From: mauser@INTERCON.COM (Richard Chandler)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.furry
Subject: Furry Fandom History (Was: Furries and sexuality)
Date: 6 Apr 92 22:08:27 GMT

> From: hepfox@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Dave Peyton)
> 	I think a big part of the reason that some people have come
> to associate furrydom with homo/bi-sexuality is, quite simply, that
> several (many? most?) of the furfen who *are* homo/bi are the ones who
> are making the most noise about sexuality in furrydom.  People more
> familiar with the fan scene than I have said that some fans who
> recently came out of the closet are now loud advocates of the various
> gay rights movements.

When I first got involved in furrydom, back in '85, it was explained to me 
that sexuality was a big part of the fandom (it seemed like everyone was 
doing erotica at the time) and that the Prancing Skiltaire was the Mecca that 
everyone bowed to. (except for the fans of Bigfoot (i.e. cartoony) stuff, who 
looked to Wisconson).  The most regarded publications were Q, and Furversion 
and other erotic books.

Now over the last few years, it seems like that western empire has fallen, 
and numerous centers are arising.  There is still San Francisco but also San 
Antonio Texas, Seattle Washington, all over Florida, Philly, and Tucson.  And 
each seems to have it's own bent.  Florida, for example, has an emphasis on a 
more cartoony style, while Tucson is a major source for MilTech furries.  
Philly has a very high concentration of publishers (I may live in Virginia, 
but I associate myself with the Philly crowd).  Seattle has a lot of pros 
(Barr, Gallacci).  I'm not sure how I'd classify San Antonio - perhaps as 
having the most serious and active/devoted fans.

I think I like this decentralized chapter in Furry History better.  In the 
past, there were people who acted like they had some kind of authority, who 
gathered "power" and "influence" and tried to do things like control the 
distribution of xeroxes of Ken Sample pictures, or ostracize people they 
didn't like by spreading rumors (My brother in law was, I hope, one of the 
last victims of this).  If you toadied enough you might get a clean copy of 
something.  Nowadays, people get to stand on their own reputations.

About the only thing I miss about these older days (Actually a middle period, 
which I will explain later) is that since it was before the Black and White 
explosion, people were a lot more liberal with their artwork.  They didn't 
mind if a thousand copies of their pictures circulated through the mails, 
since it was good exposure.  After the explosion, people began to think that 
every last pencil sketch had inestimable value, and now there is a lot less 
of that free flow of artistic output, and everyone is pointing fingers 
accusing others of ripping them off.

The earlier period I referred to before is way back, from the late 70's to 
the early 80's where it was much more of an underground fandom.  Everyone was 
having fun cranking out mimeographed 'zines.  Vootie, and later RowrBrazzle 
set the tone.  Everyone was doing their own scene, it was tremendously UN-
organized and very free.  Perhaps one day we can reclaim that heritage too, 
people are taking themselves and the fandom too seriously nowadays.