June Jordan, African-American Bisexual Poet and Teacher

Lawrence King, 10 year old who was murdered by a classmate for questioning his sexual orientation and gender identity

Gloria Anzaldua, Latina Lesbian Author and Teacher

Mark Bingham, Gay man and 9/11 hero

James Baldwin, African American Gay Author and Allen Ginsberg, Beat Poet and Counter-Cultural Icon

Lou Sullivan, Female to Male Transexual Pioneer

Brandon Teena, Female to Male Transexual who was murdered

Bessie Smith, African American Bisexual and ‘Empress of the Blues’

Audre Lorde, African American Lesbian Poet who linked the struggles of racism, sexism and homophobia and who died of cancer

Sylvia Rivera, Transgender Woman, Activist and Stonewall Participant whose work is being continued by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Billy Lee Tipton, American Musician and Bandleader who was born with female genitals and lived as a man for his entire life

Tyra Hunter, Transgender Woman who was in a car accident in Washington, D.C. She bled to death when paramedics refused to work on her when they saw that Tyra had a penis

Bayard Rustin, African American Gay Activist and Civil Right Leader, Confidante of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Brenda Howard, Bisexual Activist and Organizer for Stonewall Gatherings which became New York City Pride

Scott Lofgren who worked at Anything That Moves, a bisexual magazine and to all LGBT people who struggle with mental illness

Wanda Alston, African American Lesbian and Activist who was stabbed to death in her apartment in Washington, D.C.

Gwen Araujo and Angie Zapata, Transgender Women and all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Gender Queer and Questioning people who have been murdered for claiming their authentic sexual orientation and or gender identity and expression

Randy Shilts, Gay Writer and AIDS Activist, who wrote the definitive book on the AIDS crisis and to all LGBT people who worked to raise awareness and change policies for AIDS patients and to those who died from AIDS

To the Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning people for supporting their loved ones even though their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression was different from their own

Matthew Shepard, Gay College Student who was beaten to death for being gay.  The current federal hate crimes protection bill bears his name and has been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama

San Francisco City Council Member Harvey Milk, first openly Gay man who was elected to office in the United States and who was subsequently assassinated and to all LGBT people who have dedicated their lives to making things better for their communities and the world at large

Bobby Griffith, Gay Teen who committed suicide and all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth and adults who were driven to suicide by insensitive and unsupportive cultures

Del Martin, Lesbian Activist and Pioneer who with her partner, Phyllis Lyon, founded the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first Lesbian organizations in the United States

To all the anonymous Jane and John Does who have been damaged and been killed for their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, who have been unsupported and abandoned by their families, friends and the world

Of course, it is terrible horrifying and sobering to me to keep in mind that even as we were bringing this ritual to life, we lost another young gay man to a horrifying death in Puerto Rico.  Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, you too are in our thoughts on this day in which we honor those we have lost.

Blessings upon their memories.

Agave in the throws of Madness

We are dedicating this production to all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people who have been shunned, harassed, and sometimes killed. At times, our family members have denied our existence and our friends have cast us aside. We have sometimes been told not to be who we are. We have sometimes been denied employment, housing and medical care.

I play Agave in our production of The Bacchae. Agave is the daughter of the former King, Cadmus and the mother of Pentheus, the current King. Pentheus and Agave have denied the divinity of Dionysos. They have failed to properly honor Semele, the mother of Dionysos and sister of Agave, who died. Dionysos drives Agave mad. In her madness Agave kills her son because she thinks he is a lion. My character goes from lunacy to grief.

I am dedicating my performance to the LGBTQ Community. I dedicate it to you whose parents have not accepted you. I dedicate it to you who have lost friends because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. I dedicate it to you who have been killed and were anonymous because you lost your entire support system. I dedicate it to LGBTQ people who have given their lives to serve the community. I dedicate my performance to LGBTQ parents who have been denied access to their kids and to LGBTQ people who are not allowed to adopt because of who they are. This is for you.

