Pronouns and Pocketbooks: 

An editorial, a reminder, and an invitation

Hello Queerdos everywhere! This is Starduster along with Toaster reminding you about a Queerburners event so relaxing, fun, and affordable you’d definitely regret not going – unless, of course, you really have your shit together and already made other plans! Eventbrite Now

Starduster at EPR in 2021 checking out the site at a peak moment in drought. Things are much greener now.

Are you still looking for an easy and chill Memorial Weekend getaway specifically for LGBTQIA+ people from all over Northern California? Then bring your camping gear and some friends to East Park Reservoir for a three-night Spring Campout, organized by Queerburners, a 501(c)(3) nonpofit organization.

Are you ready to take a break from all those outrageously priced, EMD-pulsing, highly-decorated, and body culture-obsessed gatherings and events trending within the intersection of Burning Man and Queer communities? 

We love, love, love all our digital native, Burner, straight and gay brethen so much! Just look at everyone’s preferred pronowns declared on practically every Zoom call these days. But our entertainment budgets simply don’t include much in the areas of glamping gear, chauffeured commutes, catered cuisine, or diesel-driven disco whether or not we can actually afford them (exceptions for DJ equipment, renewable power,  LED tech, and a little dab of Day-Glo). 

All hyperbole aside, we absolutely love that type of event and the talented lovelies who produce and attend them. But Queerburners cares about your pronouns and your pocketbooks!

At Queerburners events we resist social and financial stratification and LGBTQIA+ isolation through community building that centers the regularly-resourced (and still fabulous) rainbow of gay & lesbian, cis, transgender & non-binary queerdos (and all their pronouns). 

At our Spring Campout there will be folks from some of the gayest theme camps at Burning Man and other similarly-oriented, queer civic and social groups from the Bay Area and beyond. Think swimming, boating, and hammock-swinging by day and picnic table dining and campfire singalongs by night. 

Workshops, group activities, variety shows, etc are welcome! This event will take whatever form the community shapes it into! Blinky lights, radical couture, and bikes? Yes! Children and dogs? Bring ’em! Pulsing music and intense partying? Well hey, if that’s your happy place then bring it on and we all can go there, too (until 10pm when quiet hours kick in)! 

Low-cost tickets are available and No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds! Ridesharing is encouraged. All campsites are on flat land and accessible. Get your tickets today on Eventbrite

This is a Ten Principles event! More information also at Queerburners.org or reach out to Starduster (Events Director for Queerburners) with questions at events@Queerburners.org.

Dusty hugs from Toaster and Starduster

Rainbow Leadership Series Ep.2: Queerborhoods

Where: Online only
When: April 21, from 8pm to 9pm or later as needed
How: Register for direct access on Eventbrite
Who: As of 4/10 leads from BAAAHS, C&J, GlamCocks, Camp Beaverton, Gender Blender (Queerdome)

I invited select leaders in the community from some of the most known camps to speak about the Queerborhood in recent history and share ideas for the new age we have entered post covid (an assumption and maybe an unrealistic view). How can we help open a path to better collaboration and presentation without curating ourselves into a corner away from intrinsically inspired content that is spontaneous and inviting.

The Queerborhood in 7:30 has gone through a lot of evolution over time and continues to shapeshift. The splitting of Queerborhoods in 2019 was the first major change. 

The 4:30 Queerborhood anchored by BAAAHS was not the only Queerborhood that emerged over the years. Users have often generated spaces grown and fostered out of a need for safety and community. This includes Burner Buddies and others over time. 

On Thursday on April 21 8pm, I am inviting a panel to talk about Burning Man 2022. What are the needs of th Queer community and how do leaders in those sectors want to inspire, enrich and mentor our community into more enriching and accountable space. 

Rainbow Leadership Series 1: Services and Placement

On March 26 we do a Zoom meeting with Placement and OSS as the headliner. (1.5 to 2 hours)
Queerburners presents a series of programs to prepare for return to the playa in 2022 and to make our Queerborhoods shine by inspiring collaboration, resource sharing, and community and culture building together.

– 13:00 We start at 1pm with Toaster welcoming people to the Rainbow Leadership Series
– 13:05 Level: Placement and the Queerborhoods
– 13:20 Q&A
– 13:25 Galaxy and President talk about OSS and a new program for reducing our impact on the playa with new power solutions
– 13:40 Q&A
– 13:45 Farmer: to talk about storage and other services available in Gerlach and Empire that he wants Queer Camps to be aware of
– 14:00 AJ from Gerlach: Wants to talk about Gerlach Gay Pride

Farmer will talk about a growing Queer Culture in Gerlach
We are asking everyone to register through Eventbrite so the we have a an accountable audience and limit potential spammers and disruptors. We will have someone monitoring and stacking hands for Q&A.

