When your desperate need calls for them, Silence, their silence will rule.

And the silence still will amaze you. You think that you belong. Are you wrong? Are you wrong? In here is your undoing, In this little marching song...

Go sing of the forever Kingdom of I Go sing of the always hue and cry Go sing of the needs that we need to be But who is this We? What of that Us?

Who fell for that fuss?

Instead, sing a tune of breaking free Yet knowing our pain in trust beyond nation in risking the route to find co-creation

No cracks for the quacks, no chains for the hearts, No shackles for shuffles, no parcelled-up parts; Are minds not meant to be free to explore? Were dreams not destined to grow into much more? And when darkness comes, what will find you?

More even than wildest dreams could bestow?

Who boxed ourselves in, but our own limitations? And who now holds the keys to the locks that we make? Some glimpses are glanced for all our salvations When unlocking our hearts, our spirits awake.

"Subjugation" by Wave.