Queer Punk Witchcraft for Resistance
“I think, in general, there was an undercurrent of constant fear in our lives,” says Kelly, a queer elder and witch from Atlanta, Georgia. “But also a ferocity, a willingness to fight for change and risk it all... And a depth of love and compassion for our fellow community members who were suffering.”
In the 1990s, Kelly found herself at the intersection of Atlanta's queer community, punk scene, and witchcraft network. She and her friends practiced witchcraft that was inspired by punk values and wore their ritual jewelry to hardcore shows, all while stubbornly defending their queer family in the face of the ongoing AIDS crisis.
“All of us knew someone we cared about who had died,” she recalls. “We were very involved in advocacy for HIV/AIDS research and treatment... Many of us worked hands-on caring for our friends in their final months, when they were too sick to care for themselves and their families had abandoned them.”
In addition to this ongoing crisis, Kelly remembers living in fear of falling victim to a hate crime. The murder of Matthew Shepherd was a looming shadow on the queer community consciousness, and Kelly knew several men who had been victims of gay bashing.
“The relative safety that LGBTQ+ people have experienced in the 2000s has been beautiful to witness,” Kelly says. “I fear that this may be a thing of the past now though, in our current political environment.”
Since those dark, vicious years during the AIDs crisis, Kelly has lived a full life as a queer woman, mother, and grandmother. But in the last year, she has begun to worry about the future.
“It feels like we are free falling backwards right now,” she says.
Kelly isn't alone in her fears. According to their website, the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 575 bills targeting LGBTQ+ citizens in the United States. The United Kingdom's Supreme Court recently ruled that the nation's legal definition of womanhood is based on biological sex. This explicitly excludes transgender women from sex-specific services and from some protections from gender-based discrimination.
These legal attacks on queer rights come in the midst of increasing conservatism and decreasing tolerance for minority spiritual practices. It is no wonder many queer witches fear for the future.
Queer Punk Witchcraft Today
In the 1990s, Kelly and other queer, punk witches in Atlanta combined magic and activism to protect and support each other. Witches today can follow their lead by infusing their magic with punk values like anti-authoritarianism, fierce individuality, do-it-yourself (DIY), and direct action.
Like punks, most witches tend toward anti-authoritarianism. Witches choose to take responsibility for their own spiritual practices rather than blindly accepting someone else's teachings. This healthy skepticism is vital in resisting oppression.
Whether you call it spiritual discernment or sticking it to the man, questioning authority is more important than ever. Witches should be especially wary of any authority claiming another minority group is the enemy, from anti-immigrant politicians to the host of the “natal women only” goddess ritual. Tap into the punk spirit and tell these folks to stuff it.
Individuality is another value most witches share with punks, and it can be literally lifesaving in the face of growing pressure to conform.
Weaponized individuality is one of the best ways for straight, cisgender witches to be an ally to their queer covenmates. It may not always be safe for a queer or trans person to be loud and angry. Straight and cisgender folks can use their privilege to loudly and proudly defend the differences in their community. Importantly, this doesn't mean talking over queer and trans people, but working to amplify their voices and speak in their defense.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) is a key value of both the punk movement and older queer communities. This goes beyond just rejecting consumerism – it's about developing self-reliance and growing mutual aid networks. As Kelly described, it often includes creating alternative care networks for members of the community.
DIY witchcraft means making an effort to make, rather than buy, things for magic, but it means more than that. It means adjusting things to meet each witch's unique needs. It means creating communities where witches support and aid each other.
Perhaps the most important queer punk value is direct action. It's not enough to be silently disapproving of the system – someone has to get out there and fight it. Strikes, protests, and civil disobedience are the path to a world that is safer for everyone. These are rituals for change that can become powerful spells with a bit of intention, as Sarah Lyons describes in her book, Revolutionary Witchcraft.
While embracing queer punk witchcraft won't fix the current state of the world, it can be a way to stubbornly root down and gather strength for the coming fight. Today's fighters can cast a spell of protection over tomorrow's queer witches.
“What you do now and what you fight for now will affect future generations,” Kelly says. “Your actions matter deeply. You matter deeply. I'm glad you are here.”
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