No 148 Winter 2011 $9.95Issue 149 Preview “Ritual Fashion Disaster” It’s spring time, the start of the gathering season, which means time to get out your drag: the old, the new, the borrowed, the true. We at RFD thought it was high time to celebrate the fabulous frocks in which we cavort and play and trannifest amongst ourselves and to the world at large. After 30 years of its publication, this is the first issue dedicated to Fey Fashions! Call it drag, call it gender-fuck; how do you transform through what you wear? How does the outermost layer of yourself inform all about your innermost self/ves. What transformations and redefinitions of self have you experienced by what you wear— where and when and how? Given Jack Smith’s precept that the costume creates the character in his dramas, how has your drag explored and expressed the theater of you— whether in ritual, on sanctuary lands, or in city streets? And now that we are a full color rag—send us your best images as well as words. RFD 148 Winter 2011 1 Recoiling from Dollars Vol 38 No 2 #148 Winter 2011 T his issue is an effort to celebrate Short Moun- tain’s founding thirty years ago while also docu- menting some of the GLBT communities engage- ment in the Occupy movement. Both topics seem so compatible one article actually refers to both. It’s timely to celebrate our successes, our story as well as engaging in some of the discussion that shapes RFD readers values and ideals. While so much of the larger culture seems to be engaged in shrinking (job loss, peak oil, the rich 1%) so much of our values seem to be expanding. That our efforts to create sustainable communities through our choices about food, living arrange- ments, and spreading our wings into the larger com- munity with our ideas. That some of the ideas that RFD espoused for so long being slowly discussed as part of the Occupy Movement - that they have General Assemblies that all speak collectively with no “leaders” is a testament to values that many RFD readers share. That Occupy Wall Street folks are also discussed openly “rules” which were inclusive of gay people shows how much the OWS movement is being impacted by GLBT people joining it. Kudos to our community for shap- ing progressive change. That we use community spaces like Short Mt. and the feyborhood surrounding it, also is a testa- ment to providing safe space to heal, grow and engage in community. Much has changed in thirty years but it is interesting to see how much is the same. That Cathy Hope was one of the founders of SMS speaks volumes to the long tradition of fey space being open, inclusive and evolving. This issue also documents ever so briefly some of the efforts of Arthur Evans, a gay cultural change advocate who has seriously shaped many of the readers of RFD as well as the Radical Faeries at large. His work also helped nudge the larger gay community to explore its politics while exploring a past which included gay lives which were often shrouded in silence. We hope you enjoy the issue. M eanwhile, we wanted to take an opportunity to thank our faithful readers, it’s been inspir- ing and it’s pushed us to continue on with our part in documenting our lives, sharing our visions, and creating a voice for gay people who share our inter- est in shaping a better world. With that in mind, please consider renewing your subscription, each issue of the magazine comes with a renewal / sub- scription envelope. Please use it to renew your sub- scription, purchase a gift subscription, or making a donation. If you would like additional subscription envelopes so you can spread the news about RFD please be in touch. As ever, have a wonderful winter solstice how ever you chose to celebrate it. The gnomes on the hill, —The RFD Collective Short Mountain Sanctuary’s 30th Anniversary Between the Lines2 RFD 148 Winter 2011 Artists in this Issue Gary Plouff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 5, 23 Daniel M . Schmude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 28 Flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Jai Sheronda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 11 Steve Whitlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 10 Milo Payne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Mountaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Anonymous City Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Kwai Lam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Collection of Donald Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24, 26 Courtesy of Kevin Simmonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Donald L . Engstrom-Reese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Rob Goodale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 43, 46, 50, 51, 58 Edwin Pabon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34, 37 Goatboy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Hunter Desportes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Photography by Daisy Shaver/ Painting by Rosie Delicious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44, 48 Richard Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Piston Gadget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Justin Stone-Diaz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Mellow Tigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Joyboy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Murray Edelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 RFD is a reader-written journal for gay people which focuses on country living and encourages alternative lifestyles. We foster community building and network- ing, explore the diverse expressions of our sexuality, care for the environment, radical faerie consciousness, and nature-centered