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
+
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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.
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