The Faeries 

 

In the 1970s gay men who sought an existence not dictated by the norms of heteroconformist society started calling themselves RADICAL FAERIES.  They gathered in large numbers away from the cities in natural places to explore and share their queer spirit.  Faeries since then have been creating spaces, temporary and permanent, where queers are free to express themselves, to play and celebrate on their own terms, dropping conventions and attitudes of mainstream society to discover our own ways of creating, relating and living.  Nowadays there are also queer women and transsexuals participating in faerie community.

 

HARRY HAY is recognised as the father of the radical faeries.  Born in the UK (in Worthing, Sussex), he was campaigning for gay liberation from the 1950s but constantly coming into dispute with those who sought to assimilate and fit in with 'normal' society.  Harry sought to find what might lie at the core of the nature of those who loved the same gender.  He went as far as to consider queers 'a separate people whose time has  come.'  For many years he was part of a 'Circle of Loving Companions' where many of the ideas that came forth through the radical faeries were explored.  Harry was very influenced by native american tribal practices, bringing to faerie gatherings their concept of sharing from the heart in circle, where all have an equal right to speak, and seeing the two-spirited ones of the tribes as an example of the spiritual role that gender-bending humans had fulfilled since ancient times.  Many other examples of 'gender-variant' folk have been found all over the world.  RANDY P. CONNOR's book BLOSSOM OF BONE traces a line of queer spiritual history that gives queerkind a very special history and points to us holding certain energies and abilities needed by the whole species.

 

Of course we live in confusing times, when the attitudes of many queers to spiritual matters is severely damaged or prejudiced by the awful experiences we have of bigoted views in religion.  Christianity is supposed to teach love of all, so the hatred poured out on our kind by many so-called Christians  is enough to keep many of us well away from spiritual or religious topics.  

 

But forget the religion.  Perhaps we are a spiritual people.  Queers are naturally drawn to love.  We often are drawn to care for nature, to be healers and caregivers.  We create and  celebrate beauty.  We are not known for starting wars.   We are usually tolerant of difference.  We love to put our hands in the air and dance.  And although in our scenes we can witness our limitations, eg the existence of ageism, misogyny, bitchiness, 'looksism', dependency and untempered hedonism..... these features quickly fall away when we are able to live within the heartspace of queer community, when we are truly able to reveal and revel in ourselves.

 

AT FAERIE GATHERINGS QUEERS CAN EXPLORE THEIR SPIRIT

THEIR CONNECTION TO NATURE AND THE COSMOS

their deep loving nature through being in community with others

DISCOVER THE REALMS OF THEIR INNER BEING

AND EXPLORE LIFE BEYOND POLARITIES IN A RAINBOW OF POSSIBILITIES.