– April – Queerborhoods
– May – Queerstory w/ Harley K DuBois
– June – RiDE the Rainbow, a RIDE initiative

Hi its Ariel (Trixie) and I’m inviting you to Gender Blender on March 25 in Oakland!

Details here – After two long years of being six feet apart we are thrilled to be making our Cumback!!! You waited so patiently, and we’re DELIGHTED to invite you to Gender Blender’s long-awaited CUMback play and dance party! This party is for people of all genders with a priority on creating a safer, consent-focused space for trans, genderqueer, GNC + questioning folks to get their groove on. Our play parties offer a sensuous space to explore, indulge, and celebrate what turns you on. It’s gonna be hot, intimate, & kinky!

Chill in the BYOB bar, get down on the dance floor, enjoy performances by trans and genderqueer artists, meet new friends, or kink it up, well, anywhere! All levels of play are welcome, from first-timers to sexperts~

DOORS OPEN 8 PM
OPENING CIRCLE 8:30 PM
PERFORMANCES PLAY SPACES OPEN 9 PM
~PLAY! DANCE! REVELRY!~
DOORS CLOSE MIDNIGHT WRAP IT UP 2 AM

Private event. 21+. BYOB.

Proof of vax + negative PCR test <72hours or rapid test <24hours.

To attend you MUST arrive with a “PAL”. PALs are pairs/groups of 2+ guests who can vouch for each other, and will be responsible for each other for the night.

Safer sex supplies provided, and our lovely house caddies will be on call to deliver them to you, or fetch you a toy from our party stash.

How to get in on the action:

  1. Become a Mission Control Member: http://events.missioncontrolsf.org/sessions/new (free, but must be done in advance)
  2. Volunteer to get in FREE: https://forms.gle/3Ha4CGhYw4kKjss9A -or- Buy your tickets: https://events.missioncontrolsf.org/events/40862/orders/new
  3. Want to see who’s going, match, chat, and meet the community?

Check out Gender Blender CUMBACK Party! on the Bloom Community app: https://bl.ooo/m/gender-blender-cumback-party. Don’t forget to invite all the cuties you just can’t wait any longer to see… If you have something special you’d like to share at this event, need a low-income discount, or have any questions, please contact one of the event hosts (Alex or Trixie/Ariel)

ALSO happening! Theme Camp and Project Speed Dating!
To participate: > Link to Eventbrite <
To present your camp or project: > Link <
This is an in-person event, indoor with a covid policy contained on the Eventbrite Site

RLS: Rainbow Leadership – Series?

The vision of the RLS has always been to create a platform for queer leaders and our allies to collaborate and meet the needs of our community on the playa for Waking Dreams: Burning Man 2022. What special needs? Among them are safety and security of our camps and participants. Our voice is as unique as other special groups on playa, and our special sauce is bigger and better now with 2 Queerborhoods and more are self manifesting.

We are going to present the same content in smaller doses over time before the big event in the Black Rock Desert. Stay tuned as we prepare this new channel that can be received around the world.

Queerburners in the Coming Year

I am so grateful for how much we have done on the 1.5 years it took to get where we are today. We became a nonprofit exactly a year ago and in that time we have worked hard to set the groundwork for our future. Queer Burners has been around since 2008, but the non-profit is a better, leaner and more structured animal. I can tell you that I am not the same person. This project has taken me on a huge journey with amazing people I am so proud to have walked this path with.

It’s hotter, fiercer-er, and hungrier. Meow.

This thing started off to be a place to create an intersection for LGBTQAI burners. It’s not so much that there was no crossroads for that out there, but people were generally very tribal and like any group of humans we stayed in spaces that were safe and familiar. Queerburners has only sought to help expand that and try and create a safe and conventual path to collaboration

The results of ALL OF US in 2017 and 2018 felt like the peak of success. Since 2019 there have been a lot of reasons why the brakes had to be put on the progress that we had achieved. Do we go down or do we keep climbing? I will keep climbing with some ambitious and exciting ideas ahead for 2022.

I expect to be able to announce 3 major events for 2022 produced by Queerburners and our community. We only succeed with collaboration. What we are doing is driven by volunteers and participation. Yes, a few people get paid too! Our creative people have to be paid for their work.

