Number 169 Spring 2017 $9.95 Mark ThompsonIssue 170 / Summer 2017 HELPING YOUTH Submission Deadline: April 21, 2017 www.rfdmag.org/upload In Faerieland we are one thing—fabulous, free, daring, loving. In the rest of the world, we are something else. Or are we? Feminist metaphysi- cian Ana Roy once said we must “tell the truth in ways that can be heard.” What are our unique truths as faeries, how do those truths benefit the larger population and how do we share those truths in ways in which they can be heard? For the next issue, Helping Youth, we look for- ward to sharing stories of your work with youth. Helping Youth is dedicated to Charlie Murphy. In 1996, Charlie and Peggy Taylor founded a creativity-based youth development organiza- tion called the Power of Hope: Youth Empower- ment Through the Arts. Ten years later again with Peggy Taylor and Ian Watson, Charlie formed PYE Global: Partners for Youth Empowerment to further spread the international work. With over one million youth impacted to date and thirty or- ganizational partners in fifteen countries on five continents, Charlie’s influence continues to grow and promises to flourish in years to come. Few of us are Charlie Murphys, but many of us have had a profound influence on youth in our work in the world. We are teachers, health practitioners, artists, social service workers, counselors, construction workers and every other occupation known. Tell us about your work, how your work intersects with the lives of youth, what you feel you have to share and what feedback you have received from youth about your influence on them. Mask making workshop for NYC high school students with Gabriel Q. Photo by Covelo. RFD 169 Spring 2017 1 Redcliff Fountain Dahlia Vol 43 No 3 #169 Spring 2017 What better way to snub our new government than to show our radical selves? In memorializing Mark Thompson, whose recent passing touched so many of us we attempt to show the rooted, spirited and spiritual side of lives in telling of our experiences with one of us. For those who didn’t know Mark Thompson, one should acquaint themselves with him through his books. He is a vital in keeping some of our dearest elders’ visions alive and retold, reshaped and made vital. Many of the pieces in this issue reflect a personal interaction with Mark from long time friends, lovers and even people Mark shepherded in the smallest of ways, an oft repeated narrative in the arc of his life. He touched RFD directly by championing its ragged determination to survive and thrive in an internet age and tell stories from aspects of the community often unheard from the mainstream gay press. Although he seldom wrote for RFD itself he often championed it—from his days at the Advocate when he did a feature about us —“RFD: a magazine from the heartland” in 1982 to his pushing for us to be awarded the Monette-Horwitz Award in 2010. From his interest in sharing our story with a wider audience to his promoting us being given much needed funds at a time of need, Mark always quietly did what he could for us. We are ever so grateful to him. In telling one’s man’s story we often tell of our own experience and we hope our readers will see their own accomplishments, travails and joys in these pages of tribute to one of our beloved friends. One thing clear is how much work needs to be done. Mark’s life was filled with work, adjustment and more work. One can see we will need to pick up that mantle in these difficult days ahead. We also include in this issue a commentary about community building with a report on workshops led by Starhawk in Tennessee. We hope this stirs up a dialog about how we build, move and carry forward empowering rather than enabling each and every one of us. We hope you enjoy the issue With hot love from a snowy Vermont. The RFD Collective Between the Lines2 RFD 169 Spring 2017 RFD is a reader-written journal for gay people which focuses on country living and encourages alternative life- styles. 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. First class mailed issues will be forwarded. Others will not. Send address changes to submissions@rfdmag.org or to our Hadley, MA address. Copyright © 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 Junction, VT 05001. On the Covers Front & Back: Still from the film, Devotions, by James Broughton and Joel Singer Production Managing Editor: Bambi Gauthier Assistant Editor: Daisy Shaver Art Director: Matt Bucy Special Thanks: Joey Cain, Covelo, Bo Young, and Cathy Toldi. Submission Deadlines Summer–April 21, 2017 Fall–July 21, 2017 See inside covers for themes and specifics. For advertising, subscriptions, back issues and other information visit www.rfdmag.org Visual Contributors Stephen Silha ..................................2,30 MarkThompson ...............................6, 42 Cathy Toldi ............................8,15,27,31,60 Delores Deluce ....................................9 Don Shewey ....................................11 Joey Cain .......................................13 Jerry the Faerie ..................................14 