spirituality, and share experiences of our lives. RFD is produced by volunteers. We welcome your participation. The business and general production are coordinated by a collective. Features and entire issues are prepared by different groups in various places. RFD (ISSN# 0149-709X) is published quarterly for $25 a year by RFD Press, P.O. Box 302, Hadley MA 01035-0302. Postmaster: Send address changes to RFD, P.O. Box 302, Hadley MA 01035-0302 Non-profit tax exempt #62- 1723644, a function of RFD Press with office of registra- tion at 231 Ten Penny Rd., Woodbury, TN 37190. RFD Cover Price: $9.95. A regular subscription is the least expensive way to receive it four times a year. Copyright © 2011 RFD Press. The records required by Title 18 U.S.D. Section 2257 and associated with respect to this magazine (and all graphic material associated therewith on which this label appears) are kept by the custodian of records at the following location: RFD Press, 85 N Main St, Ste 200, White River Junction, VT 05001. Mail for our Brothers Behind Bars project should be sent to P.O. Box 68, Liberty TN 37095. On the Covers Front : “Kat” by Gary Plouff Inside Front Cover : “Ophelia” by Matt Bucy Inside Back Cover : “Embracing Day at Rooster Rock” by Kwai Lam, KwaiLam.com, FaeryPhoto.com Production Bambi Gauthier, Editor in Chief Matt Bucy, Design & Typography Eric Linton, Editor Paul Wirhun, Editor Jason Schneider, Editor Myrlin, Prison Pages Editor Submission Deadlines Spring–January 25, 2012 Summer–April 21, 2012 See inside covers for themes. Short Mountain Sanctuary / Photograph by Gary Plouff For advertising, subscriptions and other information visit www.rfdmag.org RFD 148 Winter 2011 3 Letters & Announcements ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Stories & Articles Short Mountain Reminiscence ..................Razzle Dazzle ....................7 Fawlty Towers: A Tale of Early Drama at SMS .....Franklin Abbot ..................9 Goat Boutique ................................Leopard ........................10 As the Feighborhood Grows ....................Mountaine .....................12 Carry the Water ...............................Anonymous City Boy ............15 A Love Affair with Oshun at Short Mountain Sanctuary ...................Sparklez .......................16 A Voice from Short Mountain ...................Leopard ........................20 History and Plans for the Pavilion ...............Donald Gallagher ...............25 Collective Brightness: An interview with Kevin Simmonds ...........Franklin Abbott .................30 An October Dream ............................Donald L. Engstrom-Reese .......32 Taking Responsibility Together ..................Scott L. Morgensen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Short Mountain Institute for Life Enhancement ...S.M.I.L.E. ......................39 The Reign of Queen Bushita ....................Mati ...........................42 Love Your Hole: An Ass Manifesto ..............Daisy Shaver ....................44 The Boy Who Cried Blue .......................Piston Gadget ..................53 Experience at the Occupation ...................Mellow Tigger ..................55 Short Mountain Faeries at Atlanta Pride and Occupy Atlanta ............Everic Dupuy ...................57 Brothers Behind Bars ..........................Myrlin .........................62 Poetry and Art Photography ..................................Daniel M. Schmude ...........3, 27 The Last Winds of Autumn .....................Nomi ..........................29 Paintings .....................................Rob Goodale ...33, 43, 46, 50, 51, 58 Photography ..................................Edwin Pabon ................34, 37 Photography ..................................Hunter Desportes ...............40 Dearest Brother ...............................DoodleBugg ....................41 Photography ..................................Piston Gadget ..................52 Photography ..................................Justin Stone Diaz .............54, 55 Photography ..................................Joyboy .........................56 Occupy Photos ................................Various ........................54 Remembrances Arthur Evans ..................................Murray Edelman ................59 CONTENTS4 RFD 148 Winter 2011 RFD 148 Winter 2011 5 LETTERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL FOR PAPERS Radically Gay: The Life & Visionary Legacy of Harry Hay In celebration of the centennial of the birth of LGBT pioneer Harry Hay, CLAGS (the Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies at CUNY) and the Harry Hay Centennial Committee invite proposals for a broad- reaching conference exploring key facets of LGBT life and their evolution over the last six decades. We welcome proposals for full panels, individual research papers, artistic presentations, and “state of the debate” discussions. While some of the confer- ence presentations can focus on Hay himself, we very much encourage proposals that explore and debate how the questions raised and confronted by Hay have continued to evolve. To that end, papers may be historical, theoretical, contemporary or future-oriented and may address, but need not be limited to, any of the following thematic topics: LGBT Politics, LGBT Sexuality, LGBT Arts, LGBT Identities. For each paper proposed, please submit a 300- word abstract and a 2-page CV for the presenter. If you wish to propose a 3 or 4 person panel, please submit a separate abstract & CV for each paper, and an additional abstract of the panel. All proposals should be sent to Daniel Hurewitz at daniel.hure- witz@hunter.cuny.edu by January 31, 2012, with “Hay Centennial” in the subject line. We may