Score a victory for moderates

[moriah]

99. It depends on who you're talking about, and what you mean.

For example, the "Radical Faeries" I mentioned got their name and origins back in the '70s as primarily a gay male spiritual movement. Being gay itself was "radical" then, being Pagan was certainly "radical", and they in particular rejected binary gender concepts -- extremely "radical" even for Pagans. You had female spirituality going on, and embracing of female power which was great, and you had the Gardenerian-influenced heteronormative books, but that didn't help gay men or people who were not gender-conforming.

Yet the movement itself has grown beyond those roots. They still have some sanctuaries that are "queer safe space" that is meant specifically for gay men to have their own sacred space. Others are still "queer safe space", but welcome everyone who is fine with respecting that the Sanctuary *is* exactly that -- sacred, safe space, and if you can't deal you can either leave willingly or be escorted unwillingly off of their space. They also have very good relationships with sanctuaries embracing lesbian spirituality, and essentially have united a group that had been extremely divided over really silly patriarchal BS we never should have had to deal with. Including embracing those of us who are "differently queer". Wow, radical! Then. Not now.

They're one of the few movements left that still supports the "radical" idea of "intentional community" -- and the most successful Sanctuary is a full-time IC that is preserving land where plants exist nowhere else naturally -- certain mountains in Tennessee were islands in the past, and when they chose the location for its natural beauty they recognized the unique ecology. They have raised money from their business endeavors and gatherings to purchase and caretake as much of the surrounding area, and are now tax-exempt not just as an IC but as a nature preserve as well.

Yet drama isn't what you find (well, all communities have drama, but that's part of living with other people at all vs being a hermit) in successful intentional communities. You find people who share a vision of the world they want to live, and are accomplishing it together for at least their group. In many ways, pure "communism" only really works for a group about the size of an IC, and they are self-regulating in that -- when they get too big they split because they realize things aren't working.

Now, I won't deny that the RadFaes enjoy getting to be their true selves during Gathering -- there are some pretty flamboyant activities at times. But that's them being themselves in their own space. If that causes "drama", it's not *their* problem.

And many RadFaes are also members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence -- which lovingly embraces the label "radical" and their momentary rumored inclusion on the Catholic Church's "official list of heretics" because that's their way to get attention for AIDS fundraising and meth reduction programs. When you cosplay nuns in whiteface to highlight your makeup and a beard for charity (and truthfully they DO consider themselves a "sisterhood" and a service organization and demand a great deal of dedication) I guess "drama-seeking" does apply.

But it works!