Number 183 Fall 2020 • $11.95 POL I TICSThe novel coronavirus and its disease, commonly abbreviated COVID-19, has swept across the globe. It’s impact will likely be felt for years in terms of the loss of life, livelihood and reshap- ing how we come together as people, communities and as change-makers in the culture. How has COVID-19 affected your life and the lives of people around you? What have you done to reclaim social space while still keeping personal dis- tance from others? How has it impacted your personal or sexual relationships? Have you had to reach into your experi- ences with HIV/AIDS prevention to cre- ate safe ways of seeing other people? We’re also interested in how it’s shaped community responses. How has your town, church, gathering community, farm-share or any other space you typi- cally visit and participate in shaped a positive response to this crisis? What steps do you think are needed to make spaces safer? Have you been con- fronted like so many of us have by the “Sorry we’re closed because it’s safer for us and it’s safer for you” response? How do we come to terms with how systems, which have typically worked for us, might have failed or need to reassess how to “be there?” We’re also very interested in document- ing how people have used creative ways to connect with others – using online meetings, writing letters, clang- ing pots and pans in your neighbor- hood, posting a sign or notice. We also want to know how you’ve kept busy, through cooking, crafts or being in nature. Share your recipes, tell us about the things you’ve created or tell us about your recent solo hike in the woods. We’re also, of course, very interested in COVID-19 fashion state- ments! How have you been modeling the best masks! Issue 184 / Winter 2020 COVID-19 AND COMMUNITY Submission Deadline: October 21, 2020 www.rfdmag.org/upload Masks by Granite (@granite_trudeaux on Instagram) RFD 183 Fall 2020 1 Resisting Fascist Drama Vol 47 No 1 #183 Fall 2020 Between the Lines First off, we have to send out a prayer for the world in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It certainly has politicized the most basic parts of our lives, how we work, who we can see, if we can travel and lastly the colors of the fabric of the face masks we wear to ensure those around us that we care as much about others as our selves. It also has impacted us personally through illness and sadly personal loss. This issue revolves around the topic of politics and how it can intersect with our per- sonal lives and how intricately it is bound into our personal life without our say so, which often leads us to reclaim a position for ourselves in challenging times. Many of your submissions this issue deal with exploring options on how to make politics more rooted in addressing our needs or at least the needs of the region we are in. Many people spoke of ways of finding one’s self through political action only to return to healing one’s self first as the role of the political action is constant, evolving and shifting while our personal emotional, spiritual and even sexual lives need to be bolstered up. We felt that many people touched upon the emotional burden of a world out of con- trol, overwhelming challenges like climate change, racism and other forms of oppression as well as living in democracies which create inequities for the many while privileging the few. So ideas about compassion for others and one’s self are highlighted as well as relating the emotional grief of the “struggle” that is living in a political world. A few others, writing discuss the politics of inclusion and how it can often then exclude as we attempt to redress a long pattern of not including someone. It seems the challenge is primarily tied into compassion for others, finding the humanity in each other while allowing for difference. Some writers discuss the politics in the everyday lives they lead and how drawing a political statement creates space to belong, to re-energize our values by putting one’s self back into a political framework by engaging in the current political moment and allowing your voice, presence to be felt, heard and respected. One of the last pieces in this issue reflect upon RFD’s role in helping shape some of the conversation by exploring RFD in the Seventies and how it reached into the lives of people. We hope you enjoy the issue and we hope those of you here in the US go out and vote this autumn to help shift some of the miasma and refocus on the communities we want to live in. We are sure similar political tides are also happening around the world to reclaim a voice, speak for the powerless and to defend the Earth. From a sunny breezy autumn in New England —The RFD Collective 2 RFD 183 Fall 2020 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: $11.95. 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 Graphics by Matt Bucy Production Managing Editor: Bambi Gauthier Art Director: Matt Bucy Submission Deadlines Winter—Oct 21, 2020 Spring—Jan 21, 2021 See inside covers for themes and specifics. For advertising, subscriptions, back issues and other information visit www.rfdmag.org. To read online visit www.issuu.com/rfmag . Visual Contributors in this Issue Images or pieces not directly associated with an article. Dragon / Arthur Durkee .......................2 Jerzy Strzelecki* ..............................7 Wave ....................................11, 34 James St. John* ..............................28 Artboydancing ..............................33 Covelo ...................................42, 44 Rhododendrites* .............................59 “In Support of the USPS” by Dragon (Arthur Durkee) *via Creative Commons license RFD 183 Fall 2020 3 CONTENTS Uncommon Questions ....................Tom Seidner ..........................4 Monster’s Ball ............................Scott Hightower .......................6 Back Then in London... And Now? ..........Miqhey Miqxtja .......................7 Compassionate Inaction ...................Blackbird ............................12 Poems ...................................Kelvin Beliele ........................14 