‘Welcome Home.’’
August 7, 2015 11:25 AM Subscribe
"In 1979, a gay rights activist, communist and Angeleno named Harry Hay — a founder of a neo-pagan countercultural movement called the Radical Faeries — urged gay men to ‘‘throw off the ugly green frog skin of hetero-imitation.’’ Instead of fighting for the rights that straights had, like marriage and adoption, the faeries believed that to be gay was to possess a unique nature and a special destiny apart from straight people, and that this destiny would reach its full flowering in the wilds of rural America. " -- Out Of The Woods, After decades of semi-secrecy, a commune for L.G.B.T.Q. nonconformists has slowly begun to join the mainstream, by Alex Halberstadt for New York Times Magazine
Neat article. I used to know a Radical Faerie here—he was a good friend of my ex—a super nice guy.
This was kind of an odd question though: ". But a question kept nagging at me about why — in this age of corporate pride-parade sponsors … — hundreds of queers still loaded station wagons and drove for days to a place where many people still believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis." Maybe because fuck corporate sponsors? Like, is that what the RFs have been aspiring to all along, to be sponsored by Facebook?
posted by kenko at 11:52 AM on August 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
This was kind of an odd question though: ". But a question kept nagging at me about why — in this age of corporate pride-parade sponsors … — hundreds of queers still loaded station wagons and drove for days to a place where many people still believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis." Maybe because fuck corporate sponsors? Like, is that what the RFs have been aspiring to all along, to be sponsored by Facebook?
posted by kenko at 11:52 AM on August 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
Maybe because fuck corporate sponsors?
I mean, it's the Times Magazine, I was pleased just that they weren't pilloried for their politics, much less that it got some sympathetic exposition — even in the form of slightly silly mock-bafflement clearly affected for the sake of the readership.
posted by RogerB at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I mean, it's the Times Magazine, I was pleased just that they weren't pilloried for their politics, much less that it got some sympathetic exposition — even in the form of slightly silly mock-bafflement clearly affected for the sake of the readership.
posted by RogerB at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
This was kind of an odd question though: ". But a question kept nagging at me about why — in this age of corporate pride-parade sponsors … — hundreds of queers still loaded station wagons and drove for days to a place where many people still believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis."
You left off the first part of that, which puts it in context: "Being an aficionado of strong coffee and indoor plumbing..." He's trying to compare the Homecoming Solstice Gathering at Short Mountain with a gay pride event.
What's even more odd is that the gathering he's talking about isn't a gay pride march... it's a pagan Solstice celebration being put on by the faeries for faerie folk. The fact that it ends up being a queer event is baked into the DNA of the event. They aren't marching in the streets to declare that they are not ashamed of being who they are. They are retreating to the woods to celebrate the Solstice and revel in their mutual existence.
The tone of much of the piece is odd, and comes from so far outside that it reads a bit like some 19th century British Empire travelogue to Darkest Corner Area.
The author obviously did his research up to a point. But he's (I'm assuming Alex is a he) coming from a place that relates entirely not with what these people are trying to do, and there are many such embarrassing little supposedly "clever" bits of writing.
posted by hippybear at 12:01 PM on August 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
You left off the first part of that, which puts it in context: "Being an aficionado of strong coffee and indoor plumbing..." He's trying to compare the Homecoming Solstice Gathering at Short Mountain with a gay pride event.
What's even more odd is that the gathering he's talking about isn't a gay pride march... it's a pagan Solstice celebration being put on by the faeries for faerie folk. The fact that it ends up being a queer event is baked into the DNA of the event. They aren't marching in the streets to declare that they are not ashamed of being who they are. They are retreating to the woods to celebrate the Solstice and revel in their mutual existence.
The tone of much of the piece is odd, and comes from so far outside that it reads a bit like some 19th century British Empire travelogue to Darkest Corner Area.
