Dear Benjamin,

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate them.
Letme say fristlyand categorically (AND I MIGHT HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB SAYING THIS IN MY FIRST POST), that I apreciate both Scooter and Shadowweavers efforts, as well as all of the efforts of others who were involvedf in setting up Faerie Village. You are also right that I was not there to help, and that,if I had been, I mght have put my two cents in on the spot, when it mattered, and not after the fact, on Tribe. Decisions are, after all, made by those who show up.

Nowhere in any of my posts, howver, did I single anyone out by name, or try to disparage an individualo for their efforts. None of the my comments or criticism detract from my respect and gratitude towards those who volunteered their time (especially since i do not know most of them, and have no reason to assume their intentions to be anything other then wonderful) I do question wiether those intentions were achieved, and wether the methodology used was the most effective, the most clear, and the most inclusive it couldhave been.I conclude that it was not.

As far as my statements being contradictory, your probably right about that too; I do not wish to be defined by labels, and yet i find myself ensnared in them every day, with every stepi take and every decision i am faced with. i do not think it is contradictory to acknowledge simultaneously that labels exist, and that we should aim to broaden their definitions as much as possible, in the hope that we may one day completely transcend those labels,untill all of them cease to exist.

I am afraid that untill we reach that utopian day, my statements on labels will continue to be inherently contradictory.
In spite of that, I think it is both impoortant and usefull that we have this discussion, because if we do not, we will not ever transcend the labels weare discussing and defining in this threat.

Further, I do not really have set ideas about what faeries should be. If I suggested that, I need to be clearer. My whole point is, that I believe there is no "should" or "should not", when it comes to faeries ness.

I do take to heart your suggestion that I be more heart centered. It is part of my Aquarian nature to get all tizzied about social constructs and things I view as abstract, poltical,or philosophical. In that intellectual pursuit, I forget to acknowledge the very human efforts and emotions that underlie those constructs. It is a lesson I am learning, and you are right to make me aware.

Peace,
Troy Leaf

David, instead of attacking the motives of those who did not like the sign how about addressing the issue? The person who began the thread was there and was offended. I really get the feeling that attacking our motives is a way of avoiding discussions of ideas.
Trying to have "exclusive space" at an event that celebrates diversity is just asking for responses like the ones posted here. I think the shamefull sign itself is one reaso why Nomenus was placed in the hall of shame other queer organizations. The trend in the community and thankfully the world at large is moving away from exclusion and exclusive space.

blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

"I really didn't go for most of the performers (I'm not much into singer/songwriters)."

Maybe we shouldn't allow singer/songwriters to perform at the Village. Their presence is too divisive and people who are not into them might feel excluded, god forbid.

"Critique without action is complicit with tyranny."

I want to thank Scooter, Shadow Weaver, et al, for their fabulous annual gift to the Faerie community. It's a huge labor of love and a phenomenal amount of work to make FFV happen each year. I'm sure I have no idea how much time and effort it takes to deal with the logistics, the city departments, the Pride committee, the cops, etc., not to mention the mass of people, some quite insane, who flood the Village each year, plus moving all that heavy stuff around, not just to set it up, but to tear it down with little or no help from the people who took pleasure in it. I am amazed and grateful.

Faerie Freedom Village is a work in progress, a big experiment that just keeps getting better and more successful. So there may be an occasional glitch, but some people take these things much too seriously. For the creators of FFV to have to deal with the bitching and moaning of self-righteous idealists who haven't lifted a finger and would rather sit at their computers criticizing and demanding, instead of getting off their airy-faerie, utopian asses and pitching in is the truly shameful thing here. If you don't like what they're doing, don't go. The reason so much time gets wasted in the Faeries is there's WAAAY too much talk and pathetically little action.

And as to why we have fences, I can give you four very good reasons: marijuana, sex, cops, duh. I love the fences, because they shelter us from the hordes of ordinary people with whom I do not wish to deal. FFV is the only reason I go anywhere on Pride day, and it's the only place I go. Thanks again, guys!