Need a Hand to Take a Knee ...............Dolores Deluce .......................15 We Are the 100% .........................Quinoa / Chris Kirk ...................16 Poems ...................................D. Scott Humphries ...................22 threads of my life braiding love, loss & politics. . . . . . . . . . . . .Adamante of the DeerStag .............24 Constructionist and Deconstructionist Faerie Politics at Folleterre ..............Luna ................................27 Co-create the Future ......................Dragonfire / Earl Nissen ...............30 Do You? .................................e.c.patrick ...........................31 When Heterosexuals Rule the World ........Pink Jimmie ..........................32 Policy Above People Or: How It Feels to be Kicked Out of a Faerie Gathering ...................Anonymous ..........................35 Poems ...................................Gregg Shapiro ........................40 Spiritual Praxis or How Do We Get From Here to There? ...............Rev. Glen Ganaway ...................42 Not Your Grandma’s Quilt ................Johnny Townsend ....................47 A Decade of Power: RFD in the 70’s ........Regina Futcher .......................52 The Customers at the Midnight Café ........Ken Anderson ........................56 Sleepless ................................Gregg Shapiro ........................58 Excerpts from lyrics for “Stonewall Inn 1969” ................Dragon (Arthur Durkee) ..............59 Poems ...................................Kelvin Beliele ........................624 RFD 183 Fall 2020 A s obsessed as I am with the upcoming election, I don’t really want to write about it. The issues are changing too quickly for me to feel confident that my words will be relevant in the weeks after the Fall RFD is distributed. Instead, I want ask a series of unpopular questions. Not necessarily unpopular in the sense of controversial, though they may be, but I’m actually more interested in asking questions that may not be commonly discussed. And, being me, I will make some suggestions. Those may well prove to be unpopular. The first is “Why are there still states?” Every four years people remember the Electoral College as a confounding obstruction to democracy. But nothing is ever done about it, because states with comparatively small populations would never ratify an amendment that would eliminate it. So, if we are going to honor the radical part of Radical Faeries, maybe we need to go to the root of the problem. The idea of states came from the original thirteen colonies, which were British divisions that main- tained their sense of being distinct entities. As the country spread westward, new states were added on in ways to accommodate po- litical interests. A slave state was added on to balance a “free” state. A portion of the Great Plains was deliberately added as separate states to bolster the number of seats they would command in the Sen- ate. Most states now are characterized by greater internal diversity, for example between urban and rural areas, than they are distinct from their neigh- bors. So, the result is that the government of this country is largely determined by divisions whose identity may lie in which sports teams they host. States enable Republicans to have a disproportional control of the Senate as well as the Electoral Col- lege. States rights advocates have traditionally been the proponents of the most regressive and divisive national policies. And while some might point to state governors as being both a bulwark against presidential power and a source of sanity during the pandemic, the same could be achieved by any intel- ligent division of the country, as long as population of each area was roughly equal. Another barrier to equality is that many states have one segment of the population having an outsized influence over the rest, often in an urban/rural divide. This again could be addressed in forming new governmental sectors. An argument could be made that these new entities might not even have to be geographically contigu- ous. Wiser minds than mine might explore all sorts of possibilities. I am aware of maps that show that small geographic areas of the country have more influence in the current system in a way that favors cities. But our aim should always be one person one vote, not one acre. A reasonable next question is “Why are we always the best country or the worst?”. We are often forced to choose between American Exceptionalism and a view that could be called America as Preda- tor. Frankly, both just come down to America as Drama Queen. I am always wary of any notion that does not allow for the possibility we might be average. Other countries struggle with many of the same issues we do such as distrust of immigrants, income inequality, the division between church and state, the balance between what is owed to the country and to the individual, and how to address the mistakes of the past. If we persist in the delusion we have all the answers or the fear that all we are capable of is interference and destruction, we cut ourselves off from engag- ing in dialogues with other countries to our mutual benefit. We have resources that can benefit others as long as we let them tell us what would actually help. We can ask for aid in addressing issues that have stymied us up until now. We can learn from the failures and successes other countries have had with their health care systems, for example, often incor- porating both private insurance and governmental administration, as long as we recognize the diversity of their solutions and ignore the rhetoric of both the left and the right who refuse to distinguish between them. Because politicians are only voted for by the citizens of individual countries, they tend not to prioritize planetary issues that require a worldwide solution. Climate change, regulations to ensure clean air and water, responsible management of veg- Uncommon Questions by Tom Seidner Why are there still states?” RFD 183 Fall 2020 5 etation and biodiversity, food production, etc. can only be effectively addressed by entities that