2012: Fertility 2.0
“Black Rock City is a kind of Petri dish. Theme camps cling in fertile clusters to its latticework of streets, artworks tumble out of it, like pollen on the air. These nodes of interaction mutate, grow and reproduce their kind. Burning Man communities have now escaped this capsule world: our culture in a Petri dish has effloresced – it spreads across five continents. This year’s art theme contemplates the tendency of any being or living system to create abundant life.”
— burningman.org
Following a harrowing start with some major ticket drama, sanctions against BMorg, and then the surprise announcement of another 10,000 tickets, Burning Man had the biggest event ever. It was a year of huge dust storms and scary law enforcement. It was a year the Gayborhood came together like never before.
Highlights from the Queer Burners historical archives:
- Vincent Rommelaere made this video [YouTube link]
- Toaster's 2012 Trip Report
- A report from the Burning Man Leadership Summit 2012
Camp Directory 2012
Comfort & Joy
Comfort & Joy is a “radical faerie” collective dedicated to promoting queer culture, expression, self-actualization and community by acting as a mutual-support society for our members, producing art installations & organizing special events. We are active year-round in the San Francisco Bay Area, frequently remembered for our “theme camp village” at Burning Man in Nevada, and active supporters of the thriving national Radical Faerie spiritual network. Various Comfort & Joy group projects benefit faerie sanctuaries & publications in Tennessee, Oregon, Vermont and New Mexico.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Camp Beaverton Home for Wayward Girls
Camp Beaverton: Camp for Wayward Girls” is an intentional (and experimental) Burning Man community camp AND conversation. For who? For Gay and Queer Women (identified), Dykes, Bykes, Sluts, Butches, Bois, Trannies, Lesbians, Geekster-Hip Lezzies, Lesbos, Lipstick Lesbians, the Bi-identified, the Bi-curious, the Hetero-flexible, and even (gasp!) the occasional Straight Girl (as long as she’s as Wayward as the playa is dusty). We are thouroughly queer, yet inclusive, with a definite chick-centric bent. Participation, inquiry, conversation, and owning your shit are the name of the game.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: 4 | Los Angeles |
Camp Beaverton: Meet the Beavers from Beth Nelsen on Vimeo.
Down Low Club
Adhering to the tenet that “what happens at Burning Man, stays at Burning Man”, we offer a comfortable, discrete & enclosed play space away from home for adult men interested in, curious about or dedicated to tactile interaction, massage & erotic/tantric play with other adult men on the Playa.
| Yahoo Group | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 2 | Sexual: 5 | Northridge, CA |
Astropups
For 10 years, the Astropups have been known for providing a cool (and furry) oasis on the playa where countless queer (and just queer-friendly) Burners have crossed paths and met new friends. The Pup’s activities have included queer proms, games, crafternoons, cuddle-in movies and cocktail mixers.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: 3 | San Francisco |
Celestial Bodies
Celestial Bodies is a straight-friendly camp hosting a large and comfortable [underground] lounge for shade, drinks, music and entertainment. Don you favorite SuperHero playa wear and join us for an afternoon Tea Dance, Classical Chill each morning, and check out our other events and activities.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 4 | Recruiting: idk | Sexually: 2 | Sacremento |
Paradise Motel
Paradise Motel is the most garish of roadside motels; yet the best of the ”no-tel” genre, where weary travelers are invited to stop in for a snow cone and enjoy some progressive beats while lounging by the ”pool”. Our group consists mainly of nerds from the bay area, but we have a contingent from LA as well. Everyone helps out with the snow cones during the day and we’ll do some group activities at night. At least until we ”lava lamp” and all get separated. We have a meal plan that usually involves much bacon.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayburbs | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | San Francisco |
Mudskipper Urban Decay Cafe
The Mudskipper Cafe grew out of a group of burners that used to be a part of the huge collective village know as “Avalon Village” in a camp known as UT or “Uncharted Territories”. Since Avalon disbanded as a village it was decided to change the name during the 2009 “Evolution” since this would be the first year in several that “Avalon” would not register together but rather as different camps. So like the Mudskipper taking it’s first step onto land from water, the Mudskipper cafe took it’s first step to being an entity in itself.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Address unkn | |
| Queerity: idk | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | Utah |
Gender Blender
The Gender Blender is a safe haven for those bending and blending gender, a place to come and explore for those who have always wanted to mix up their gender but have never before, and a spot for those who are curious about gender play and how gender impacts and affects our lives. And smoothies!
