Radical Faeries

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Folleterre Sanctuary of the Radical Faeries in France

The Radical Faeries (also Faeries ) (English for " radical tunes ", literally " radical fairies ") are a worldwide loosely connected community through a social network , which rejects the imitation of the heteronormative lifestyle and a redefinition of queer identity through an interest in spirituality aims in a broad, undogmatic sense.

The English term Radical Faeries or Faeries is also used in German-speaking countries. A group of faeries sometimes refers to themselves as “tribe” (German: Stamm ) or “circle” (German: Kreis ).

Radical Faeries are partly progressive social movements , counterculture movements and green-political experiments with ecological awareness. The Faeries are about overcoming conventions , masculinism and traditional gender roles in favor of respect and mindfulness in dealing with one another, acceptance and preservation of identity, as well as connection with nature in all manifestations.

Faerie culture is indefinably diverse; but it contains similar elements such as Marxism , Feminism , Paganism , Native American and New Age Spirituality , Anarchism , the mythopoetic men's movement , radical individualism , the therapeutic culture of self-fulfillment and self-actualization , earthbound movements in support of communities for sustainable development , spiritual solemnity combined with camp sensitivity, gay liberation and drag .

Radical faeries today embody a variety of genders, sexual orientations and identities and vary depending on the location. Radical faerie communities are usually inspired by indigenous , indigenous , or traditional spirituality , especially those that integrate genderqueers . As the first gay-centered spiritual movement, you are a worldwide phenomenon.

term

Harry Hay - lower left (with cap) - San Francisco, June 1986

The Faeries derive their name from the 1979 Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies . It was Harry Hay (1912–2002) who, in the 1970s, was the first to associate the word “faerie” with this new form of same-sex awareness and to use the name “Radical Faerie” for the burgeoning movement.

The term "faerie" was chosen in reference to the immortal spirits of European folklore in animism and the fact that "fairy" was a derogatory slang term for homosexual men . The word "radical" refers to Hay's politically extreme view. According to Hay and Don Kilhefner, the Radikal Faeries were partly created to allow gay men to redefine themselves “outside of the slave name, homosexual” ” .

history

Radical Faeries at the Gathering in Breitenbush

The Radical Faerie movement began among gay men in the United States in the 1970s during the sexual revolution and counterculture movement. It expanded along with the larger gay movement , opposing commercialization and the patriarchal aspects of modern LGBT life in the practice of pagan customs and rituals.

The 1979 Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies was organized by Harry Hay and his partner John Burnside along with activist Don Kilhefner and young therapist Mitch Walker in Benson, Arizona, "to discover the coming paradigm shift in gay consciousness" and drew more than 200 participants. As a result, participants often held events lasting several days, which they called “gatherings”. In keeping with trends of the time such as the hippie , neo-paganism and eco- feminism movements, the meetings were held outdoors in natural surroundings. To this end, certain Radical Faerie communities have created "Sanctuaries" that are close to the land .

Hay was a left-wing LGBT activist and in 1950 co-initiator of the Mattachine Society , the first gay interest group in the United States. As a child, he was influenced by the spirituality of the Native Americans by Wovoka, the shaman of the Paiute Indians who started the spirit dance movement around 1890 . At first, Hay rejected the term “movement” when defining the Radical Faeries and instead referred to it as the “life path” for gay men.

Mitch Walker worked on applying the work of Carl Gustav Jung to gay culture. He was inspired by the idea of ​​gay shamanism in the tradition of the British Edward Carpenter .

Gay activist Arthur Evans (1942–2011) book Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture from 1978 had a significant influence on the Radical Faerie movement. In his chapter “Magic and Revolution” Evans writes that “it is the role of the gay man to feel the restoration of our communication with nature and mother earth, the essential connection between sex and the forces that hold the universe together . We look forward to regaining our old historical roles as medicine men, healers, prophets, shamans and magicians. "

History in Europe

Radical Faeries Parade for London Pride, Trafalgar Square

The idea of ​​the Radical Faeries has also existed in Europe since the early 1990s, where they usually hold regular meetings as Eurofaeries . In 1995 the Eurofaeries Foundation was established to ensure a permanent sanctuary on the European continent called “Folle Terre” (French for “crazy earth”). In 2004 she was able to buy “Folleterre”: a former farmhouse and 15 hectares of forest near Ternuay in the Vosges in France.

