Issue 160 / Winter 2014 DIFFERENTLY ABLED FOLK Submission Deadline: October 21, 2014 www.rfdmag.org/upload Disability Within the Community As queer people we often think of ourselves as different yet we often do not consider people who are “differently abled.” Just saying differently abled leaves something to the imagination. It is a coy phrase for trying to undo the damage of the labels put on people: deaf and dumb, physically handicapped, mentally challenged, or emotionally disturbed. But like any moniker, which a community has some way of creating, we both embrace it and reject it. We hope our use of the phrase is seen in an embracing light, not as a label, but as a phrase of identification and power. We’re hoping our readers will write in and share their personal stories of being a queer “differently abled” person or share how being in community with people having a variety of abilities expands our thinking about what we all have to offer. As the gay movement cycles closer and closer to heteronormative ideas, we lose a bit of our magical edge in embracing the “weird.” Weird was a word of power and strength, but as conformity came to fear difference, we have embraced what we think of as typical. We all face some amount of being weird, and yet it is the magic we bring to share. We hope our readers embrace the idea and submit their stories, poems and artwork and images for this issue to embrace our embodied differences. RFD 159 Fall 2014 1 Recounting Forty Dishes Vol 41 No 1 #159 Fall 2014 In this issue we dedicate the issue reflecting on our past but we hope it inspires our readers to consider our future—RFD is now one of the oldest GLBT magazines still in print and we’re proud of our scruffy, dedicated core group of readers but we’re working on idea to expand our readership. We’re still working on digitizing our back issues—if you can contribute to helping pay for the scanning and the eventual server space—please visit our website—www.rfdmag.org/archiveproject/ We’re also launching a survey on our Facebook page so look for it. We want to know which service you use to read magazines online. RFD has roots in many streams and we’re proud of them all. We’ve always strived to represent our readers—so as always send in your stories, ideas and visions. As you enjoy this issue we think it worth mentioning that we have submis- sions in this issue from folk who have been here since 1974 and folk born in 1974. We do hope you’ll enjoy the issue. When we asked our layout master what he had to say about working on RFD for five years of its forty—he shrugged and smiled—now this is a friend with benefits! —The RFD crew from White River Junction RFD Turns Forty!2 RFD 159 Fall 2014 RFD is a reader-written journal for gay people which focuses on country living and encourages alternative lifestyles. We foster community building and networking, 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 volun- teers. 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 registration 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 © 2012 RFD Press. The records required by Title 18 U.S.D. Section 2257 and as- sociated 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 Junc- tion, VT 05001. Mail for our Brothers Behind Bars project should be sent to P.O. Box 68, Liberty TN 37095. On the Covers Back Cover : Donald Gallagher by Willie Cole Production Managing Editor: Bambi Gauthier Art Director: Matt Bucy Editor: Paul Wirhun Submission Deadlines Winter–October 21, 2014 Spring–January 21, 2015 See inside covers for themes and specifics. For advertising, subscriptions, back issues and other information visit www.rfdmag.org Artists in This Issue Crowdog 4 Don Shewey 8 Willie Cole 30 Jim Jackson 2,32, 34-43 Juni 44 Allan Troxler 6,7,13,21,31,51 Robin Hood / Robert Birch 63 “Ethereal Visit” by Jim Jackson RFD 159 Fall 2014 3 CONTENTS Letters and Announcements ....................................................4 RFD’s Early Roots in Southern Oregon ...........................................7 The Running Waters ...........................Franklin Abbott .................8 Thoughts on five years into forty with RFD .......Bambi Gauthier ................11 A Backwoods Glance ..........................Sister Soami ...................12 Nestled in a Web of Liberation ..................Voyager .......................22 My First RFD .................................Leo Racicot ....................25 Really Fucking Delightful .......................Franklin Abbott ................28 Drawing From Faerie Spirit .....................Jim Jackson ....................33 RFD and EuroFaeries Celebrate Twenty Years Together ......................Junis ..........................44 A Most Mysterious Gardener ...................Finger .........................45 The Forgotten: LGBT Amish in America .........James Schwartz. ...............46 Morning in Michigan ..........................James Schwartz ................47 Cavicles ......................................James Elmore ..................48 So Be It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Joiner ...................49 Five Steps to Take When Managing Your Reactions to Bitchiness in Faerie-Space ........Albion Faerie Mushroom ........50 A Tale of Two Poets ............................Franklin Abbott ................52 Paper Catapults ...............................Dan Vera ......................56 My Double ...................................Dan Vera ......................56 For Patrick, My New Nurse .....................Steven Riel .....................57 Postcard From P-Town .........................Steven Riel .....................57 Fraud ........................................Aaron Mayer Frankel ...........58 State of the [queer] Union Address ..............Gavy Kaleidoscope .............61 Water Bearers .................................Robert Birch / Robin Hood ......634 RFD 159 Fall 2014 The Bee’s Knees Dear RFD, Thinking of you all as you traverse the worlds again. I look forward to hearing all about the magick! There was a letter to the last RFD about not having enough naked beekeepers. So I shot one this morning: —Robin Hood aka Robert Birch Corrections Dear RFD, I meant to have written earlier, and I realize I’m almost a month over the deadline for submission for the Fall issue, but in some future issue, we need to make a correction regarding the author of the “Men Who Love Plants” article in