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | Valley Stream, NY |
Camp Yes Please
Yes: adv – Used to express affirmation, agreement, positive affirmation, or consent. Please: adv – Give pleasure to or to be pleasing to; give satisfaction. Yes Please is the answer to every question. Come meet sexy, open-minded, international, friendly, dancing, writhing people. And be sure to visit our infamous Non-Monogamy Advice Booth, occasionally staffed by real doctors!
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayburbs | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: idk | San Francisco |
Bubbles and Bass
We plan to wake God on the playa! We’ll be rockin’ you out from 4am til 11am with bubbly bass-tastic house music as you watch the sunrise over the playa and dance the AM hours away… and drink some bubbly while you boogie.
| Web Site | No Facebook | No Contact E-Mail | Esplanade |
| Queerity: idk | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | New York |
Just Pony Camp
Just Pony Camp is home to the Ponies. If we are not riding away into the horizon with our ponies, you can stop by our shaded lounge to relax, socialize, or meet up for some pony adventures. Our shaded lounge will feature the Pony Hole Bar that will host Sunset Cocktail parties. If you are lucky, you may encounter a saddle ride or a fun mustache ride. If you think you are a Pony, a Ponita, a Stallion in search of either, or simply a Pony admirer, stop by our camp!
| No Web Site | No Web Site | No Contact E-Mail | Address Unk |
| Queerity: idk | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | San Francisco |
Glamcocks
We started in 2010 with 12 members, 10 of whom were virgins, and all gay. We built a 3-story tower out of wood, including a shower and a living room and invited everyone up to see the view. We’ve progressed a lot in the last 2 years, and we’re expecting 70+ members this year, adding a 4th story to the tower, a giant dance floor with misters and a large dome over it that people can lay in a hammock over the dance floor, all lit up by interactive LED installations. We’ve got people working on innovative grey water and LNT plans, and events throughout the burn.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: idk | San Francisco |
HomojitoVille
A mirage appears in deep Playa. The aroma of fresh icy Homojitos stimulates your hypothalamus. Giant bright puffy flowers belt out groovy dance beats. Leave it to serendipity and the boys of Homojitoville! Always on the move, the Mobile Homojito Dance Bar and Sound Garden of Eden appears randomly, erupting in a fabulous cocktail and dance party, then disappears. Never in the same place twice, this is no mirage. Shake your groove thing where spontaneity rules! Bring us your cup, we’ll fill it with love. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any gayer . . . Homojitoville!
| No Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Address unk | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | Los Angeles |
Sun Guardians
Sun Guardians is an assembly of an idea to combine some really passive masculine energy into something really powerful and dedicated to the heart, soul, mind. Largely fraternal and non-sexual based it is a focus on the masculine and elevating that through yoga and art. *Note: SG has never officially made it out to BM yet, but is still recruiting members for other events.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayburbs | |
| Queerity: 4+ | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: unk | San Francisco |
The Dickstracted Camp
The Dickstracted Camp is and adult-gay oriented camp emphasized on bringing exhibitionism and voyeurism to the playa. Come and take a “collective” shower with us or let yourself be “scrubbed” in our 18′ tall “voyeurs-shower-tower” all this while enjoying a nice drink in our “happy hour showers”.