Mary Ann Cherry ...............................16 Rosemary for Remembrance ......................21 Greg Day .......................................22 Keith Gemerek ................................29,62 Don Bachardy ..................................33 Bo Young .....................................32,34 Jay Sunlight Moonshadow ...................35,37,38 Allen Page ......................................40 James Broughton and Joel Singer ..................45 Wave ........................................52,53 Mark Christopher Harvey ........................57 Mountaine .....................................58 Mark Thompson with a photograph of James Broughton. Screen capture from Big Joy, directed by Stephen Silha. RFD 169 Spring 2017 3 CONTENTS Gathering Guide 2017 ...........................................................4 Fellow Travellers (photo excerpts) ..........Mark Thompson. ......................6 Remembering Mark Thompson ............Trebor Healey .........................7 Palm Springs Pool ........................Cathy Toldi ...........................8 Desert Bound and You Are Gone ...........Covelo ...............................9 Mark Thompson: “Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend” ........Don Shewey .........................10 “I now send you on with loving remembrances and good wishes” ........Joey Cain ............................12 Memories of Mark ........................Jim Van Buskirk ......................14 Mark This Man, Mark My Friend, Mark This Life .........................Mary Ann Cherry ....................16 Remembering Mark Thompson: Elder, Mentor, Inspiration ...............Raymond Rigoglioso ..................17 Mark Thompson, Buzz Bense & the Sisters ..Rosemary for Remembrance ...........18 Mark Thompson Profile ...................Toby Johnson ........................19 Clouds With Thrusts of Light ..............William Stewart ......................22 Excerpts From an Interview by Mark Thompson with Arnie Kantrowitz .............28 Mark Thompson, the Gay Spirit Messenger ..Keith Gemerek .......................29 Stills and Quotes from Big Joy ..............Stephen Silha ........................30 Visionary Words: Remembering Mark Thompson .........Andrew Ramer .......................31 Gay Hero/Gay Friend .....................Bo Young ............................32 Dear Mark ...............................Jason aka Jay Sunlight Moonshadow ....35 Ode to Big Joy ............................Mark Thompson .....................39 Kindred Spirits, Kindred Souls .............Cupcake .............................43 Reflections of Mark From Images ...........Joel Singer ...........................45 What You Have Nurtured .................Leng L. Lim ..........................46 A Faerie Who Left His Mark ...............Notre Dame des Arbres ...............49 In Remembrance of My Faerie Brother Mark Thompson ...............Winston Wilde .......................50 Untitled .................................Michael Sajdak .......................51 Standing Rock: An Interview with Wave. . . . .Interview by Bambi ...................52 Self publishing and me Or “Pride and prejudice?” ..............Qweaver .............................56 Cultural Activism— Starhawk Visits Short Mountain .........Mountaine ...........................58 Listen Without Prejudice .................Sergio Ortiz ..........................61 Brian David Canivan 1966-2016 ............Trixie ...............................62 Atlantic Avenue, while Brian lies in a coma ..Trixie ...............................634 RFD 169 Spring 2017 Work Weekend 13 - 15 Jan Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Transmission Gathering 14 - 16 Jan Saratoga Springs, CA Wellness Weekend 27 - 29 Jan Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Imbolc Gathering 28 Jan - 3 Feb Glastonbury, United Kingdom Asian Faerie Gathering 6 - 13 Feb Kah Yao Yai, Thailand Healing Waters weekend 10 - 12 Feb Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Northwest Bundle Opening 11 Feb Naraya, Camp Pigott, Snohomish WA Breitenbush Gathering 16 - 20 Feb Breitenbush, OR Queer Forestry Camp 17 - 19 Feb Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Realize CalComMen gathering 17 - 20 Feb Camp Round Meadow, Angelus Oaks CA Winter Spirit Camp 17 - 20 Feb Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Midwinter Visioning gathering 2 - 5 Mar The Billys, Saratoga Springs CA MUSE: Queer Creatives Retreat 3 - 5 Mar Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Faerie Magic Gathering 8 - 12 Mar Gloucestershire, United Kingdom Healing Waters Weekend 17 - 19 Mar Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Journey to Elderhood: Aging with Intention & Passion 17 - 19 Mar Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Maple Sugaring Gathering 17 - 20 Mar Blue Heron Farm, Dekalb Junction NY Tantric Awakening 23 - 26 Mar Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Exploring Conscious Touch 30 Mar - 2 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Writing from Real Life 