I offer my body as a receptacle for those LGBTQ spirits who have been harmed or damaged. Please help me inspire and portray the truth. Please help us as we try to change hearts and minds and bring our world justice and equality.

Amethyst Moonwater

Home

I was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1951 and named Patrick Kevin Feely. While I was born with the biological sex of a male, I knew at the age of 4 that I felt more like a girl. I grew up hiding this and trying to show how tough I was. I played sports and stood up to bullies. As an adult, I was open to my lovers that I was bisexual, but I still kept my gender identity hidden. After all, I didn’t know or hadn’t heard of anyone else like me. My gender issues would come up every now and then. I said to myself that I needed to focus on progressive issues and not be so ‘selfish’ by allowing myself to do something about my gender fluidity. I realized in my 40’s that I couldn’t hold the gender tide back any longer. I began to transition in 1995. When I transitioned as a Transgender Woman, I started to feel at home. I was finally able to overcome financial obstacles, and I received my gender confirmation surgery at the age of 56 in 2007.

I was raised as a Roman Catholic. It didn’t take. I was always conscious of spirit. I have been an activist since I was 13. Spirit was why I was motivated to work for social justice and do political work. When I went to my first witchcraft ritual in my 30’s in Portland, Oregon, I felt at home. When I was transitioning, I would often dream that my form was encased in amethyst. I believe that the Goddess was providing me protection as I was moving forward. I am Pisces and have always been highly influenced by the moon and water. So when it came to choosing a magical name, I came up with Amethyst Moonwater.

It is a privilege to be a part of the Circle of Dionysos to do ritual theatre. I have tried to live a path that is genuine and authentic. I am a Transgender Woman, Bisexual, Witch, Pagan Priestess and many other things. I have offered a workshop, entitled Gender Identity and Pagan Communities: What Wigs You Out the Most? I support the right of everyone to pursue a unique and true path. Those of us in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Communities have much to offer. We offer delight, wit, compassion, and intelligence. Many of us have faced the loss of family and overcome obstacles. For instance, I have lost connection with my daughter who wishes no contact with me. Many of us in the LGBTQ Communities have courage, strength and resilience. We are as essential to the greater community as anyone. No one can afford to take us for granted. This is what we are trying to portray in the Circle of Dionysos. We are sharing our vision and our mission. It is an honor for me to be a part of such a noble quest.

- Amethyst Moonwater

For Immediate Release                                                       November 3, 2009

Media Contact: Patricia Kevena Fili, 510-872-0568, pkf@circleofdionysos.org

The Circle of Dionysos proudly presents ritual theatre performances of The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out on November 13 & 14, 2009, 8:00 p.m. at Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory at 1519 Mission Street in San Francisco. $20 donation is requested. No one turned away due to a lack of funds.

Euripides’ ‘The Bacchae’ is one of the best known Greek Tragedies. It is the story of a confrontation between Dionysos, The God of Ecstasy and the repressive and patriarchal ruling family of Thebes. We cannot help but notice that it holds important parallels to the trials members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community face today when coming out. It should be a celebratory experience. For far too many LGBT people who were raised in families and societies that told us this transformation is wrong, the process was equal parts pain and pleasure. We also cannot talk about coming out as a metaphorical death without acknowledging that too many in our community have been literally killed for trying to be who they are.

“I’m really excited by the way our production of The Bacchae manages to encapsulate both the tremendous rewards and the tremendous pain that our community has experienced coming out in a larger society that does not honor difference,” says Derik K. Cowan, Director of The Bacchae, “I hope that productions like this will help us ‘taste the sweet gift of the Gods that is freedom from those who have hurt us.’” As this rite reaches its climax, we will also honor those whose lives and deaths have affected our LGBT community.

The Circle of Dionysos is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of spiritual traditions that honor gender fluidity and sexual variance. We believe that universal diversity is purposeful, and that members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Community possess wisdom that is of vital importance to the community at large. Through public ritual performances, small study groups, and personal spiritual guidance, we seek to help both individuals and our community in discovering, developing, and expressing that wisdom.

