An Interview with Murray Edelman, Election expert, Early Activist and Faerie Elder.

Originally Published in RFD Magazine by Hammer Spring 2020

 I met Murray Edelman at my first Naraya about 20 years ago at Wolf Creek, OR, although I doubt if he remembers me from that experience. I had heard about Murray from others before I met him. He was well regarded as an activist and elder even then. Indeed, Murray has been at the forefront of many LGBT defining struggles over his 75+ years.  He was a founding member of Gay Liberation Chicago, the financial backer of Arthur Evans’ seminal book, Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture, and in 1975 a founding member of The Faerie Circle inspired by Evan’s research. Murray was inspired by a spontaneous Faerie ritual at a SF bathhouse and then found a way to re-create it which led to Harry Hay personally inviting him to the first Spiritual Gathering of Radical Faeries in Arizona in 1979. There he led an erotic ritual on the final evening at the swimming pool.  He also helped organize the Dance For All People/ Naraya in 1991 and has been an elder at the Wolf Creek Dance For All People/Naraya that started in 1999. 

But this interview is not intended to catalogue all of Murray’s contributions and history. We met to discuss the upcoming National elections.

More significant to this interview, Murray has been employed by major news media regarding US elections analysis for over 50 years, since 1967! His doctorate is in Human Development but one of his working expertise is in survey research and statistics. He has been president of the American Association of Public Opinion Research, an organization of over 2000 survey research professionals.  Out of all this combination of gay activism, Faerie magic, survey research and political punditry he has developed a concept called Circle Voting. 

This issue of RFD is about Love, how does your vision of Circle Voting fit into that theme?

Let me start by telling you how the vision came to me.   A while back, at a Wolf Creek Naraya, I was asking for guidance for my life’s work, a repeat of my intentions from dances of the last couple of years. My full-time job with CBS had ended, and I had the time and resources to follow my calling. On the Sunday night after the dance we have a Faerie fire at the fire pit.       And as you know these Faerie fires go where they go.  This one got into a lot of complaining about the country and imperialism, sexism and racism; there is no shortage of content in this direction.   At one point I shouted there is something we can do and they started a chant, “what can we do, Murray.”  And with some trepidation, I said “Vote.”   Chaos ensued.  People were shouting at each other, and at me.  Some were taking my side, and others were against. This kept going for a couple of hours.  Through this, I saw how little people really understood regarding the nature and power of voting.  And I saw how much I knew and could contribute through my knowledge of politics and experience as an early gay activist and as a Faerie. Over weeks, I received a flow of creative and intense writing and seeing.  I saw that “we the people” do potentially have control of the country, but we are not using it.   The name “circle voting” came to me. It means our individual power is in our influence within our own social circles. And our own circles can profoundly impact larger community circles, and then outwards in concentric rings until we touch the circle of life and Mother Earth, (the largest circle.) 

Truly my vision came out of love and the open heartedness we feel after being at the Naraya for four days and during a Faerie fire. The path to getting the government to actually serve us and not the special interests is through our love for ourselves and each other. Voting is an act of community love. We are voting out of love with and for our community, like we have experienced at gatherings and through our community. In my vision we are motivated with love for Mother Earth and all the people on her so much that we do the hard work of looking inside ourselves to understand how we enable the current structure. And then making the commitment and taking the personal responsibility and risks to make change.  This vision is about love. Voting is about love. Not voting is a surrender to the current structure.

And let’s be honest with our readers, this RFD issue comes at a critical time before the 2020 election.  

Ok Murray, so that is the general vision, maybe a bit lofty or airy-Faerie. What about specifics for Faerie readers of RFD? 

Let me start by claiming I suspect less than half of the Faeries voted in 2016.   There is no reputable survey of Faeries, so I’ll first draw on other sources and then tell you my own research which supports my assertion.   In 2016 for example, only 60% of eligible citizens voted. By age, in 18-29-year-olds it was 45%.  And lower income people turnout at lower rates as well.   Another big determiner is that if people move in last few years – they will vote less often- due to having to re-register.  I think it is safe to say many Faeries tend to be younger, of lower income, and more migratory than the general population. 