The Eurofaerie network supports or organizes annual meetings, urban meetings, workshops and international gatherings in natural surroundings, with most of the activities initially focused on France and the Netherlands.

Depending on the region, individual faerie circles in Europe are sometimes called differently, for example "Albionfaeries" after the ancient name Albion for Great Britain, "Rheingold Faeries" in the Rhineland, "Radical Faeries Vienna" in Austria.

Symbol of the Eurofaeries

The symbol of the Eurofaeries is "the butterfly with the curved EF symbol" and stands for change, change (English "transformation"), a new consciousness, the next level of civilization. The changes to which the faerie culture enables usually take place on an individual level and typically have a therapeutic effect . The growing new awareness also stands for political engagement in the future.

philosophy

Banner with the philosophy of the Radical Faeries

With the Faeries there is "no hierarchy and no compelling dogmas ", the Faerie Rushing Water describes the philosophy of the Faeries.

To create their own spirituality, Faeries are inspired by ethnic religions such as those of the Aborigines , Indians , the animistic folklore of Europe and the ancient Teutons and Celts . The Faeries derive particular inspiration from the Indian term " Two-Spirit ", where two souls (male and female) are united in one body.

Respectful interaction, acceptance and mindfulness determine how the faeries are together, so appearance and age are irrelevant. Older faeries and the aging process as such are re-evaluated and positively assessed by the faeries. The Faerie community places more emphasis on mutual inspiration, intentions and the creative process than on result and efficiency.

In her study of the pagan movement in the United States, sociologist Margot Adler found that the Faeries attach great importance to the “transformative power of play ”. They believe that playful behavior has a role in the ritual that could lead to an altered state of consciousness.

The faeries represent the first spiritual movement in which the search for the "gay spirit" is of central importance and is itself the source of spirituality, wisdom and initiation . Founding Faerie Mitch Walker claims that the Radical Faerie Movement "because of its indigenous, gay-centered nature, has pioneered a new seriousness of 'gayness', its depth and its potential, and therefore a new stage in the meaning of 'gay liberation' heralds ".

Faerie identity

The idea behind the Radical Faeries is to create a safe place where queer people apart from the homosexual mainstream can openly live their true being, come back to their origins and develop useful models of reality. The faerie identity is a positive self-determined identity that is not imposed by anyone else. Each individual determines their own Faerie nature in a constant process of self-examination and self-knowledge.

Faerie identity has been debated by faeries since the dawn of the community. The common denominator is "being different" and uniqueness , free from rejection and discrimination, at the center of the Radical Faerie identity:

"... being a different species perceiving a different reality"

- Harry Hay

The concept of androgyny was used by the Faeries, who give it a distinctly spiritual touch. Rather than referring to an asexual or omni-sexual state, androgyny for the faeries means a radical juxtaposition of the elements of the masculine and feminine in psychological as well as physical expressions. Cross-dressing , drag, gender ambiguity adorned with both male and female symbols, flowing transitions between the sexes, playful parody and serious social engagement are characteristic of the faeries' approach to gender segregation .

Subject-subject consciousness

The second core concept of Radical Faerie Spirituality is subject-subject consciousness. It determines that one always treats the other as a subject as it is oneself, but never as an object or as a means to a certain end. Originally proposed as a principle by Harry Hay, it was incorporated and greatly expanded by Mitch Walker. It is based on the idea that same-sex oriented people are different because they perceive and relate to the world in a fundamentally unique way, a way that is integral to the well-being of themselves as individuals and of the world as a whole.

A queer way of perceiving the world is interpreted as a force that creates a positive self-definition of the other. When the individual (as a microcosm) and the world (as a macrocosm) are perceived as subjects, then all problems of exploitation as a "sex object" disappear and a utopian vision of "everyone is open to everyone in complete trust" becomes possible. Given the consensus-based subject-subject relationship among the Faeries, all authoritarianism disappears .

