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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2008)
MARCH 21, 2008 JUS tout125 THE GAY ARCHETYPES Put forth by activist Harry Hay, founder of the Mattachine Society and the Radical Fairies, is the idea that gay men “constitute a third gender and, by extension, lesbians a fourth.” Thomp son and several of his interviewees in Gay Soul put forth the notion that gays and lesbians “represent significantly different ways of being...that implies a purposeful social function.” In this case, gender is about what we do, what purpose we serve, rather than merely our function as lovers of the same sex. We are two-spirited people, expressing both the masculine and the feminine. "To be both/and instead of either/or is one of our purposes,” says Thompson. Mark Thompson (left, with partner Malcolm Boyd) discusses his traveling exhibition of photographs, Fellow Travelers, during a reception March 1 at Q Center. This third gender has multiple embodiments through several archetypes. Within this cast of experiences means he’s always learning. Many scholars say the element of childlike wonder is key to becoming a true mystic. sus among us, we have a sharp eye for others’ pro jections of themselves and are apt to point them out. This helps restore balance to the situation at characters, you will find yourself and others, an Without the adult responsibilities of tending hand, removing haughtiness from its pedestal, ele ancient affirmation that we have been around since the dawn of man. house, making a living, etc., the Divine Child can vating truth to its righteous place. In the Trickster devote his time to faraway notions and ideals. He and Fool, we gay men find our freedom. Through this freedom, we help society transform itself. Once you know the positive, active sides of can constantly seek. He’s able to embody both the masculine and feminine traits in all their inno cent goodness. This archetype calls on us to see • The Berdache or Androgyne: Gay children in Native American tribes were considered to be the world with love and kindness, to dream of the “two-spirited,” neither masculine nor feminine, impossible as a possible reality. The Divine Child acts as a source for much joy in the world. but possessors of both. These individuals were • The Double: How many times have you considered gifts from the great spirit, ones who more and more alike? It’s the archetype of the were able to focus their time on duties besides raising children. They filled honored social roles as mediators, cultural workers, priests and artists. sames, of someone out They wore dresses, and their history has been sup side ourselves sparked by pressed. Their name? Berdache. They were known Eros, which drives us to as hirijas in India, the mahu in Polynesia and the partnership. According to Thompson in Gay Body: galli in the ancient world. When combined with the Trickster, these “The Double is one of the folks serve the social purpose of bringing to light most important and as the differences among people through mischief cendant elements in the and laughter. They saw underlying motives and gay male psyche. We feel helped lead warring parties to compromise by its presence erotically and pointing out both sides’ shortcomings. They un project it—in ways both derscored and bolstered unity within their com direct and subliminal—on munities. seen a gay couple who quickly transform to look mark thorr Awhor ol Gay SprtAcnà + Join lit for Holy Week Good Friday Worship at 7pm Easter Sunday Celebration at 10:15am A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Central Lutheran Church www.centralportland.com rz ’.W| the men we encounter and the work we do in the edited by Mark Thompson world. It is the wellspring We’re living in an exciting time in the his of our creativity and en durance; it is the very root, tory of mankind, and especially of gaykind. We’re beginning to reconnect to the ancient systems of in fact, of our modem gay thought and slowly reforming society to include identity.” gay people as full and legal individuals. Yet there The Double can repre sent a gay male’s individu is a further reclamation that must occur. For peace to become more and more apparent, ation, his reconciling of Thompson says, gay folk must seek, reclaim and' the inner masculine and embody our place as the intersectors between the feminine aspects. What heterosexual couples do divine masculine and divine feminine. “Claim when they marry—by joining dissimilar, but com ing all of this, saying: ‘That is who we are, this is the set of tools we’ve been given, that’s how our plementary, opposites—we gay men must do in side ourselves. “Readjusting our relationship with psyches have been arranged. That is our meaning, the feminine, especially the dark feminine who our purpose, our fulfillment. That is our work.’ It’s an punishes, is very important. We must repair and essential component to being fully human to know that we can make meaning out of lives.” © restore a healthy relationship with the masculine Mark Thompson has written or edited three books on gay spirituality: Gay Spirit, Gay Soul and Gay Body. THE NEXT FRONTIER double,” Thompson says. • The Trickster: The Trickster, or Fool, stands as the character whose purpose is to reflect Fellow Travelers, a stunning collection of photographs of gay liberation pioneers by M ark back to people their own folly, cruelty or stupidity T hompson , is on display through March 30 at these as well as their passive, shadowy aspects, through humor. They stand immune to the nor Q Center, 69 S.E. Taylor St. The exhibit was you will have the wisdom to act within your mal retribution held for others because by creat archetype(s) as well as see others enacting theirs. • The Divine Child: Forever a boy, Peter Pan ing laughter; they entertain the audience. Gay men are masters of this humor. Thompson sponsored, in part, by White Crane Institute, an organization "dedicated to researching, exploring and documenting the variety of manifestations of the holds onto the imagination and whimsy of a little says: “Our humor is one of our muscles. It can be spiritual search—both mainstream and individual— boy but is never able to accept the responsibility a weapon. A self-lacerating irony.” As masters of among contemporary GLBT men and women.” of growing up. His curiosity and openness to new projection ourselves, the embodiment of Narcis For more information visit www.gaywisdom.org. Bed and Breakfast Bed and Breakfast in Ashland 312 Helman Street Ashland, Oregon 97520 1-800-460-5453 www.bluemoonbandb.com Let Your Spirit Soar First Unitarian Church 1211 SW Main St., Portland www.firstunitarianportland.org Sunday Mornings: 9:15 & 11:15 Commitment ceremonies welcome everyday.