Many people are surprised when I say less than half of the Faeries voted. There is a social norm that voting is the right thing to do, so in fact people don’t visibly broadcast that they don’t vote. We know from public surveys that at least 10% or more of folks will say they voted but have not in fact done so. At least 10% of people who say they will vote or have voted do not.  Within close groups it is even more challenging to admit “I don’t vote.”   

I had this long drive with a young Faerie going from Wolf Creek to Portland and after we got very comfortable with each other, he admitted he didn’t really understand how voting worked. Meaning he didn’t understand registering to vote, Electoral College issues, etc. and in general how the whole system works. People seem often not to understand how their votes and lack of votes drive the system. Civics is no longer a required or honored course for students in schools at any level.  Republicans cut education and then make appeals to ignorance.

So therefore, we need to communicate about voting in a new way.  We need to be more sensitive about this and have a deeper understanding psychologically of what keeps people from voting.

When I’ve offered workshops on voting at gatherings, I would get a few people and they were confirmed voters and often expressed annoyance that others didn’t vote rather than realizing there are lots of good reasons why people are turned off to politics.  Those of us who are motivated voters have an opportunity here in our own immediate circles to make significant change by motivating the 50% who aren’t even voting.  This is likely a better strategy and use of energy than contesting with the other side trying to change a few voters’ minds.

My conversations indicate that in not voting, people don’t understand how it actually plays out politically. One of the reasons that negative campaigning is so effective is that it turns off voters by making it so ugly. So, Republican’s negative ugly campaigning works on two levels, good people get turned off and turned away and the Republicans’ own base gets fired up. Not voting is in effect a vote for whomever wins.  Not voting is a big part of a Republican campaign strategy. Getting you to NOT vote is their goal. You forfeit your power before the contest even begins!

Yes, I have heard the higher the vote turnout, in general, the better Democrats fare. Are you proposing a Get Out the Vote drive among the Faeries?

I’m proposing something much more than that.   Getting out the vote is traditionally strangers talking to strangers.  In voter registration campaigns, we shout out to people to get registered.  Campaigns do cold calling.   Tons of money is spent on media campaigns with simplistic and often false points.   In this country we treat voting as a private act.  It can be awkward to bring up the subject of voting because it is supposed to be “private” and people can get defensive because they are “supposed” to vote.

With Circle Voting I’m talking about a different kind of engagement all together.  

Instead, we are reaching out to our friends and acquaintances.   We teach ourselves how to have these sensitive and perhaps challenging conversations about voting. And especially with those who don’t usually talk about politics, or who feel deeply wounded or disenfranchised in this area. We don’t shame them.  

As an example, perhaps, we treat them like someone still in the closet.  We make them comfortable talking about voting, we help them see connections between voting and their lives and their dreams, and where appropriate, we can offer help towards taking the first steps, like registering or requesting an absentee ballot.  And if we are talking to regular voters, we can encourage them to be more proactive in their own circles by our discussions and especially by our example.    

What role in particular, do you see for Faerie collectives in Circle Voting?

A good example is the movement around environmental issues, which have evolved over the years and led many people to change their behaviors in dramatic ways. Many Faeries have been in the leadership of these changes. People pay more attention to ecological issues in part due to education, community pressure, community norms and standards. 

Circle voting could evolve in a similar way. Why not? It really does matter!  The behaviors I’ve described around participation and non-participation, the difficulty of bringing up the subject, the alienation from the power of our vote, are all deeply ingrained attitudes and behaviors.  It will take a major effort over time. But what we do as Faeries, as agents of cultural change, could radiate far beyond just the Faeries.  In addition to our powerful Faerie networks, we each have connections in other communities.   We could unleash our creativity and develop some of these ideas collectively and then as trendsetters we could make a significantly disproportionate impact on the greater society.   

Can you suggest even more specific actions Faeries could take in regards to Circle Voting that would transition our current US government away from these oppressive and life killing policies?

Yes, of course!

