“It is time for us Third Gender folk to rejoice in the gifts we bring. And saying so, in such an endeavor we might, in collective gala, discover new Radical Faerie ways to make such contributions both substantive and politically creative.” — Harry Hay, as quoted in RFD
Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. It is a time of reflection, renewal and hope about brighter days ahead… a holiday where we can come together to ENVISION our shared future, BUILD support for our urban and rural Sanctuary spaces, ENJOY fabulous performances and CELEBRATE our diverse community together!
We invite you to help lay the groundwork for the future of queer art, culture & community in San Francisco by attending Comfort & Joy’s “Illuminate” Solstice Gala. This year, we’re EXPANDING into a two-day weekend festival with afternoon Faeposium Workshops and an EXUBERANT Feast that includes an Art Auction, Live Music, Drag Cabaret and Blacklight Burlesque.
Sanctuary comes in many forms beyond the obvious, ranging from the temporary sanctuary Comfort & Joy provides each year at the Burning Man festival, to the permanent sanctuaries at Short Mountain, Zuni and Wolf Creek. At ILLUMINATE we would like to spotlight two other types of sanctuary: bonds of friendship, found family and queer brotherhood as well as shared experience at community events like the future-oriented afternoon Faeposium workshop series this weekend. When combined, these types of sanctuary become even more powerful forces to positively impact people’s lives.
This special annual holiday event benefits a new “Faerie Housing Fund” devoted to reducing the start-up costs of new urban gay group housing collectives and sanctuaries that offer queer cultural resources & programing as well as living space. It should be easier, and there should be more going on. We think that investing in new ways to collaborate & live together today will result in a more culturally vibrant queer community tomorrow.
“I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life” – George Burns