All that is coming. I am so excite for it. I can share hints from the blog, but am waiting to get the okay from the Board and our committees to share more. I am just – that – excited about it.

Fuck yeah.

Here are some other important notes!

  • We are starting our End of Year Fundraising campaign beginning the fist week of December and are asking for the community’s help to keep our expenses down and help maintain accessibility for all of our community. ALL. Donations are tax deductible. Our tax status is linked here > click <
  • We need more volunteers and people to help drive this space ship > click here <

Toaster

DJs for Spirited and beyond

Right now I am actively looking for some special people to feature at Spirited. I am working on doing better than I have in the past with All Of Us. And I would like to find a team who I can hire and pay fairly that I can establish a good relationship with for this and future projects. Maybe even more than one team.

In the past I hired a head DJ and gave that person a budget and said … do your thing. However, in 2017 it was clear there was an element missing which included Technical Support and in 2018 we hired someone to that specifically, so I think whomever comes on as a team has to have someone in that group to be technically proficient so the talent can do their jobs with fewer people stressing over equipment.

Going forward, I am seeking a package deal where I can hire a producer who might also be the head DJ who:

  • will hire, schedule, and pay talent to play the scheduled parties at a Queerburners event
  • will provide all supporting equipment and have a technician who can repair and setup as needed and be ready for showtime
  • will provide all lighting needed for their needs at the DJ section

Queerburners will pay the Producer a negotiated contracted amount as a budget item for our records and either treat you as a contracted entity or will work with you to see what is the best solution. This will have to be in writing with a clear understanding of what is expected for your protection and ours.

  • Must have music programs in place for all scheduled dance events for a Queerburners Production
  • Must provide all equipment including speakers, decks, cables and power cords. In some cases that may include generators (Spirited).

Additional production design, lighting and decoration is the responsibility of Queerburners unless that is also negnotiated.

Sound must always be in compliance with local laws and may need to be managed or limited based on the direction of the production team leadership.

Basically you and each person on your team will also get:

  • paid a negotiated rate per set preferably through the Producer
  • one ticket to the event for the performer and a plus 1 without charge
  • access to the event as any guest

Spirited: Production Team Meeting

It is time to get into how Spirited will work. I scheduled a meeting on August 4th @ 7pm at the Pilsner Inn at Church and Market.

Join us and be a part of making Spirited an amazing community event. This kind of event is not as technical as All Of Us was, but can be a lot of fun to produce. Jump in and be a spark for something new and amazing for the LGBTQIA+ burner community.We are working on a socially responsible, accountable and consent embracing event.

Facebook: Link https://www.facebook.com/events/879950396065896/

Google Calendar: Link https://calendar.google.com/event?action=TEMPLATE&tmeid=NDBtbGtnN2U3bG5pcjd2bGdvNm9zZ2I2dDIgaW5mb0BxdWVlcmJ1cm5lcnMub3Jn&tmsrc=info%40blog.queerburners.org

On Monday 7/26 Starduster and I will be driving to the site to survey and get a first hand view of the site where we will be hosting the event.

Theme Camps at Spirited

Having theme camps at Spirited is ideal for adding to the event. Participants generating their own spaces where people can gather are an amazing asset we hope to see develop. It is important that people not get caught up in thinking they have to do something on the level of a mega-presentation in order to show up. It’s not about the glam, its about the vibe.

It can be simple, it can be complex, but it should be fun and your own statement. Here are a couple favorite images from a favorite event of I love to go to called SN-RG.org which is the Southern Nevada Regional.

Camp shown will not be at Spirited, this is here as an exampled from a similar event that a person could do
Camp shown will not be at Spirited, this is here as an exampled from a similar event that a person could do

While I think we all would love to bring something on the level of Comfort & Joy, Glamcocks or even Ferngully to the party this is something that is easy to transfer and build/strike. And, as you can see. People really appreciate the effort.

Spirited by Queerburners events

Dates: October 29th to November 1st
Gates Open: Friday at Noon
Doors Close: Monday at Noon

Spirited Weekend is a chance to reconnect with each other, the spirits of our ancestors and those of the world around us for Halloween weekend. Revel, dance, celebrate, give thanks, embrace, experience with your community.

Spirited caters to LGBTQAI+ and our allies based on the 10 Principle community of Burning Man participants; not affiliated with Burning Man. This is in the spirit of a regional event that brings people in locally and afar who celebrate community and the rituals of our lives through art, education and performance.

