Pityphuck and Michfest 2014

[BBinNYC]

People use many biological and other rationales to defend bias and discrimination. Would an intersex person whose genitalia makes their gender unclear be a threat to you at MichFest? When do you stop drawing the line at who is really a woman?

All I can say is that the arc of history is long and it bends toward justice, so this relic of the past that refuses to change will go the way of the whites only drinking fountains and back of the bus seating.

The experience of people assigned female at birth who grow up as female is far from monolithic and cannot be the unifying factor for defending an intention that sees that experience as a "gender identity."

I would not want to be at an event that wouldn't welcome Laverne Cox or Janet Mock or any trans woman because she was not deemed female enough.

I am frankly baffled that self-identified butches whose sense of self is all about transgressing gender lines would feel this way. I feel embarrassed on behalf of all the trans folks who come to this site expecting a safe place.

[Happy_Go_Lucky]

I do not believe there has been enough said about the prodigious task of organizing such a huge event like MWMF. The numerous volunteers who arrive each year, some a month before to erect the stages, clear brush without harming the integrity of root systems of trees and bushes, placing signs, working on itinerary of the workshops, and a multitude of other tasks that makes this event so user friendly and welcoming.

Did you know that michfest purchases so much vegetables that some local farmers receive the bulk of their revenue just from this festival alone! Put that in your pipe and smoke it sisters. Things run so smoothly there on the land *all volunteers mind you. We have mechanics, a full staff of medical folks, counselors, to name a few. Most everyone is friendly and quick with a hello, not too many Mcgruffies. Most women who visit the land have made this week their focal point of their entire year. They scrimp and save, they take their work holiday this week. THIS fest means the world to so many women, here they feel safe, they feel free, they can walk around naked at 4 in the morning with the knowledge THEY CAN!

Before I fail to mention this, after fest, the volunteers leave the land as if the fest never happened. The woods get their space back, we are grateful they shared with us this piece of the universe albeit briefly.

[The_Lady_Snow]

Why so hostile? Why do your sisters have to stuff anything in to pipes and smoke it? Why can't there be a discussion about ALL of Michfest?

The good, the bad, the ugly?

Anyone remember the year Susan Powter [sp?] said that all fat lesbians, dykes, and fat positive queers, SHOULD put their ice cream down and exercise?

The last year Bitch & Animal performed together AND Animal was all hot on Susan we weren't happy with her triggery, fat phobic, women hate, book selling bullshit....
I love The Land, but like any other event it has its controversies and problems. I feel it's ok to address these issues without hostility and ugliness.

Originally Posted by Happy_Go_Lucky

I do not believe there has been enough said about the prodigious task of organizing such a huge event like MWMF. The numerous volunteers who arrive each year, some a month before to erect the stages, clear brush without harming the integrity of root systems of trees and bushes, placing signs, working on itinerary of the workshops, and a multitude of other tasks that makes this event so user friendly and welcoming.

Did you know that michfest purchases so much vegetables that some local farmers receive the bulk of their revenue just from this festival alone! Put that in your pipe and smoke it sisters. Things run so smoothly there on the land *all volunteers mind you. We have mechanics, a full staff of medical folks, counselors, to name a few. Most everyone is friendly and quick with a hello, not too many Mcgruffies. Most women who visit the land have made this week their focal point of their entire year. They scrimp and save, they take their work holiday this week. THIS fest means the world to so many women, here they feel safe, they feel free, they can walk around naked at 4 in the morning with the knowledge THEY CAN!

Before I fail to mention this, after fest, the volunteers leave the land as if the fest never happened. The woods get their space back, we are grateful they shared with us this piece of the universe albeit briefly.

[Happy_Go_Lucky]

Drats! I've been wanting to talk about the way some of the women were decorating their RV's. It really was a sight to behold, the imaginations, the craft supplies, the flags, the lights, the stainless steel cookware.

Some of the rigs were so decked out, Elvira Kurt even used this as material at opening ceremony. These women used glow-in-the-dark material to outline, to form phrases, to make cool geometric designs all over their stuff!

Many women rented a U-Haul (I know, I know ) They even decorated that! Elvira suggested we have an RV decorating contest in the near future, not a bad idea. My personal favorite was a camping space totally done up with muted lighting, their walkway, their "roof" their camper, everything. ALL done with butterflies, fairies and other magical flying things. It just made you smile whenever you walked by.