An example of queer, natural landscape is Short Mountain in Liberty, Tennessee. Formed in 1981, the sanctuary is one of the first and longest running communes for the radical faerie community, which the residents welcome year-round and at annual gatherings. Here, you’ll find landmarks named Sex Change Ridge and Fruit Loop, as well as the maypole, shown here in Joel Sternfeld’s photograph (2005).

         IMAGE CREDITS

1. Sternfeld, Joel. May Pole, Short Mountain Sanctuary, Liberty, Tennessee. 2005, Art Institute Chicago.
2. Opie, Catherine. Photograph of Scrat at Short Mountain. “Out of the Woods: After decades of semi-secrecy, a commune for L.G.B.T.Q. nonconformists has slowly begun to join the mainstream” by Alex Halberstadt, 6 Aug. 2015. The New York Times. 
3. Minteh, Sean. The Gardens. 2011. Fairyland, TN: Photos from the gayborhood.
4. Minteh, Sean. Untitled. 2011. Fairyland, TN: Photos from the gayborhood.
5. Minteh, Sean. Untitled. 2011. Fairyland, TN: Photos from the gayborhood.
6. Photographer Unknown, (From left to right) Forrest Baker, Michael Ford, Jai Elliott, Bigs, and Steven DiVerde. Taken at Wolf Creek, a Radical Faerie sanctuary in Oregon. ca. 1970s.