Blue-Feather-msg - 2/15/00 An explanation and FAQ for the SCA guild for gay/lesbian/bisexual folks. Comments on Clan Blue Feather. NOTE: See also the files: SCA-gays-msg, SCA-religion-msg, recruitment-msg, households-msg, new-groups-msg, SCA-as-family-msg, magic-moments-msg. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ From: gunnora at bga.com (Gunnora Hallakarva) To: ansteorra at eden.com Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 21:40:22 -0600 Subject: Attentian Gay/Lesbian/Bi Ansteorrans Heilsa, All. As the Ansteorran contact for the group, I wanted to once again let anyone who is interested know about the S.C.A. wide alliance of gay/lesbian/bisexual folks, plus those who are their friends, supporters, and divas, known as the Blue Feather Guild or simply as "Blue Feather." The group has an e-mail list, and some areas publish Blue Feather newsletters as well. Below, I provide information about the group, its background, goals, beliefs etc. As well, if anyone has any questions regarding Blue Feather, or about gay/lesbian/bi issues in Ansteorra, please feel free to contact me directly at or at any event you find me attending. I would like to hear from those who may be interested: Is there any need for a more formal structure for Blue Feather in this kingdom, such as a household or guild? Is there any interest in having social activities at certain Ansteorran events, in the tradition of the annual Blue Feather Ball at Pennsic? The primary reason for the establishment of Blue Feather, and for its continued existence is education: to encourage and facilitate research on homosexuality in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and to teach other members of the Society about homosexuality in the Current Middle Ages. We also exist as a social organization, to facilitate interaction among the members of the Society, especially those who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Large social gatherings of Blue Feather members occur at Pennsic and Estrella, and at other large events as well. About the name: the Blue Feather as a symbol and referent for the gay/lesbian/bisexual members of the Society is based on the custom of the female Italian troubadours, who wore a blue feather in their hair to indicate that their desires were for the gentler sex. Our badge ("Argent, a feather azure") was registered by Lord Laurel in December 1990 to Moses von dem Falken for House Blue Feather. One of my primary goals is to make sure that people know we're out there. I spent my first seven years in the SCA trying to pretend to all my friends that I was straight, because the SCA was such an important part of my life and I was afraid to be out because at that time there just were no visible queers in sight in Ansteorra. I had a couple of folks I wondered about (one or two I really suspected that I knew about, as they had TWIT bumper stickers, from the Texas Weekly Gay Social Guide, "This Week In Texas" but these were men and I didn't know them very well at all). The situation has very much changed here in Ansteorra. It has been joked that it seems like our whole Laurel's Circle is gay (we do have several openly gay and lesbian Laurels), plus other well-known and respected gay and lesbian peers and nobles, so there is a good group of gay and lesbian role models in our kingdom now. But if there's anyone lurking out in the backwaters, especially in the more distant shires where they may not often receive visits from or travel much to where they can see one of the openly gay but highly respected members of the Kingdom. then I want to make sure that I reach those people too. After I hear back from the readers of the Ansteorra list, then I plan on going and talking to the Crown about Blue Feather, and I'll finish up with an announcement in our Kingdom newsletter, The Black Star. I'm hoping to get a listing for Blue Feather on our Kingdom web page as well. Please contact me if you have comments or questions! Wassail and God Jul, ::GUNNORA:: =============================================== Background and Basic Information about the Blue Feather Guild ABOUT BLUE FEATHER ================================================= The primary reason for the establishment of Blue Feather, and for its continued existence is education: to encourage and facilitate research on homosexuality in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and to teach other members of the Society about homosexuality in the Current Middle Ages. We also exist as a social organization, to facilitate interaction among the members of the Society, especially those who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. About the name: the Blue Feather as a symbol and referent for the gay/lesbian/bisexual members of the Society is based on the custom of the female Italian troubadours, who wore a blue feather in their hair to indicate that their desires were for the gentler sex. Our badge ("Argent, a feather azure") was registered by Lord Laurel in December 1990 to Moses von dem Falken for House Blue Feather. About the organization: There isn't any, really. - There are two newsletters that serve as information sources and maintain a contact list, but there is not a "Head of Clan Blue Feather" and group activities are organized either by consensus or by an interested person. The group began when an advertisement appeared in the June XXUI issue of Pikestaff, the newsletter of the Eastrealm, calling for interested people to contact Seosamh O Choda. Seosamh began publishing "... But Its Period!" in July, and the name was chosen at Pennsic XXV. Since then, there have been several meetings at Pennsic, a number of Blue Feather events, and a second newsletter has begun, The Blue Feather, published by Tristan Alexander. Kingdom Contacts: =========================== CAID: Master Giles Hill of Sweetwater (gileshill at aol.com) ANSTEORRA: Mistress Gunnora Hallakarva (gunnora at bga.com) ATENVELDT: Master Dagan Fenwick (not yet on-line) THE WEST: Mistress Tangwystyl verch Morgan Glasfryn (hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu) THE EAST: Lord Joshua the Imperfekt (bluefairy at aol.com) <><><> A QUESTION OF BLUE FEATHERS... ==================================== (Q) Who can wear the registered badge and/or blue feathers as a token of the group? (A) Anyone who wishes to do so. We encourage our supporters, gay and straight, to display our symbol and badge. We only ask that you wear it with honour and