The author obviously did his research up to a point. But he's (I'm assuming Alex is a he) coming from a place that relates entirely not with what these people are trying to do, and there are many such embarrassing little supposedly "clever" bits of writing.
posted by hippybear at 12:01 PM on August 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
Oh, man. I remember back in 1983 or 84, as I was just starting to come out to friends and family, how much of a pull the whole radical faerie movement had for me. I wasn't brave enough to ditch everything and move myself among the people I considered the mystical beings of the gay movement, but I so wanted to. I'm so glad to see this article.
posted by xingcat at 12:02 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 12:02 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Incidentally, the lead singer/producer of the film adaptation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a Radical Faerie.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:09 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by five fresh fish at 12:09 PM on August 7, 2015
Surely you mean lead singer/producer/writer/creator/role originator John Cameron Mitchell...
posted by hippybear at 12:11 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 12:11 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Wonderful:
"He also pointed out that the fading sign on the barn didn’t say 'Welcome Home.' The last letter was not an ‘e’ but an ‘o.’"
posted by mlo at 12:28 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
"He also pointed out that the fading sign on the barn didn’t say 'Welcome Home.' The last letter was not an ‘e’ but an ‘o.’"
posted by mlo at 12:28 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd never heard of this place before today, and I kind of want to go there just to wander around, but then nobody likes tourists. I want a nun-hat tho', I never realized how much I want one till I saw Sister Mish rocking it.
This little bit made me laugh:
posted by selenized at 12:32 PM on August 7, 2015
This little bit made me laugh:
"Neal never brought his husband to anything, and I hope he doesn’t," said Austin Jennings, the 88-year-old former international president of the Lion’s Club and one of the county’s leading citizens. (Hawkins said that Appelbaum takes him to everything, but that Jennings doesn’t realize who he is.)I've been in those shoes -- of the significant other that clueless people don't realize is significant -- and this one parenthetical brought back a whole flood of memories of the catty comments we made when backs were turned.
posted by selenized at 12:32 PM on August 7, 2015
I kind of want to go there just to wander around, but then nobody likes tourists
IDA host some public events. They don't have a huge web presence but there's some relevant stuff on their tumblr. I've never been, but there are friends of mine who've had an amazing time at Idapalooza.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:43 PM on August 7, 2015
IDA host some public events. They don't have a huge web presence but there's some relevant stuff on their tumblr. I've never been, but there are friends of mine who've had an amazing time at Idapalooza.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:43 PM on August 7, 2015
Surely you mean lead singer/producer/writer/creator/role originator John Cameron Mitchell...
Sure. The credits and Wikipedia entries make it very difficult to figure out who's mostly responsible. Stephen Trask(?) seemed to me to be the main force behind it, but it sounds like I'm mistaken.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2015
Sure. The credits and Wikipedia entries make it very difficult to figure out who's mostly responsible. Stephen Trask(?) seemed to me to be the main force behind it, but it sounds like I'm mistaken.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2015
Photos by Catherine Opie!
posted by gingerbeer at 1:19 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 1:19 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Stephen Trask wrote the music and lyrics. John Cameron Mitchell played the first Hedwig.
posted by gingerbeer at 1:28 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by gingerbeer at 1:28 PM on August 7, 2015
I grew up in this area, and despite the fact that I was forced to attend a Bible Camp on Short Mountain, I never even heard of this group or the commune. And that's a good thing, too, because if it had been more common knowledge, people would have lynched them. The theme of the article seemed to be that they're more comfortable coming out now, because things have changed. But when I go back to visit my family, it doesn't look like that much has changed to me. I fear for these people's safety.
posted by vibrotronica at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by vibrotronica at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nooooooo don't let this turn into Burning Man.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:29 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:29 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
> Photos by Catherine Opie!
Yeah, this tripped me out when I read this piece yesterday!
posted by rtha at 2:46 PM on August 7, 2015
Yeah, this tripped me out when I read this piece yesterday!
posted by rtha at 2:46 PM on August 7, 2015
I'm pretty sure JCM wrote the book for the show, and it was developed in tandem with Trask doing the music and JCM having a lot of input into that. It was a workshop show, if I'm recalling the documentary about it I saw correctly, so it was in flux with Trask and JCM and the cast (basically the band) having input in shaping the final piece.
posted by hippybear at 2:52 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 2:52 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I fear for these people's safety.
These hippies have been living in the Short Mountain Sanctuary for, what? 35-40 years now? I am sure the local communities know about them (they have to emerge to buy supplies and stuff) and I doubt anyone is going to get hurt.