span national borders. If the United Nations has shown it cannot be that entity, we need to work together to make other organizations possible. “What do we do when some people have more than others?” The first obvious step is to address it and do whatever possible to empower those who have less. The majority of these efforts will require enlisting the aid of others, including unlikely allies. We are crippled as a species when so many need to devote all their efforts toward survival. Whose lives are consumed by illness, dangerous or degrad- ing living situations, lack of food, or an absence of leisure time or paths toward happiness. That leaves them without the opportunity to use their intellects and explore their creativity. It is not only their lives that are limited, but all of ours. Can you imagine the solutions we could arrive at, the possibilities we could discover if all of us were operating as our best selves? But getting there is no simple task and we are forced to come to terms with the concept that there are people who will actually oppose such a world, because they think they are entitled to more power and money than others. Or even more commonly, they have more power and money and influence than others because of circumstance, like family connections or inheritance, and see no value in relinquishing it. And when we bring in entities, like corporations, the situation seems even less capable of being resolved. Let’s be honest, demon- izing the rich isn’t terribly successful. The nature of power is often to make one indifferent to others and not subject to their censure. So, while we have disparity, and I know of no country without, there may be some options available to us to address it and reduce it. Corporations are not people, but they do have people making decisions. People can be found who will use their influence in the service of others. Sometimes, because it is something they want for themselves. For example, lesbian and gay organizations often find advocates and contribu- tors in the families of the wealthy or people with corporate positions. Sometimes because it is good for the organization. Such as the companies who lobby for increased opportunities for immigrants as they want to draw from the largest possible field for talented employees. There is also the opportunity to motivate companies to do positive things because it helps them distinguish themselves. Very few companies actually sit around and plot to destroy people’s lives. But they do make plans to increase profit and gain an advantage over their competitors. It is sometimes possible to pit these powerful forces against each other and to convince organizations and people in power that they can accomplish their goals by being identified as the ones who have con- cerns for the future and well-being of their custom- ers. As opposed to competitors whose only motiva- tion is profit, heedless of the destruction they do. And, at the risk of sounding even more unrealistic, there are people who want to help others because it gives them a sense of purpose and fulfillment. These are all things to utilize in these dark times, as uncertain as they are. One thing is more under our control. This is a wealthy country. Many of us have more than we need. Many of us have skills that would benefit others. Many of us have simply been through enough in our lives we have the capacity to sit down and actually listen to someone else. When we can be honest with ourselves and be of use to others, and not lose sight of them in an excess of self-esteem, at the very least we should sleep better and sometimes accomplish even more than we are conscious of. The last question I want to ask is “Why care about politics?” All politicians distort information or actually lie and their primary concern seems to be their own election. Lobbyists and moneyed interests have much more of an influence than I ever could have as an individual. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, the fact that votes are tallied by state in presidential elections, the prevalence of news sources and social media presences that bend the narrative to their own interests, all contribute to make politics seem like something to avoid. All I can offer is that while politics seems extremely limited in leading to better lives for all of us, we have seen vividly in recent times that the opposite is not true. When the worst of us wield the most power, there is no limit to the damage they can do. As one of my heroes said recently, “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me—they can, and they will, if we don’t make a change in this election.” And it is not only true of the next one. Politics, like so many things in life, is messy and much easier to get wrong than to get right. But, underneath all of the nonsense, politics is simply how we decide how we will live with others. What we value, who we trust, and what we want for the future. If it is ever going to become a true expression of our dreams, we have to remain aware of those who have nothing but con- tempt for them. So we care about this malnourished part of our lives to give it a chance to mature into something better.6 RFD 183 Fall 2020 Monster’s Ball Every April, Orange Pig hosts a large festive gathering to celebrate his ascendancy. This spring, an unexpected, lethal, milk-borne virus shook the estate and all the quivering boar could think about was himself. Other rough boars (psychopaths) in isolation pens want out. It is just not clear who may contract what…. There is a lot of stuff in the air. —Scott Hightower RFD 183 Fall 2020 7 D uring 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 imple- ment 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 Move- ment 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 vio- lent 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. T hose 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 Back Then in London... And Now? by Miqhey Miqxtja Demonstration in support of LGBT in London, December 1975 Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki (with Creative Commons permission)Next >