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by Jerry Buie
On December 8, 2007, 30 gay men participated in a four-hour workshop facilitated by Mark Thompson. They sat in circle and explored with Mr. Thompson various paradigms as it related to Gay Soul Making.
One of the goals and ambitions of Queer Spirit is to create a dialogue around spirituality and identity for queer men. I think it’s important to understand how spirituality is defined. In the context of Queer Spirit, spirituality is the essence of who we are and how that essence relates to the broader scope of humanity, and in our world relationship with each other. Queer Spirit is about understanding who and what we are and moving beyond old and stagnant stories of identity and stepping into a new, stimulating and stunning paradigm that taps into potential, liberation and jubilant living. It's also about creating a paradigm that not only works for us as individuals but also influences our sense of community and camaraderie as Queer men.
At the workshop Mark spent a considerable amount of time reviewing history and, in particular, Queer History. He focused on two concepts: Enspiritment versus Assimilation. Assimilation is the perspective that we are just like straight people except for what we do in bed. Assimilation is about attempting to blend and become what the expectations are of the broader society. Enspiritment, on the other hand, is about stepping into our own perceptions and reality and defining our own concept of who we are. Mark also talked about the differences between assimilation verses integration. One point discussed is that the oppressors usually set the rules of assimilation. The oppressors define the rules and often we blindly accept the rules as truth. The question was asked: How do we as a community and culture respond to our so-called oppressors?
Healthy Gay Psychology
What is Healthy Gay Psychology or Psyche and what exactly does this mean and how is it defined? Is it defined through sexuality, spirituality or identity? As gay men how do we come to an authentic concept or identity of who we are?
Mark Thompson reflected on Harry Hay's concept about being a separate people (or third gender) whose time has come, looking through our unique gay window. We examined the concept of Gay or Homosexuality and how we’ve been programmed to look at the world in one particular way. Harry suggests that through our unique Gay Window we can re-form our sense of relationship with each other and humanity. What if we took our domesticated view of being gay and turn it around, looking at it from a radically new and unique perspective?
In the seminar we spent time looking at archetypical energies, which are broadly shared characteristics of a particular Group or People. Some those archetypes that were explored included “lovers of the same”— Gay Men that are attracted to each other in our similarities, bringing up the archetype of the twin or the double. We also explored the Peter Pan Archetype (the Lost Boys who never grow up); the Wounded Healer archetype; the Trickster archetype and the Orphan. We chatted about internalized homophobia and how our gay shadows often infiltrate our sense of identity, and often we are unconsciously damaging ourselves in our willingness to live unexamined lives. Frequently gay men view GAY as a compartment, where they are as opposed to an integrated sense of how they look and view the world— the Gay Window.
We spent time exploring the Myth of the Homosexual, that the word Gay is really a 20th century construct. Prior to this time Gay or Homosexuality was not even a label or a sense of identity; it was a fully integrated sense of who an individual was.
The discussion ended as we touched upon the concept of Eros or the Phallus, looking at stories we have created around our sexuality and some of the stories that we have attached to our sexual behavior, mores, and identities. Several observations were made about how our attractions and our interactions with each other have been pathologically constructed through shame and how this impacts our sense of identity in relationship with each other, in our community and in the broader scope of humanity.
Part of turning this concept of Eros over and looking at it differently was to look at the healing and powerful aspects of our sexualities and attractions in relationships with each other.
Winding Down and Spinning Out
It was evident throughout this discussion and process with each other that 30 men were engaged in a four-hour process of exploring who they are as Queer Men. There was an eagerness and willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue and discussion, which opened our perspectives and wonderment in relationship to our selves and each other as Queer Brothers.
The Group spent time reflecting on how to continue this dialogue and this topic came up as a promise of people genuinely and authentically being moved in a very deep way to examine personal stories, examine shadows and come into a place of power and empowerment in those identities. Consequently, this allowed for a broader discussion about what Queer Spirit brings into the community.
We encourage people’s participation in this process in many ways:
1. Yahoo discussion site
2. Queer Spirit Retreats in January, April, and September through Queer Spirit
3. Monthly gatherings and workshops that promote a broader understanding of who we are as Gay Men. This includes but is not limited to Queer Spirit, Body Electric, Faerie Gatherings, Community processes and discussion groups. Perhaps there are other resources?
As we all held hands at the end of the gathering, we looked into each other’s eyes and recognized the valuable gifts and relationships that we were able to forge in this process. We each touched on some special aspect that was brought to the circle by our presence. It was a truly amazing event and it is with gratitude that we thank Mark Thompson for coming to Salt Lake City and participating in these discussions, offering these insights and sharing his exhibit. It is with great hope and anticipation that Queer Men in the community of Salt Lake City, will willingly and eagerly engage in this process that we are creating through Queer Spirit.