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Editor:
I read with interest every month your paper. I am impressed with its coverage and depth in covering the diversity of the Vermont queer community. As a "flat lander" who loves Vermont and hopes to maybe someday make my home there, I am happy to see a paper with such dedication.
In your April issue there was a column by Mack Roark [p. 9] discussing the issue of inclusivity within the queer community. I applaud the discussion of inclusion and the dialog that it creates. I was intrigued though by laundry list of what I was supposing were the "fringe groups" outside of the gay mainstream. Included in this list was a reference to a group which I am heavily involved in: the radical faeries. Being a former board member of "those folks down in Grafton," I can happy report some of the things that we do.
Only days ago we held our Annual Meeting in Dummerston, VT, shaping the agenda for our year's goals and activities. Our summer gatherings were mapped out, our goals for creating sanctuary were discussed and we worked extensively to understand each other. Having been a part of this community for close to twelve years I can say proudly there is something fringe about it, its radical quality is in the attempt to become inclusive, respectful and inspired by the diversity of queer community.
That we have "rituals" to expand and develop our understanding of the richness of difference is the core of what I think is radical about the faeries. That we claim so many aspects of our chosen community be it leather, drag, transgender, or pagan, deflects in some ways from the simplicity of the process we are involved in: attempting to regroup as a culture around values that empower us individually to shape our immediate lives.
I have always marveled at the fear of some folks about what radical faeries do. I see faeries as a family, as friends we have just changed the locale from bar, community center, extended friends to coming together at gatherings. We have discussions, we eat together, we take in the nature around us, we create friendships and relationships, in short we act much like other folks. Maybe we're in drag or leather but some of us are not. We are a mish-a-mash like any other community. Some of us are spiritual, some of us could care less. We eat vegetarian meals while gathering, while a majority of us eat meat during the rest of lives. We are a community that for the most part lives with its paradoxes. That is what is rich about our community.
I was proud to be a part of making faerie culture a reality in Vermont when I worked on buying the property in Grafton three years ago. I have been impressed with the openness and respect we have received from our fellow Vermonters.
I hope this letter sheds some light on "what those folks do down there." Keep up the good work.
Bambi Gauthier