courtesy. ................................. (Q) What is the difference between light and dark blue feathers? (A) As a general rule, dark blue feathers are worn by homosexuals and bisexuals, while light blue feathers are worn by our supporters... ................................. (Q) If I'm straight, can I belong to Blue Feather, camp with the group, go to meetings and so on, or can I only be a 'friend'? Do I have to be asked to join? (A) Anyone can participate, so long as they commit to display honour, chivalry, and courtesy to all, no matter what their sexual orientation. Several of the 'Founding Members" are straight. ................................. (Q) I always wear blue feathers as part of my garb, and I don't want anything to do with Blue Feather. What should I do? (A) If anyone asks you about the blue feathers, simply state that they're part of your garb and are not meant to show any special affiliation. If you're really worried, you might tattoo a disclaimer on your forehead. Something like "This blue feather is not an official publication of Clan Blue Feather, and does not delineate official..." ................................. (Q) Why bother with all this, when gay people were just burned at the stake? (A) Sometimes, someplaces, yes, they were. Each culture has its own attitudes concerning homosexuality. In many societies ... bisexuality was considered the norm. Try finding out what your personna's attitudes would have been. (and remember, your attitudes were probably formed in twentieth century North America, one of this world's more homophobic cultures... ................................. (Q) What if someone makes a pass at me because I'm wearing a blue feather? (A) No one should assume anything because a somebody is or is not wearing a blue feather. If you want to know why a person is wearing one, ask them politely. Most gay people go through the same approach and courtship rituals that straight people do. (In fact, in many cases, a gay person will be more tactful and circumspect than a straight person would ... a homosexual proposition still carries five to ten in some states, not to mention the risk to life and limb if the proposed-to takes offense.) If vou don't respond to the initial overtures, they'll probably assume that you aren't interested. If worse comes to worst, try, "I'm flattered by your attentions, but my interests lie elsewhere." End of problem. ................................. condensed from an article by Sine ne Moriag that originally appeared in the April XXV issue of AEstel, the newsletter of the Principality of AEthelmearc. <><><> CHARTER FOR THE BLUE FEATHER IN CAID ==================================== To All Who Shall Read or Hear these Present Words do We, Timothy and Trista, King and Queen of Caid, send due Greetings and Salutations. Inasmuch as Blue Feather is the gay/lesbian/bisexual study group within this Our Society, and Insofar as We are well-pleased by the efforts and endeavours of the members of Blue Feather within this Our Realm, and Being minded to encourage research, education, and among Our subjects, and Whereas We are desirous of recognizing the contributions, past and future, made by the members of Blue Feather, Now therefore are We, Timothy and Trista, King and Queen of Caid, pleased to Create, Charter and Recognize Blue Feather an official group within this Our Realm and Domain, with all the prerogatives, privileges, and responsibilities thereto appertaining Timothy, Rex Caidis Trista, Regina Caidis In witness whereof We have upon All Hallows Eve, the 31st day of October, XXVII as, (being 1992 in the common reckoning) set Our hand hereto, and caused the Great Seal of Caid to be affixed. ============================================================ Wassail and God Jul, Gunnora Hallakarva Herskerinde From: thomas.brady at reichhold.com (Tom Brady) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: SCA dating m4m or fm --Trimaris Date: Wed, 08 Jan 97 13:47:37 GMT Organization: Reichhold Chemicals Stefan li Rous was overheard to say on this bridge: >There is a FAQ file of sorts in the SCA-INC section of my SCA Rialto Files: >Blue-Feather-msg (14K) 12/16/96 An explanation and FAQ for the SCA guild > for gay/lesbian/bisexual folks. > >Some folks might also interested in this file in the SCA SOCIOLOGY section: >SCA-gays-msg (14K) 9/16/96 Acceptance of Gays and Lesbians in the SCA. > >These files are available at: >http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/rialto/rialto.html [now: http://www.florilegium.org ] You can also visit the Clan Blue Feather web page at http://www.locksley.com/locksley/hh/bluef.htm (By the way, Stefan - in case no one has told you recently, thanks for your efforts in maintaining the Rialto archive. It's certainly an invaluable resource on the web.) -Duncan Barony of Black Diamond home page: http://bdiamond.technomancer.com Triangle Ascension Mage page: http://www.serve.com/napier/mage/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Brady tabrady at mindspring.com SCA: Duncan MacKinnon of Tobermory See my web pages for links to the Society for Creative Anachronism and gay and lesbian info: http://www.technomancer.com/~duncan/ Subject: ANST - Clan Bluefeather Date: Thu, 22 Jan 98 15:04:25 MST From: njones at ix.netcom.com To: "ansteorra at Ansteorra.ORG" Greetings Friends, Clan Bluefeather (also known as Blue Feather and the Blue Feather Guild) is an informal interkingdom group for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and friends. The primary reason for the establishment of Blue Feather, and for its continued existence is education: to encourage and facilitate research on homosexuality in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and to teach other members of the Society about homosexuality in the Current Middle Ages. We also exist as a social organization, to facilitate interaction among the members of the Society, especially those who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. ---from the Blue Feather FAQ I have a web page that provides information about Clan Bluefeather, including links to other relevant pages, the Clan Bluefeather FAQ, information on subscribing to the computer mailing list, information on subscribing to the print newsletter "The Blue Feather" and other stuff that might be of interest. http://pw2.netcom.com/~njones/index/sca/bluefthr.html Lord Giovanni di Cellini, Northkeep. Edited by Mark S. Harris Blue-Feather-msg Page 6 of 6