1. Talk about voting to both faeries and other friends from a circle or community perspective, versus just individual perspectives. 100 votes from our community are way more powerful than 45 votes from just the most motivated. We need deeper community (circle) voting educations, awareness and participation.  Focus in on those who don’t seem interested in voting and approach them in the supportive ways I’ve suggested.  We are talking about engaging non-voters or poorly motivated voters with whom you probably share values, goals and social change desires, to register and follow through and vote. And talk about these ideas with your political friends too; maybe you can motivate or inspire them to reach out in their social circles through your words and your example. Try an experiment to see if your 10 closest friends all vote?

2.  Realize we already know the key states for 2020. The Republicans are already pouring money into them. We have to pour faerie resources and magick into them as well.  The presidency will likely depend on the results in: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and maybe Florida and North Carolina.    Control of the Senate will hinge on these states: Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Colorado, Maine, and North Carolina. Democrats have to win five out these six.   Other states may be added depending on the candidates, but I guarantee you will be hearing a lot about these states in October.

 If you live in these states there will be no shortage of potential conversations, but even if you are on the very blue coasts, you probably know lots of faeries and other people in these states. Here are some suggestions on how to find them. (Remember- we are encouraging people to register and vote- NOT trying to change the minds of die-hard Trump supporters. When you find Trumpists- move on and find unregistered potential voters and encourage them to vote- thus cancelling out the die-hard right-wing voters.) 

• Do a Facebook Search on “my friends who live in Pennsylvania.”  The result will show all your friends there, remember to click on the top right where it says “see all.” 

• Cruising sites: Do searches for these states. Look over your contacts and chats there.  Begin conversations with people there.  Think about visiting one of these states for a registration drive, as your own romp through the state.

• When you meet people through traveling, gatherings and other social activities find out where they live.   When they tell me they live in a key state, I respond “I’m so envious, your vote really matters a LOT in this upcoming election.”

• Don’t forget your address book or whatever you use now.

• In general, find out where people are from, they may still have family and friends there.  

• Other ideas? Other social media? Let me know so I can put it on my website.

3.  Develop your connections with Faerie circles in these swing states. Let the motivated voters know you appreciate their work.  Offer to help or even visit and help with registration. The early Fall is a great time to travel.  Or help them plan early vote parties or voting day parties.  And for the infrequent voters you may have discovered, you may be able to help with absentee ballots or just reminders to vote. Don’t under-value your influence with others.

4. We could also engage artists in voter registration in ways we have not done. In the AIDS epidemic, artists of all kinds were vitally important in transmitting key messages otherwise hard for people to hear. Artists make deeper impacts in regards to symbolism and branding and in powerful emotional appeals. Also in regards to topics folks may be embarrassed to talk about. We could utilize writers, painters, musicians, graphic artists, designers, actors, directors and more. I’m waiting to see the RFD issue dedicated to effective resistance to this regime!

5.  We can develop talking points and materials for our low-motivated-to-vote friends and contacts in our circles. And then practice having these conversations. There are certain pat issues that come up with non-voters repeatedly. Such as, “my vote doesn’t count”, “I’ll have to do jury duty”, “the whole system is rotten anyway”, or “I am waiting for a candidate I really believe in,” etc.…  We can change the cultural around understanding, encouraging and expanding voting in Faerie culture, and then other adjacent cultures.

6.  Let’s use our Faerie magick to transform voting.  We keep saying, “Self-care is sexy.”

“Voting is community care and thus ecstasy!”   

• Getting people registered to vote is a challenge but powerfully effective. Voter registration efforts are often too serious.  We Faeries could bring some fun, style and flamboyance.  We could also have registration parties and make it fun and cool.

• Let’s make voting something to celebrate.  Have some events the weekend before or open houses after voting or making the night a celebration after voting. Even if our candidates lose, we need to honor the process of those who voted for what we want. 

Thank you, Murray. Final words?

We need to keep remembering that Trump won by 88,000 votes in three key states.  While Circle Voting is a big vision, we really don’t have to bring out that many votes to make the difference. And Hammer, I really appreciate your help it getting this out of my mind and onto paper. It has reminded me again how much more powerful we are when we work collectively- and that is circle voting. I would REALLY LIKE people to contact me with feedback at: murray@circlevoting.com .   Here is my circle voting Web site. Circlevoting.com

Interview of Murray Edelman by Hammer.

Reach Hammer at terrypcavanagh@gmail.com