Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies
Encyclopedia
The Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies
Hay and others switched to the alternate spelling of faeries after 1979 (Hay/Roscoe, p. 240). was organized as a "call to gay brothers" by early gay rights advocates Harry Hay
, John Burnside
, Don Kilhefner, and Mitch Walker
. The 1979 conference was held over three days, coinciding with Labor Day
weekend: 31 August–2 September. Over 200 participants gathered at the Sri Ram Ashram
near Benson, Arizona
to explore ideas for merging spirituality into gay liberation
.
, Arthur Evans
, Jungian psychology and Hay's studies of Native American spirituality, on subjects including "Gay Consciousness" and the evolving nature of gay sub-culture. By 1978, this led further to talks about a retreat focused on this subject. In the fall of 1978 Hay, Kilhefner, and Walker led a workshop at the Gay Academic Union at UCLA. This workshop broke from the conference's academic tone and instead led to a group discussion similar to what is now known as a "heart circle". Throughout the summer of 1979, they developed out and distributed what Hay termed a "Call", a flier to invite gay men to the retreat. The conference was held over the Labor Day
weekend and attracted over two hundred participants. The success of the retreat inspired organizers and participants to establish the Radical Faeries
.
Radical Faeries
The Radical Faeries are a loosely-affiliated, worldwide network and counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. The Radical Faerie movement started in the United States among gay men during the 1970s sexual and counterculture...
Hay and others switched to the alternate spelling of faeries after 1979 (Hay/Roscoe, p. 240). was organized as a "call to gay brothers" by early gay rights advocates Harry Hay
Harry Hay
Henry "Harry" Hay, Jr. was a labor advocate, teacher and early leader in the American LGBT rights movement. He is known for his roles in helping to found several gay organizations, including the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights group in the United States.Hay was exposed early in...
, John Burnside
John Burnside (inventor)
John Lyon Burnside III was the inventor of the teleidoscope, the darkfield kaleidoscope and the Symmetricon, and, because he rediscovered the math behind kaleidoscope optics, for decades, every maker of optically correct kaleidoscopes sold in the US paid him royalties...
, Don Kilhefner, and Mitch Walker
Mitch Walker
Mitchell Lynn Walker is an American gay activist and Jungian psychologist who has written many influential articles and books on gay-centered psychology.-Biography:Mitch Walker, Ph.D...
. The 1979 conference was held over three days, coinciding with Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend: 31 August–2 September. Over 200 participants gathered at the Sri Ram Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
near Benson, Arizona
Benson, Arizona
-Transportation:Benson Airport is located 3 miles north west of the city.Benson is served by Interstate 10 to the north, which travels directly to downtown Tucson....
to explore ideas for merging spirituality into gay liberation
Gay Liberation
Gay liberation is the name used to describe the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s in North America, Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand...
.
History
The organizing group formed out of discussions between their members spanning 1973-1978. These discussions mixed the works of Edward CarpenterEdward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
, Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans (author)
Arthur Scott Evans was an early gay rights advocate and author, most well known for his 1978 book Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture.-Early life:...
, Jungian psychology and Hay's studies of Native American spirituality, on subjects including "Gay Consciousness" and the evolving nature of gay sub-culture. By 1978, this led further to talks about a retreat focused on this subject. In the fall of 1978 Hay, Kilhefner, and Walker led a workshop at the Gay Academic Union at UCLA. This workshop broke from the conference's academic tone and instead led to a group discussion similar to what is now known as a "heart circle". Throughout the summer of 1979, they developed out and distributed what Hay termed a "Call", a flier to invite gay men to the retreat. The conference was held over the Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend and attracted over two hundred participants. The success of the retreat inspired organizers and participants to establish the Radical Faeries
Radical Faeries
The Radical Faeries are a loosely-affiliated, worldwide network and counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. The Radical Faerie movement started in the United States among gay men during the 1970s sexual and counterculture...
.
Sources
- Hay, Harry, with Will Roscoe (ed.) (1996). Radically Gay: Gay Liberation in the Words of its Founder. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN 0807070807.
- Shively, Charley. "Harry Hay". Collected in Bronski, Michael (consulting editor) (1997). Outstanding Lives: Profiles of Lesbians and Gay Men. New York, Visible Ink Press. ISBN 1578590086.
- Timmons, Stuart (1990). The Trouble With Harry Hay. Boston, Alyson Publications. ISBN 1555831753.