We had a wonderful panel discussion on gay/queer paganism this year at PantheaCon. The description of the event is below.
Click on the link to listen to the talk Walking It Out: Gay Paganism’s Second Wave
(Please note that the recorder died for about 3 minutes in the middle of the presentation.)
L to R: DK Cowan (Circle of Dionysos), P Sufenas Virius Lupus (Ekklesia Antinuou), Hayden Reynolds (Circle of Dionysos), Storm Faerywolf (Brotherhood of the Satyr), Hyperion (The Unnamed Path). Photo Credit. Jamie B.
The Unnamed Path, The Amethyst Pentacle, Ekklesia Antinuou, The Circle of Dionysos: in the past several years a flurry of pagan groups and practices specifically geared to the LBGT community have emerged and caught the attention of the larger pagan community. Why is this happening? What are the similarities and differences between the various paths? What value does this work have for not only GLBTQ pagans, but also for the larger pagan community? Join Hyperion, Storm Faerywolf, DK Cowan, and P. Sufenas Virius Lupus for a round table discussion of these and other topics related to second wave gay paganism.
I do hope a future panel on the subject will have more diverse representation? All white males, most (all?) cismale, most of whom are gay, are not exactly representative of the scope of queer spirituality.
Hi Lysana,
You are correct. However, I do hope that you listened to the recording before making your criticism. This very topic is addressed in the recording.
We based our choices off of the groups that were specifically putting forward queer programming at PantheaCon. Which at this point are groups led by white men, though not all of which identify as men or as gay.
I think of myself as a gay male and as transgendered. As always it is important to watch our assumptions in labeling other’s identities. I know for certain P. Sufenas Virius does not label himself as a gay male, which you would know if you listened to the recording.
I would definitely appreciate your criticism more if it was based on the content, not on the perceived gender and sexuality of the panelists. However we do take note of the general criticism, and have addressed it in the panel.
That is one of the reasons that we specifically used the word “Gay” in the title of the panel. Never have we claimed to represent the scope of queer spirituality. Another assumption on your part.
I encourage you to take your critique and create a panel of your own. I would gladly attend such a panel and look forward to hearing about it.
Warmest regards,
Hayden
Hi,
Congratulations for putting on the panel and I look forward to listening to the discussion when I’m not running out the door
I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve been thinking about lately regarding my gender and sexuality and Paganism.
Hope these prove interesting.
http://femmeguy.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/the-spirit-of-solstice-is-still-living-here-part-i/
http://femmeguy.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/the-spirit-of-solstice-is-still-living-here-part-ii-when-the-sacred-masculine-isnt/
i think this is wonderful!
Thanks Jef!