| No Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: 3 | Los Angeles |
New Listings 2013 (updates pending)
Camp Drigo
Camp Dirigo was founded by a gay thruple in a poly-amorous relationship in 2012 and has members of all sexual identities, orientations and genders. Only one of our campers has been to Burning Man so far as we have been concentrated on our regional burn, Alchemy (the second biggest in the US) but it is our hope to bring our 20ft tall working lighthouse and legendary Moose Hooch to the playa very soon."We are sex positive and sex safe but not a sex themed camp
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 4 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: 2 | Atlanta |
Tiny’s Lounge
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Camp Homoerotica
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Don Quiote
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Camp Montage
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Dusthaven
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Near Queer Camps
Sukkat Shalom
Spreading a little playa dust wherever we may go, this is a great way to keep in touch from our respective corners of the globe. This is the place to let everyone know about the goings on in your life and stay connected to this most wonderful community.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 3 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: unk | San Francisco |
New Listings 2013
Lil’ Crack Whore
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Camp Blo Pop
Description
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | Gayborhood | |
| Queerity: 5 | Recruiting: 5 | Sexual: 4 | San Francisco |
Sex Positive Camps
There is a call out and a need for camps that are not sex-specific but offer some lifestyle decisions that have a strong emphasis on the nuances of unconventional relationships. There is a lot in this are about group dynamics that include sexuality, relationship building and the politics of relationships when it may involve more than a 1 to 1. Note: some Poly camps offer relationship training and counseling.
Poly Asylum
Poly Asylum is a camp devoted to non-monogamy-oriented education and socializing. During the burn week last year we ran a number of non-monogamy skills workshops, had a drop-in service for resolving poly drama, and had two very successful parties. The camp itself is full of bisexual and kinky goodness, and we love to mix it up with other queer groups.
| Web Site | No Facebook | Contact E-Mail | Gayburbs |
| Queerity: 3 | Recruiting: 0 | Sexual: 3 | San Francisco |
Poly Paradise
PolyParadise has been influencing the Hearts & Minds and Washing the Bodies of Playa Citizens from ’2:00 – 10:00′ for the past 13 years.
We are a group of Polyamorists seeking to live our dreams, and this camp is one manifestation of that. Polyamory involves openness to multiple loving relationships, with honesty among all partners.
| Web Site | No Facebook | Contact E-Mail | Address Unk |
| Queerity: 1 | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: 3 | Salt Lake City |
Down Low Club
See listing above.
Other | Sobriety | More
Camp Stella
Find a Home Meeting. In the “real world” Home Groups help us stay sane and sober for many different reasons. There are now about half a dozen daily 12 step meetings in Black Rock City. Pick a time and place that works for you and return to the same meeting regularly. Burning Man only lasts 7 days, but seeing and hearing the same people even just a few times can be really helpful.
| Web Site | No Facebook | Mail List | Gayborhood |
| Queerity: 4+ | Recruiting: idk | Sexual: idk | San Francisco |
Run Free Camp
Run Free Camp is a Burning Man theme camp of diverse queer and queer friendly folks who have agreed to experience Burning Man clean and sober for the duration of the event. Some of us are active in AA and other 12 step programs. Others are not. Camp Stella hosts 5 open AA meetings during the week. All are welcome to attend.
| Web Site | No Facebook | No Contact E-Mail | Gayburbs |
| Queerity: idk | Recruiting: idk | Sexually: idk | San Francisco |
Villages
Camps may have combined heir efforts to create a village.
- Comfort & Joy includes: Camp Montage, Dust Haven
- Bloasis Village includes: Camp Rain Blow Fishy, Camp Dickstracted, and Camp Bearin Oasis have joined together to form a New Village for the Cargo Cult Burn 2013…to be known as “Bloasis” (formerly “Blopopoasis”)
List
Art Cars
Crisco Disco
Welcoming the second return of the Mutant Vehicle, Crisco Disco (Formerly BAALs-DEEP of MAL-Mart Presents BAAL-Mart 2012) back to the Playa in 2013, now proud to announce the theme camp has officially formed.
| Web Site | Contact E-Mail | No Address | |
| Queerity: 2 | Recruiting: unk | Sexual: unk | Los Angeles |
Details on Ratings
With a rating from 5 (being highest) to 1 (lowest) indicates a tolerance. As mentioned it is rare any camp contains 100% of any one kind of group of people, but queer camps tend to be a majority LGBT.
- Queerity: LGBTQ presence in their general membership/community
- Recruiting: Welcoming to new Burners/Virgins; if this is you we highly recommend becoming educated in the 10 Principles and the Burner culture anyway you can to make your journey enjoyable for you and your fellow community members. See the 10 Principles Category on this site.
- Sexual: Some camps have a very sex positive community and space for exploring that. Some do not. Before making your choice you might want to be aware of it. No one is remanded to being a sexual person if it is not in your comfort zone. Just the way it is.