30 Mar - 2 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Get Cultured 31 Mar - 2 Apr Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Tennessee Dance 5 - 9 Apr Naraya, Tennessee Convergence: LGBTQ Healers Conference 7 - 9 Apr Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Gay Men of Color 7 - 9 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Rebirth Gathering 10 - 17 Apr Drouwen, The Netherlands Heart Centered Touch 13 - 16 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Opening the Box: A Weekend with Mindful Gay 13 - 16 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Spring Community Week 14 - 21 Apr Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Live Life Fully - A Core Energetics Retreat 20 - 23 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Take a Breath. Remember Who You Are 20 - 23 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Spring Retreat 21 - 23 Apr Gay Spirit Visions, Highlands NC Sex Magick 169 Workshop 22 - 29 Apr Asheville NC Beltane Gathering 22 Apr - 1 May Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France May Day Gathering 26 - 30 Apr The Billys, Saratoga Springs CA Journey to Easter 27 - 29 Apr Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Beltane Gathering 28 Apr - 2 May Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA An Introduction to Shamanism 5 - 7 May Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Sixth Annual International Gay Coaches Conference 11 - 14 May Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Bayard Rustin Bootcamp for Community Organizing 12 - 14 May Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Radical Faerie Camp 19 - 22 May Squamish BC Utah Dance 19 - 21 May Naraya, Utah CalComMen Memorial Day Gathering 26 - 29 May Camp Round Meadow, Angelus Oaks CA Easton at the Edge of 17 26 - 29 May Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Into the Woods 26 - 29 May Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Welcome Home Gathering 26 - 29 May Faerie Camp Destiny, Grafton VT Venez Savourer le Soleil (Soak Up the Sun) 2 - 4 Jun Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Wolf Creek Dance 7 - 11 Jun Naraya, Wolf Creek OR Kink Odyssey 8 - 11 Jun Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Nature=Nurture: Eco-skillshare Weekend 9 - 11 Jun Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Wellness Camp 14 - 18 Jun Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Where the Wild Queers Are 16 - 18 Jun Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Gathering Guide 2017 Thanks to www.radfae.org for their useful work which provides most of the information in our Annual Guide, merci beacoup and kisses to them. RFD 169 Spring 2017 5 Faerie Tales Gathering 18 - 25 Jun Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Authentic Eros: Begin the Journey 22 - 25 Jun Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Summer Splash 23 - 25 Jun Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY July 4th Gathering 28 Jun - 4 Jul The Billys, Saratoga Springs CA Fourth Queerly 30 Jun - 4 Jul Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Gay Freedom Camp 30 Jun 4 Jul Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Queer Interdepence Gathering 30 Jun - 4 Jul Faerie Camp Destiny, Grafton VT Sex Magick 169 Workshop 1 - 8 Jul Wolf Creek Sanctuary, OR Pan Gathering 5 - 10 Jul Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Faerie Sex Magick 269 Workshop 15 - 22 Jul Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Eros Spirit Camp 17 - 23 Jul Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY 36th Annual MidWest Men’s Festival 18 - 27 Jul Northeast KS Queer It Yourself 21 - 24 Jul Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Summer Community Week 24 - 29 Jul Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Queer Spirit Festival 26 - 30 Jul Wiltshire, United Kingdom CalComMen Summer Camp 28 - 30 Jul Tortuga del Sol, Palm Springs CA Lammas 28 Jul - 8 Aug Faerie Camp Destiny, Grafton VT Summer Gathering 31 Jul - 9 Aug Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Summer Gay Spirit Camp 31 Jul - 6 Aug Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Global Faerie Gathering 8 - 18 Aug Featherstone, Northumberland, United Kingdom Tantra 4 Gay Men Festival 8 - 13 Aug Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY XRYSALIS 11 - 13 Aug Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Bear Your Soul Summer Camp 16 - 20 Aug Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Summer Gathering 16 - 20 Aug Breitenbush, OR Transylvanian Gathering 19 -26 Aug Vale-Saliste-Sibiu, Romania Global Afterglow Gathering 20 - 27 Aug Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Camp Nehirim 23 - 27 Aug Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Blue Heron Gathering 28 Aug - 4 Sep Blue Heron Farm, Dekalb Junction NY Labor Day Gathering 31 Aug - 4 Sep The Billys, Saratoga Springs CA CalComMen Labor Day Gathering 1 - 4 Sep Camp Round Meadow, Angelus Oaks CA Q-Topia 1 - 4 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Sex Werk