Rituals

Decorated tree in the Faerie Sanctuary Folleterre

Like all cultures, Faeries have developed their own rituals , which can be freely interpreted and supplemented at any time. There are no specific initiation rites, but such rites can be held. Although there are no hard and fast rules, most faeries uphold some customs. This includes the Faerie names.

Many Faeries give themselves a new name that they wear at the meetings to underline their own identity. This tradition draws inspiration from the indigenous peoples of America, where the shamans gave names with spiritual meaning at initiation. The tradition of fairy tale names is similar, although the Radical Faeries usually choose their own fairy tale names.

Many Faeries celebrate centuries-old pagan nature festivals such as the summer solstice , Lughnasadh (Lammas), Equinox or the Beltane spring festival . The Australians adopt Aboriginal traditions and participate in the region's pumpkin festival. The gatherings often take place at the same time as these celebrations.

Rituals at gatherings can include the following elements: candles, torches, campfires , prayers, ritual music, dancing around the fire, clothing with extravagance , nudity , mud bath , sweat lodge , decorated trees, drums . Drumming and dancing together to the rhythm can be part of the spiritual experience. Nudity is quite common in rituals, with faerie communities also being inspired by the traditional culture of largely undressed indigenous peoples.

In sanctuaries and at fairground meetings, an altar is usually erected with objects of particular importance to the owners.

Heart Circle

The Heart Circle (German "heart loop") is a custom that took over the Founder of Faeries by Native Americans, the discussion with the talking stick (english talking stick ), which was used by them as facilitation techniques to reach a consensus.

The Heart Circle occupies a central place in the life of the Faeries and emerged from the ideal of consensus and the idea of ​​subject-subject consciousness. It contains elements of therapy, personal development and group awareness. This circle is formed every day at gatherings as a place in which thoughts and feelings are expressed, decisions are made (English practice circle ) and a better understanding of what it means to be a queer person is conveyed. Confrontations and disputes are not avoided, but rather the “ hug ” is lived as a basic principle .

At the Heart Circle, the Faeries listen to each other with respect and appreciation “with their hearts”. Whoever holds the talisman may speak as long as he or she wants, but also be silent. Nobody is interrupted, there is no discussion and there is no direct feedback. What is said remains confidential. This develops a special dynamic that distinguishes the circle from normal conversations or group therapy . The circle can last an hour or a day, peaceful or dramatic.

“You can come here and find healing ,” says Rushing Water. “Many men spoke openly about their problems in the Heart Circle for the first time. The whole thing also has a therapeutic effect, although the Faeries are not a therapeutic event. "

Gatherings

Gatherings (English for "Faerietreffen") represent the type of larger queer community in which Faeries want to live together and are an attempt to implement the idea of Queer Nationalism for a period of time. The meetings are a kind of "spiritual playground" where people of different national and social origins and professional groups come together. There you can camp, take part in free workshops, celebrate, hold Heart Circles and eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. Many gatherings are open to all genders and sexual orientations, while some focus more on the particular spiritual experience of the man-loving man for which they create a sheltered setting.

At many gatherings, a so-called no-talent show takes place, where everyone can let their creativity run free. Any kind of performance, such as singing, dancing, reciting and travesty, is possible. An " auction " is also usually held as an opportunity to donate money. Objects, objets d'art and clothing are offered for auction in a funny, bizarre show.

Sanctuary

The English word sanctuary means “sanctuary”, “refuge” or “sanctuary” in German. Sanctuaries can be private land in rural areas, in the wilderness, or urban buildings in which faeries lead a communal life and meet (the idea of ​​“returning to the faerie community”). Life in the sanctuary includes a simple life in the country, ecologically sustainable concepts, playing and working together, for example in the kitchen, chopping wood, growing fruit and vegetables and harvesting. Sanctuaries currently exist in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Cultural influence

Those attending the 1979 Faerietreffen helped found the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in San Francisco that same year.

Faeries were a major influence on John Cameron Mitchell's film Shortbus . The director and screenwriter Mitchell is Radical Faerie himself, as is the performance artist Justin Vivian Bond, who plays herself in the film.