the Summer 2014 issue. The author of this was “Jenks Farmer” and not me. I’m not sure how this mix up happened, as I only submitted the photograph (which I did take). Thanks for the work you do and sorry for the confu- sion. —Hunter Desportes Photo Corrections Dear RFD, Thank you so much for making this happen. I was so grateful to find this wonderful issue of RFD in my mailbox on Gay Pride weekend in San Fran- cisco. The timing was perfect to bring me back to that era we all share. To be included in this particu- lar issue that revisits the AIDS crisis is particularly important to me and I too, like Covelo, found bitter sweet emotions when I learned we somehow omit- ted the photographers who deserve credit for their generous contributions to my book and my life- Here’s what I know: Photo 1 of Gay Widows, me, Janice and Viva: I’m not sure who took this photo but it came to me as a postcard (obviously cut out of a larger photo) from Bobby Scotland post marked, 25 Sep. 1974 (that’s why there are postmarks on Viva’s face.) The note read, “here is the segment of the photo you desired, someday you will have the entire picture, promise, xxxxxxx Baba” (I assume he took it but can’t say for sure since he is no longer with us to ask.) Photo 2: the beautiful color shot of me and Tommy, Gay Pride Day 1979, was taken by Dan Ni- coletta and I add he donated hours of labor to color correct this and several other photos throughout my book. Much love and thanks goes to him. Photo 3 and 4: Mama and Viva and Viva and Tommy were snapshots taken by God only knows who. Photo 5: Leather Queen at Roll Over Alice. I regret to say I can’t recall how I came by it but the photographer was Dana P. Porras who I tried to find but never could before I used it in my book. I first saw it published in a 1992 Calendar called Blue that someone sent me but then someone also sent me the actual photo and I can’t say who or when. Photo 6: The book cover photo was taken by David Greene in my kitchen in 1974 and the cover design was by Jennifer Lim 2013. So to all these artists I owe my gratitude and hope to find their names in your next issue. —Thank you and much love to all, Dolores De Luce LETTERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Photo: John’s naked bees, love Crowdog RFD 159 Fall 2014 5 Raise for the Roof at Zuni Exciting news! Money contributed towards roof repair will be matched by an anonymous donor! That means that your tax-deductible contribution will have twice the impact! This offer is only good for a limited time only, so please give today! You can contribute online at http://www.zms.org click on Donations. In addition to the powerful WooWoo happen- ing on the land there will also be some power lifting and power digging and power mudding! Work parties will be happening all week long to help check off some long overdue items off the “to-do” list. These projects include road maintenance, out house improvements, water system repairs and upgrades, structure and foundation repair, and long overdue roof repair. Specific project details and cost estimates can be found at www.zms.org under the Projects tab. To get these projects done, we need your finan- cial and physical help! Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, financial contributions we receive for roof repair will be matched. Visit www. zms.organd click on Donations. We hope you will be able to make it to the Gath- ering. If you are interested in attending and need ad- ditional information, feel free to call 505-783-4002 or email zunimtn@wildblue.net. Many of your first time visit questions can be answered in the visitor’s guide posted on the website as well. Please help us take full advantage of the generos- ity of our anonymous donor by making a tax-deduc- table contribution today. These opportunities don’t happen all that often! Visit www.zms.org and click on Donations. Thank you for continued support! With love, —The ZMS Community Giovanni’s Room Dear Friends, We’ve carried RFD for all forty years, I think, though we no longer have on hand the records that go back that far! We celebrated our 40th anniversary last year. If we knew about RFD, then we certainly had it. Our store is now closed, though I hope there will be a buyer very soon, who will contact you about resuming shipments. It’s been lots of fun! Love, Ed Hermance Giovanni’s Room [Editor’s note: Since Ed wrote to us Giovanni’s Room was purchased by the Philadelphia non-profit, Philly AIDS Thrift. The store will have a reopening in October 10th] Letter for our 40th… Dear RFD, I am proud to say an article I wrote (about swimming in a nearby pond) was published in the very first issue. [Editor’s note: this ran in issue 9, but Allen did write in the first issue about a Deadly Nightshade concert.] I still swim in that same pond, 40 years later. RFD was founded as a magazine for gay men living in the country. I lived at Butterworth Farm in Royalston MA with other gay men and we put together several early issues of RFD. A few years later, the magazine was pretty much transformed by people who called themselves “radical faeries” who shifted the magazine into a more dogmatic faerie magazine, thus making it irrelevant for rural gay men who did not adopt the faerie line of thinking. We are still here at Butterworth Farm, but none of us have subscribed to RFD in ages. This narrative makes me sad. On the other hand, I’m glad RFD has survived in its new outlook, and I wish you all luck. —Allen Young Photo courtesy Zuni Mountain Sanctuary.6 RFD 159 Fall 2014 A very early call for the second issue of RFD. Courtesy Allan Troxler. RFD 159 Fall 2014 7 Jeff helped with the first RFD from North Carolina. Landon worked on several of the early issues. Stevens and Carl were partners in San Francisco and then lived together in Wolf Creek, for a while. In the photograph, he was visiting from Michigan after mov- ing back home. RFD #1 includes Carl’s account of the Wolf Creek gathering in memory of Stevens McClave, after his suicide. In ‘73, Landon (who was build- ing his house way up the hill—with a donkey to haul the heaviest timbers) and Carl and I, plus Art, who lived down on the other side of Wolf Creek on a straight commune, were all there was of gay men’s community there. —Allan Troxler RFD’s Early Roots in Southern Oregon Standing: Jeff, Landon, unknown, Carl, Allan. Kneeling: Stevens. An original RFD envelope from Wolf Creek.Next >