Gathering 1 - 4 Sep Faerie Camp Destiny, Grafton VT Transmission Gathering 1 - 4 Sep Northern CA Queer Burner Decompression 5 - 10 Sep Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Authentic Eros: The Core Erotic Theme 7 - 10 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY End of Summer Splash 8 - 10 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Austin Radical Faerie Gathering 14 - 17 Sep Wimberely TX Tantric Awakening 14 - 17 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Tantrastic Gathering 16 - 23 Sep Folleterre, Ternuay-Melay-et-Saint-Hilaire, France Fall Conference 21 - 24 Sep Gay Spirit Visions, Highlands NC Heart Centered Touch 21 - 24 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY 10th Annual Gay Men’s Shamanic Retreat 22 - 24 Sep Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Self Care Is Sexy Retreat 29 Sep - 1 Oct Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Fall Foliage Gathering 6 - 9 Oct Faerie Camp Destiny, Grafton VT Singles Retreat 6 - 9 Oct Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY TRANS*cend 15 - 17 Oct Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Albion Faeries Gathering 17 - 26 Oct Featherstone, Northumberland, United Kingdom Celebrating Gay Manhood 20 - 22 Oct Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY The Quest 20 - 22 Oct Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Halloween 25 - 29 Oct The Billys, Saratoga Springs CA Halloween Gathering 27 - 31 Oct Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Lavender: LGBTQ Leadership Conference 17 - 19 Nov Groundswell Institute, Yorkville CA Celebrating Thanksgiving and Community Building Weekend 22 - 26 Nov Easton Mountain, Greenwich NY Visit the following links for further info on gatherings: radfae.org, danceforallpeople.com. faeriecampdestiny.org, gayspiritvisions.org. roundswell.institute, midwestmensfestival.com, calcommen.com, eastonmountain.org, faeriesexmagick.org.6 RFD 169 Spring 2017 Fellow Travellers Photos by Mark Thompson from his book. L to R, T to B: Essex Hemphill, Harry Hay, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Monette RFD 169 Spring 2017 7 “A ll goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, and to die is different from what any one sup- posed, and luckier.” Walt Whitman said that in “Song of Myself” and I’ve always felt comforted and even ecstatic when it ripples through my mind, which it does often, and did the day I heard Mark left us. Mark Thompson was a huge presence in my life. From the day I stumbled across Gay Spirit in a used bookstore on Castro Street as just a budding young homo who hadn’t so much as publicly read a poem – and only vaguely aware of such fabulous creatures as faeries - until my days of exile in Los Angeles where I’d had the good fortune, not only to finally meet one of my true heroes, but then to have the added blessing of becoming his friend, student, brother and colleague, Mark loomed large and loving in my life. We walked often along the river, where I received his sage writ- erly advice; we visited museums and looked behind the veils at the faggotry that infuses so much beauty; we read together; we argued side by side on literary panels for the liberation that is queer consciousness in a movement that has grown sleepy and bourgeois; and yes, we indulged in martinis with Mark’s lovely and giggling, storytelling life partner, Malcolm Boyd. And then Mark went onward and outward—a little sooner than I’d guessed he would. I didn’t have time to thank him and give him one last enormous hug, and a bon voyage. Ah, but there are other ways to do that. And so, my dear friend and literary impresario extraordinaire, writer Richard May, and yours truly decided to find everyone who felt the same way and who might want to not just share our stories and our common good fortune in knowing him, but to also share Mark’s writing and his photography, both of which were an essential part of his life’s work. And so we organized a memorial reading. We didn’t find everyone, certainly, but what a crew of lovelies we did find (Justin Tanis, Jim Van Buskirk, Carol Queen, Will Roscoe, Wow, Ken White, Sister Merry Peter, Baruch Porras- Hernandez, Andrew Ramer, Joey Cain, Ganymede, Brendan Cook, and Karen Sundheim), all eager to gather memories and books and sing out for the love of Mark. We came together in late September at a new bookstore in the Castro called Dog Eared Books, which just happens to be on the same site where A Different Light once stood in those days when the gay bookstore was the community center and nexus of all things queer. And so it was a homecoming for all of us, returning to where it all began for Mark when as a young man he first came to San Francisco and threw Remembering Mark Thompson By Trebor Healey Most of the readers, from l to r: Justin Tanis, Trebor, Jim Van Buskirk, Carol Queen, Will Roscoe, Wow, Ken White, Sister Merry Peter, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Andrew Ramer, Joey Cain, Gany- mede, Rick May. (not pictured: Brendan Cook, Karen Sundheim)Next >