Alternative Lifestyles in the SCA

or

What the heck is Clan Bluefeather, Anyway?

The membership if the SCA is composed of many diverse peoples.  As a matter of policy, participation is open to anyone willing to make an attempt at pre-17th century garb, and pay the site fee.  A a matter of practice, we are generally a tolerant folk.  It's a reasonable bet that people who deliberately dress in funny clothes and go out in the woods to play "let's pretend" are going to be pretty reasonable about other people's foibles.

That being said, it should be no surprise that the SCA has within it, an informal organization for homosexuals, bi-sexuals, and lesbians.  From their own web site, www.bluefeather.org:

"The primary reason for the establishment of Blue Feather, and for its continued existence is education: to encourage and facilitate research on homosexuality in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and to teach other members of the Society about homosexuality in the Current Middle Ages.

We also exist as a social organization, to facilitate interaction among the members of the Society, especially those who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual."

Like other households and organizations, Bluefeather has adopted identifying heraldry, commonly called a badge:  It is a silver (white) shield, with a azure (blue) feather on it.  By custom, if the wearer of the badge is homosexual, he or she will color the feather a rich, dark blue.  If the wearer of the badge is heterosexual, or merely wishes not to make such a public statement about their sexuality, but still wished to self-identify as tolerant of alternative lifestyles, they will color the feather a pale blue.

For a time, the wearing or display of blue feathers in any form connoted an affiliation with Clan Bluefeather, but these days only the badge is generally regarded as a statement of affiliation.

At our larger gatherings, encampments that wish to make a public statement of solidarity or tolerance will sometimes display the pale blue version of the device.

Oh, one more thing.  The blue feather is strictly for those who choose to self-identify.  It is in NO WAY required by either custom or statute.