###

Sunday brought the cast together for a marathon rehearsal day. (Thank you cast!)

We’re really getting this story told. It was powerful and moving.

At one point I was so moved that I couldn’t stop crying.

The God of Wine, Ecstasy and Theater. Comedy. Mad Women. Ritual. Murder.

How much more can you ask for in a show?!

You know you want to go! Two nights only!

The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out
November 13th & 14th, 8:00PM

At:

Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory
1519 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

Tickets available now at:

The Scarlet Sage Herb Co.
1173 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-0997

AND

The Sacred Well
536 Grand Avenue
Oakland , CA 94610
510.444.WELL(9355)

Luna, Molly, Humming Bird, Manea, Andra Jean and DK all had a fabu time and distributed half of our flyers. We were on our game! We also got to meet up with some of our amazing peeps. Damn why didn’t I get a picture of us with Sister Mary Timothy or Lady Redbush or whoever she was. We also caught up with Mr. Ernesto and fellow Mama Calizo alums The New Eccentrics and Filthy Sex Toy.

The highlight was catching up with Sister Sara Femme. She and Molly had a tearful reunion. It was like watching live action Beaches.

Some Maenads, a Sister, her lover, and a Priest go into a bar.

The boys were pretty the girls were pretty everyone in between was pretty. Pretty Pretty Pretty. Just like mama likes it.

So it wouldn’t be fair right if y’all never got to see all the Maenads. I actually got to be in a picture too. I try not to get obsessed with image, but come on. I’m pretty!

Run Run Run without thinking drawn by the scent of blood

Where will we show up next? Maenad Vampires perhaps? Andra Jean le Hunger? The Hunger

Starting to get it. Starting to get crazy. Come, O ye Bacchae, come!

We’re pleased to announce that we have a venue for our production of The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out.

We’re going to be at Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory. These are the fine folks that Andra Jean and DK were working their heels off for throughout August and into September. It’s a great venue for queer arts and perfectly in line with our mission and vision.

Get ready for the media blitz that will be publicity for The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out.

The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out

November 13-14, 2009
Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory
1519 Mission Street, San Francisco

Dionysos seduces Pentheus

What a well timed piece of news. The tagline for our production is “When the ruling family values go up against the God of Ecstasy you know someone’s going to have a bad day.”

I love the response that BYU gives “‘The Bakkhai’ itself presents difficult material, and the approach of this production could be problematic for members of our audience.”  Well Duh! That’s what good art is about, being problematic, challenging thought, and encouraging discourse. If it doesn’t then it’s no longer art. It becomes decoration.

November 13 & 14, 2009
8:00PM
Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory
1519 Mission Street, San Francisco

The Circle of Dionysos presented The Bacchae: A Ritual of Coming Out, adapted from Euripedes’ text for two nights on November 13 & 14, 2009 at Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory.  This Rite celebrated the convergence of Sovvan, Day of the Dead, National Coming Out Month, and Transgender Remembrance Day.  The following was the description we included in our press release:

The Bacchae is one of the best known Greek Tragedies, the story of confrontation between Dionysos, The God of Ecstasy and the repressive and patriarchal ruling family of Thebes.  We cannot help but notice that it holds important parallels to the trials members of the LGBT community face today when coming out.  Coming Out is the process of reconciling inner truths and ripping apart a public persona.  It is as an initiation into mystery rites, the beginning of a shamanic journey. It should be a joyous, celebratory experience, but for too many of us who were raised in families and societies that told us this transformation is wrong, the process was equal parts pain and pleasure.  Thus we see ourselves in Pentheus, a man who was raised to be King and defender of the status quo who suddenly finds himself facing a force that is stronger than he.  We also cannot talk about coming out as a metaphorical death without acknowledging that too many in our community have been literally killed for trying to be who they are.  As this rite reaches its climax we will also honor those whose lives and deaths have affected our community.

Dionysos seduces Pentheus

Pentheus dominates Dionysos, or does he?