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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2002)
apnl 5*2002 CULTURE %& mm m m ffî m m m m ...................... ▼ ....................... n the evening of March 15, in a large classroom on the second floor of Portland State University’s Great Hall, a group of about 30 gay men gathered together to do something people from all over the world and from many different religions have been doing for hundreds of years. Chairs were stacked to one side, a strand of Christmas lights wound its way around the perimeter, and a huge, circular piece of fabric was laid out in the center of the room, envelop ing most of the floor space. A single, white path wove itself through the pattern of the flexir cov ering, looping hack and forth on itself through the dark color surrounding it— like a maze with no dead ends— eventually ending at the round patch of solid white at the center. A brief intuxluction by the events facilitators invited each member of the group to begin the path when ready and asked that all respect the mood of silence and contem plation. The overhead lights were dimmed, and the sooth ing, relaxing sounds of Sikh- derived New Age music waft ed through the air. One by one, the men began to traverse the path silently, each in his own time and at his own pace, stopping for varied periods upon reach ing the center. Then each made his way hack along the path to the place he began. A maze of emotions a psychotherapist who identifies spiritually as Pagan-Wiccan— began to brainstorm ways for gay men specifically to explore their spirituality. “Mostly, I’ve done things mixed— gay, straight, men, women— and I think I’ve learned from the women’s community what can happen when women come together,” Stutesman says. “Women have told me the power they’ve experi enced from that, and gay men have been afraid to do that for some reason.” Gay Men’s Labyrinth. Walk offers an exploration of spirituality by C h ristoph er M c Q uain experienced it metaphorically, as an allegorical clarifier of the paths of their lives. The labyrinth used at Portland’s gay men’s walks is based on a 13th century mcxlel from a French cathedral, hut the labyrinth is more a state of mind than a physical entity. There have existed labyrinths so vast and t’s called a “Labyrinth Walk,” a meditative/ contemplative act that has After the walk, men share their experiences been used as a spiritual prac tice throughout the centuries complex that they only can be seen in their by people of multifarious beliefs. According to entirety from the air, but one also can simply be co-facilitator Dale Rhuxies of the Interfaith drawn in the sand. It needn’t even be walked, Spiritual Center, it’s perfect for gay men inter necessarily— Portland artist Collin Fellows carved ested in connecting spiritually outside of their a miniature topographical wcxxlen labyrinth for own religion or outside of religion altogether. the gay men’s group so that anyone who might he “I think that it’s great for gay men to come physically unable to walk the labyrinth could together for spiritual practice,” he says. “They experience it by manually tracing the path. can remain in their own traditions with their own practices hut still come together. It’s such *he event is the fruition of a panel on les an accessible practice.” bian and gay spirituality that took place The labyrinth itself can he interpreted and several years ago as a supplement to the practiced in almost any way the walker desires. annual National Coming Out Day service at After the men completed the walk, they First Congregational Church. After that meet formed a “wisdom circle” wherein each partici ing, RhixJes— along with Jon Murray of Com pant was invited to share his thoughts on the passionate Heart Sangha; Dan Stutesman, experience. Although facilitators stressed there director of American Friends Service Commit is no right or wrong interpretation of the tee s Gay and Lesbian Program; and Dan Mills, labyrinth, most who spoke seemed to have Dale Rhodes (left) and Dan Stutesman help lead participants on the Gay M en’s Labyrinth Walk He suggests there’s an internal pressure to be inclusive, as gay men tell themselves and each other, “We should include other people; we don’t want to discriminate.” Stutesman adds: “I’ve been to gay and lesbian religious meetings that were mixed, and then the men and women have separated for different rit uals...but in trying to remember how much I’ve ever been to that’s men only...it’s rare.” Murray, a practicing Buddhist, notes that the concept of the labyrinth fits well with the Buddhist tradition of walking meditation. “What has been important to me," he relates, “is the comforting quiet and sharing with men in an entirely different way than I have usually experienced. We men have our quiet, gentle and spiritual sides which seem to rarely be accessed, particularly in a group environment. There is a palpable kindness between individuals on their separate but connected paths along the channels of the labyrinth.” As a Pagan, Mills appreci ates the open spirituality the walk affords. “Labyrinth walkers aren’t required to step into any particular doctrines, dogmas or religious belief sys tems,” he explains. “Instead, one steps into who and where one is at this particular moment and comes to embrace this as the spiritual path. For gay men raised in the same competitive, male- dominant culture as straight men, this is not always easy.” Mills also emphasizes the breadth of the walk’s effect both personally and culturally. “Most all of us have integrat ed negative cultural religious messages which undermine our very right to a spiritual self...this is what makes the gay men’s labyrinth walk so moving. To see gay men from all walks of life bravely stepping onto the labyrinth with whatever it is they carry is a reclaiming event of earth-shaking magnitude.” Rhodes and Stutesman hope to continue the labyrinth on a quarterly basis. “It’s not a church service, it’s not a political event, though it does serve a political purpose in bringing the commu nity together,” Rhodes claims. “I think it’s a real ly great thing when we ca n .. .just be with our own brothers. I think it’s empowering.” |H For information about the G ay M en ’ s LABYRINTH WALK, «sit uvHU.hornetou7i.aol.com/dhrho5/fxige.html or e-mail Dale Rhodes at Holylistenmp@aol.com. C hristopher M c Q uain is a Portland free-lan ce writer. Everybody’s Garden Center Portland Furniture “ It’s the best kept secret in town. 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