This is a four day, three night event in the Northern California woods at the East Park Reservoir the same place Camp Tipsy is hosted. It is public land under the County of Colusa.

  • This is a LNT event: Leave No Trace (pack it in pack it out)
  • Radical Inclusion: yes, everyone

An ad hoc event with content generated by the participants. Theme Camps are welcome and encouraged. It is a camping event with designated areas for activity and residential tenting. You must bring your own home for the event and all your own food. No open flames or fires allowed because of drought conditions. However, participants can prepare food with a proper camping cooking device.

  • Radical Self Reliance: bring your own stuff for survival
  • Community: do not depend on others for your care, but teaming up is awesome

Our programming is minimal and we encourage groups to plan parties and host them in their camps or in a common area away from tenting spaces/residences. If you have a project or plan you would like to do to generate activity let us know what it is at events@queerburners.com

  • Participation: everyone puts a hand in to make it work

The entirety of the land is available for all participants including an amazing body of water good for freezing your bits off if it is too cold. The County of Colusa has advised that water levels are expected to be low and that participants should be mindful and careful.

Every participant will be required to complete a waiver upon arrival or will not be allowed to stay on the land and will not get a refund.
Consent and mutual respect of your fellow beings is an absolute and intolerance will not be tolerated – period. Community standards will be a part of the waiver. Radical Inclusion is a core value in who we are. And it is not up to other people different than you to educate you on their bodies or appearance, so be respectful.

Sound and Structures
This is a camping based event without large structures. A building permit may be required for tens larger than about 200 square feet. There are no plans for any structures or stages at this time.

Sound
We anticipate amplified sound that requires a sound permit with the Sheriff Office. We will do our best to manage our sound and activity so it will have a minimal impact on the surrounding community.

Safety and Security
This is an event on land that is managed by the County of Colusa and the Federal Bureau of Reclamation and must be respected as such. We are operating on a series of permits and agreements. We will also likely have a presence of the Country Sheriff office inside and outside the premier of our event.

  • All participants, volunteers and attendees must sign a standard waiver for our events.

Note: There is an expectation that the event will occur without any issues in the community around the venue. As long as we are respectful there is likely to be no problems and we will act to mitigate those potential issues. The County has warned that there may be some neighbors that have an issue and the Sheriff department will be the buffer to limit any issues.

Security
Attendees will have to check in at the Gate. At that point a waiver needs to be signed and a ticket presented in order to access. All attendees MUST maintain an event bracelet to be in the event:
Color1: Attendees who are 18 to 21 who are not of drinking age
Color2: Attendees 21 and over with a ticket and signed a waiver
Color3: Attendees who do not want to be photographed or video

Tickets must be purchased in advance and online. Sales at the gate are at the discretion of the gate lead and supervising staff and have the right to turn people away. This is an 18 and over event – no minors. Anyone under 21 drinking or using illegal substances will be ejected with no refund. No illegal substances will be tolerated.

Medical
Volunteers will be asked to take a shift with medical training that are EMT or medically certified professionals and patrol the event with a centralized triage space. There should be 1 or ideally 2 people per shift.

Patrols
Since this is not an officially sanctioned Burning Man event it is not possible to have Black Rock City Rangers in their official roles, but we have trained Rangers who have been willing to assist. We will have trained volunteers in confrontation management and some with a psychological and drug training roaming our event to mitigate and potential interpersonal issues within the event and with visitors who have questions about our event.

Law Enforcement
The County of Colusa Sheriff Department may want to have patrol(s) but that will follow an assessment. That will also affect the costs below. The Sheriff will generally remain outside the event but may enter for any reason they determine. The LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) should always be treated with respect and welcomed.

Events in the time of Covid
How does Queerburners intend on making the area safe for its participants? We will follow all health and safety requirements as mandated by the State of California including:

  • Intentional limited ticket sales so that all people have room for social distancing
  • Requirements at check-in as determined by CDC and local Health Department

Even if we have to cancel or postpone the event. We care that our participants are healthy and safe at all of our events.

Ticket Pricing:
Base price is $75 – $175/person for the weekend with discounts and add-ons based on individual needs and financial position.
Limited access tickets for persons with financial hardship who apply for it.

Pre-Sale: July (Coming Soon)
Tiered Ticket Sales: September 1
To be considered of a lower priced ticket click here: https://forms.gle/gCdhZNNn1Kvp2vbTA