Anyway, I know a lot of these guys, and they know how to fucking handle business if required.
posted by hippybear at 2:54 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
These hippies have been living in the Short Mountain Sanctuary for, what? 35-40 years now? I am sure the local communities know about them (they have to emerge to buy supplies and stuff) and I doubt anyone is going to get hurt.
Anyway, I know a lot of these guys, and they know how to fucking handle business if required.
posted by hippybear at 2:54 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Kind of think that it was unethical revealing as much as was revealed.
Though I have not been to this sanctuary, Radical Faerie gatherings in the Northwoods (Wisconsin & Minnesota) were formative in my post-college years.
posted by larrybob at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Though I have not been to this sanctuary, Radical Faerie gatherings in the Northwoods (Wisconsin & Minnesota) were formative in my post-college years.
posted by larrybob at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Femmy Rose Liberty, TN 1 day ago
"Readers should know that the Board and Steward's of "The Commune" have a years-long standing consensus of zero-visibility on the Internet. This boundary was shared with the author and photographer of this article and is in the minutes of our meetings. Publishing our location goes against this boundary and is indicative of the cultural imperialism associated with corporate media and unchecked privilege. I'm extremely disappointed in the New York Times and Alex Halberstad for exploiting "The Commune". Changing our name to the "Commune" is not enough. By embedding us within an article that also talks about "the faeries on the mountain" you might as well have used our name. It also is EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC that every photo is of a white person who, as far as I know, identifies as a cisgendered man. This only maintains the white privilege and sexism that plagues our community and the queer movement in general. This article invisibilizes so many people who make up our community. To associate himself with Captain Cook and compare our community to Harry Potter novels speaks to the colonial mindset of the author and the New York Times' journalistic style. I'm devastated and disappointed and will never trust the New York Times again."
posted by Carol Anne at 4:24 PM on August 7, 2015 [19 favorites]
"Readers should know that the Board and Steward's of "The Commune" have a years-long standing consensus of zero-visibility on the Internet. This boundary was shared with the author and photographer of this article and is in the minutes of our meetings. Publishing our location goes against this boundary and is indicative of the cultural imperialism associated with corporate media and unchecked privilege. I'm extremely disappointed in the New York Times and Alex Halberstad for exploiting "The Commune". Changing our name to the "Commune" is not enough. By embedding us within an article that also talks about "the faeries on the mountain" you might as well have used our name. It also is EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC that every photo is of a white person who, as far as I know, identifies as a cisgendered man. This only maintains the white privilege and sexism that plagues our community and the queer movement in general. This article invisibilizes so many people who make up our community. To associate himself with Captain Cook and compare our community to Harry Potter novels speaks to the colonial mindset of the author and the New York Times' journalistic style. I'm devastated and disappointed and will never trust the New York Times again."
posted by Carol Anne at 4:24 PM on August 7, 2015 [19 favorites]
This straight lady wants in.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:36 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:36 PM on August 7, 2015
Errrmmm that's cool and all, Sheydem-tants, and that space isn't for you as far as I can tell.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2015
OzFaeries have played an important and well loved part (lots of emotional labour!) in the mens' healing movement since the early 1980s, from campaigning for HIV awareness to creating safe spaces for Faeries up and down the coast. Love 'em. They are spirit siblings of my kin.
posted by Thella at 5:13 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Thella at 5:13 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
A direct link to the comment Carol Anne posted above.
Fucking shitty move, NYTimes.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:06 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Fucking shitty move, NYTimes.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:06 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
My thinking is that if they could thwart a Federal RICO seizure, they've got enough chops to handle the attention a NYT Culture piece might generate for a week. This is not in Brooklyn, and one can get very lost in them thar hills.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 3:10 PM on August 8, 2015
posted by halfbuckaroo at 3:10 PM on August 8, 2015
Maybe they can. And there is no reason in the world why they would have to except for the mendacity of the NYT Magazine. NYTM took a safe space and, contrary to their agreement, exposed it to the world. That is a serious problem.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:35 PM on August 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:35 PM on August 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
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Now I want to crawl back through the 10+ years of issues of RFD I have sitting on a bookshelf and reconnect with my faerie side, which I've let slide for the past 10-15 years. Because the Radical Faeries are truly awesome people.
posted by hippybear at 11:38 AM on August 7, 2015 [21 favorites]