have space to display/screen some artworks and present some performances along the thematic lines above: if that interests you, please email Daniel Hurewitz at the address above and submit a handful of images or performance selec- tions either as a zip file, downloadable file, or DVD by January 31, 2012. If the latter, please send to Dan- iel Hurewitz, c/o CLAGS, 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 7115, New York NY 10016. For more info: web. gc.cuny.edu/clags/pages/hay.html. Philly Radical Faerie Urban Gatherette Please join us on Martin Luther King weekend (January 12–16, 2012) for the second annual urban gathering of Radical Faeries in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, Philadelphia. Join the Philadelphia Faeries as we escape the cold of winter by creating a warm faerie gatherette. In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., Harry Hay, Walt Whitman, and Edward Carpenter, we’ll explore the themes of ancestors and service. How do we fol- low the footsteps of our ancestors and in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. in service to our com- munity? What role faeries play in an urban environ- ment, activism and service? How do we preserve our faerie magick and let it thrive and flourish in urban existence? Unlike a traditional gathering at a sanctuary where you can pitch your tent anywhere, we will be arranging your housing within faerie homes, making early expressions of your intent to gather essential. If you have friends in Philly, we encourage you to reach out to them to arrange your housing. More information about the gathering can be found at http://www.phillyfaeries.net. Or call 215.387.1869 (answering machine) and someone will return your call. Other Gatherings Albion Faeries at Featherstone Castle Northumberland, UK, Jan 27–Feb 6, 2012 Sex Magick Workshop Loon Lake, BC, Canada, Jan 28–Feb 4, 2012 Asian Faerie Gathering Thailand, Feb 2–12, 2012 Breitenbush Winter Gathering Oregon, Feb 16–20, 2012 Gay Spirit Visions Winter Meditation, Jan 13–15, The Mountain, Highlands, NC Photograph by Daniel M. Schmude Photo: Gary Plouff RFD 148 Winter 2011 7 T he first time I visited Short Mountain Sanctu- ary, Gabby—a longtime neighbor—brought me. While visiting neighbors of his whom I knew from my job in Atlanta, I met him at a birthday party he hosted for Merril, his wife. The drive to the moun- tain felt like going back in time, down rural country lanes finally leading to a road with steep drop-offs and no guardrails. As we walked down the hill to the house, a split rail fence surrounded it, and I soon found out the house was actually a log cabin built in the 1850s. I was already enchanted. Gabby’s reason to visit that day was to view the final layout for the feature section of the Winter RFD, number 29, “The Humor Issue.” We entered what was then known as the com- mon room, now called the Library. A queen-sized bed was in the far corner, an old piano along one wall. Nu- merous rustic book shelves overflowing with books filled the rest of the wall space. Two very small win- dows brought in what little natural light would pen- etrate from a grey Novem- ber afternoon. Kerosene lamps were the only source of supplemental light. The feature pages were hang- ing from a clothesline; back then all layout was done with cut and paste. Also in the room that day were ten guys who helped produce the feature. What was notable about these men by a 22-year-old shy and slightly sheltered “kid” who wasn’t gay-identi- fied at the time was how comfortable they were being gay, being themselves. This may sound odd to you but we’re talking about 1981, before I was aware of any positive gay role models. I felt a huge weight lift off of me and some deeper relaxation come over me. After we reviewed the magazine a fellow who called himself Yan asked if “I wanted to go on a walk or something?” Several other folks in the room said, “Or something?”—which embarrassed me terribly. We walked for what seemed a very long time past the barn and shed (now called the Bee-complex) past the garden through several gates into the forest. We walked to Halloween Ridge where two weeks earlier they’d had a bonfire. We found a lush bed of moss (which is still there today) and laid on it. I had my initiation as a faerie as we undressed each other and made love on the moss. Returning to the cabin, it was time for the pot- luck dinner (an occurrence that continues to hap- pen). We moved to the kitchen, a charming rustic structure that had only a wood cook stove to do all the cooking and baking on. Several kerosene lamps provided the only light. We dipped water out of five- gallon buckets that were filled and carried from a spring several hundred feet from the house. The water for dishes was heat- ing on the woodstove. We crowded around the one table handcrafted from planks that had something small, maybe someone’s name, carved in the top of it. Impressed with the conversation, and the food, and the camaraderie, I could feel my life opening to new possibilities. Upon returning to my life in Atlanta, and my job at the Sevananda Food Co-op, I came bursting out of the closet. I discovered one of my co-workers Cathy Hope had lived at Short Mountain in a teepee and was an original signer of the Articles of Incorpora- tion for Short Mountain Sanctuary, a not-for-profit corporation formed to hold the land. I quickly became involved with the faerie circle there where we had monthly potlucks, heart circles, and rituals for the full moons and pagan holidays. This was an exciting time for the Radical Faeries: the third National Gathering had been held that summer in Short Mountain Reminiscence by Razzle Dazzle Photograph by Flood Dazzle by Jai SherondaNext >