See also

literature

  • Peter Hennen: Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen: Men in Community Queering the Masculine. University of Chicago Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-226-32727-3
  • Arthur Evans: Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture: A Radical View of Western Civilization and Some of the People It Has Tried to Destroy. Fag Rag Books 1978, ISBN 0-915480-01-8
  • Mark Thompson: Gay Spirit: Myth and Meaning. St. Martin's Press 1987, ISBN 978-1-59021-024-6
  • Mark Thompson: The Fire in Moonlight: Stories from the Radical Faeries. 1975-2010. with Richard Neely (Osiris) and Bo Young, foreword by Will Roscoe, White Crane Books 2011, ISBN 978-1-59021-338-4
  • Harry Hay, Will Roscoe (Eds.): Radically Gay: Gay Liberation in the Words of its Founder. Boston, Beacon Press, 1996, ISBN 0-8070-7080-7
  • Gunny Catell: Rise like a Faerie . Vienna, self-published, 2015, ISBN 978-3-200-03856-1
  • Gunny Catell: Listen. Listen Without Prejudice. Listen To The Earth . Vienna, self-published, 2019, ISBN 978-3-200-06410-2

Periodical printing works

  • RFD often referred to as the - Radical Faeries Digest called
  • White Crane - a magazine about gay wisdom & culture, covers various aspects of faerie awareness

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Peter Hennen: Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen. University of Chicago Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-226-32727-3
  2. ↑ Marc Stein (Ed.): Encyclopedia of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history in America. Charles Scribner's Sons 2004, ISBN 978-0-684-31264-4 .
  3. ^ Stuart Timmons: The Making of a Tribe. in Mark Thompson The Fire in the Moonlight: Stories from the Radical Faeries. 1975-2010, White Crane Books 2011, p. 33
  4. ↑ Mark Thompson, Don Kilhefner: on the 30th anniversary of the first Radical Faerie Gathering
  5. ↑ Mark Thompson: Remembering Harry in The Advocate (published here)
  6. ↑ Mark Thompson: Leatherfolk: Radical Sex, People, Politics, And Practice. Daedalus Publishing 2004, p. 282, ISBN 1-881943-20-8
  7. ↑ George Haggerty: Gay histories and cultures: an encyclopedia, 2. Taylor & Francis 2000, p. 1123, ISBN 0-8153-1880-4
  8. ^ Timmons, 2011, p. 32
  9. ↑ a b Fairies of Crazy Earth , published in WOZ No. 47/2009 on November 19, 2009
  10. ^ Margot Adler: Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshipers and Other Pagans in America. London 1979/2006, Penguin. P. 361. ISBN 0-14-303819-2
  11. ↑ Mitch Walker: Contradictory Views on Radical Faerie Thought ( Memento of the original from August 19, 1999 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.whitecranejournal.com archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . White Crane Journal 34
  12. ↑ Mitch Walker: Visionary Love: The Magical Gay Spirit Power. In: Gay Spirit: Myth and Meaning. by Mark Thompson, New York 1987, pp. 222-235
  13. ^ John Burnside: Who are the Gay People? and other essays. San Francisco 1989, pp. 15-20
  14. ^ Bill Rodgers: The Radical Faerie Movement: A Queer Spirit Pathway. In: Social Alternatives, Volume 14, No. 4 pp. 35–36, and Queer Resources Directory: Queere Vol. 1. no. 1
  15. ↑ Gay elves - an alternative to the mainstream. ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in Du & Ich, No. 481, August / September 2012 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.du-und-ich.net
  16. ^ Eugene V. Gallagher, W. Michael Ashcraft: Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America. Greenwood Publishing Group 2006, p. 260, ISBN 0-275-98712-4
  17. ↑ Nomenus Wolf Creek Sanctuary in Oregon ( Memento of the original from October 15, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Short Mountain in Tennessee @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nomenus.org
  18. ↑ Folleterre in France
  19. ↑ Faerieland in New South Wales
  20. ^ History of the Faeries. with Murray Edelman, Joey Cain, and Agnes de Garron; transcribed from the 2nd Annual Philly Faerie Gatherette, January 15, 2012
  21. ^ Sandi Dubowski: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. In: Filmmaker Magazine, Fall 2006.