Queer Ancestor Spotlight - Homomonument
The Homomonument is the first monument in the world to commemorate those in the LGBTQ+ community who were killed by the Nazis, and has since become a symbol for everyone who has been persecuted because of their sexual orientation.
Personal: Magical Thinking Won’t Stop Fascism
I’m writing this blog post after driving to work listening to a podcast that just made me more and more frustrated. I’m not going to say which podcast it was because I’ve spent my entire adult life on the internet and the current social media culture doesn’t exactly allow for nuanced critique. The episode was about taking care of yourself in this larger socio-political global moment and navigating the feelings of shame, guilt, obligation that come up when feeling like you need to prioritize your own safety and sanity. This is something that deeply resonates with me right now and I was hoping for a few “A-ha!” moments, and instead I got a greatest hits of what I can only call privileged magical thinking.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Perry Watkins
Perry Watkins was an out gay Black man and American military officer. He was unapologetic about who he was for his entire life and continually stared down the systems that sought to oppress LGBTQ+ people in the military. Following a nearly twenty year military career his sexuality was finally turned against him and he decided to fight it in the courts. He would go on to win the first appellate court case against the US military’s ban on lesbian and gay service members.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: David Spada
How many of you are familiar with “Freedom Rings”? They are a set of six aluminum rings, each one a different color of the rainbow, and could be worn as rings, earrings, or necklaces. They were by New York artist David Spada in the early 1990’s and became a recognizable symbol of LGBTQ+ pride in the late 20th century.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Paul Cadmus
Paul Cadmus was born in Manhattan, NY on December 17, 1904. He would would go on to become a widely known American artist known for his gritty egg tempera paintings. He was inspired by social interactions he observed in his urban life. He included elements of eroticism and social commentary in a style often referred to as “magical realism,” and his career was launched when the Navy attempted to censor one of his paintings due to its “gay gaze.”
Ritual: Queer Ancestor Dance Party 2022
To kick off Pride Month 2022 I decided to revisit the Queer Ancestor Dance Party ritual I posted last year. This ritual was inspired by an impromptu ecstatic ritual I found myself in last year, involving my old Queer Ancestor Shrine and some good dancing music. I spent some time designing a formal dance party ritual with appropriate boundaries and safeguards, and shared it with the internet in 2021.
I’ve continued adding to the playlist and have decided to provide an updated link!
Book Review: Queer Qabala
When Enfys Book reached out and asked if I would be willing to write a review for their upcoming book, Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick, I jumped at the opportunity! While Qabala is not something I’m terribly familiar with or incorporate into my personal practice I am always excited to see how the LGBTQ+ community is “queering” traditional practices.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: The Order of St. Aelred
St. Aelred of Rievaulx was an English Cistercian monk born in Northumbria in 1110. He was a historian and spiritual writer. During his life he penned biographies such as Life of Saint Edward, King and Confessor and his most famous book on spirituality De spiritali amicitia (“On Spiritual Friendship.”) There has been much speculation on St. Alelred’s sexuality, with very little evidence to verify any final answer, but this lack of proof has not stopped him from influencing a number of gay-friendly organizations including the Order of St. Aelred.
This Queer Ancestor Spotlight is a bit of a loophole. I’m using a deceased person - a saint, no less! - for who an organization is named after to discuss a really amazing and still living figure.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: The Tavern Guild
The Tavern Guild was an association of gay bar owners and liquor distributers that formed in San Francisco in 1962 and lasted until 1995. It was the first gay business association in the United States and developed in response to police raids on gay establishments.
Book Review: Blackfeather Mystery School: The Magpie Training
The first White Rose Witching book review! I’m very excited to share my thoughts on Blackfeather Mystery School: The Magpie Training by Irene Glasse and Caine Dreamwalker.