September 2-5, 2005
Rowe’s Labor Day Event is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This is one of the largest and longest-standing gay retreats in the country: an amazing and gorgeous gathering of gay, bisexual, and transgender men seeking a more complete sense of community and spirituality. Support, acceptance, and connection are what we all need to survive and thrive. For many of us, Rowe has developed into a community that truly provides these things.
For new participants, Rowe can be a major step in coming out, a bridge to gay community, and a place to make new and true friends. For returnees, Rowe means coming home to old friends in a place of emotional and heartfelt connection.
Rowe is a spiritual retreat where we can meet our sacred, intimate selves through walks in the woods, quiet talks with new and old friends, group ritual, or private prayer. We see happiness and love in the faces of men year after year. So many lifelong friendships have been formed at Rowe, which is a place of transformation that has brought healing and newness into the lives of many gay men. This process is supported by a wide range of workshops by highly skilled facilitators on subjects such as sexuality and spirituality, yoga, body-mind awareness, HIV and AIDS in our lives, the search for intimacy, meditation, and bodywork. On the lighter side, there is Sports For Fairies, A Drag Playshop, and other similar delights. In addition, look for special events this year to commemorate our 20th anniversary!
Two consistent highlights of the retreat are the delicious meals and the talent show. The cooks go all out for us because we respond so enthusiastically to their creations and their embracing hospitality. The talent show gives the chance to stand in the spotlight to anyone who wishes it. It takes courage to trust, to be open, and to share our spirit with others; each performer is showered with applause and support. It is this spirit of acceptance that makes Rowe such a sacred and amazing community.
As gifted, colorful, sensitive, deep, tender, outrageous, and shy gay men, we have been trained to hide our magic. Our challenge is to reclaim that magic, but it often takes a village to help this happen. We invite you to join our community. Bring your gifts, struggles, and dreams. You are welcome here. The work-in-progress that is your life will be enriched and will enrich others. This program is one day longer and costs $80 more than our regular weekend conference fee.
Ken Page is a psychotherapist, a workshop leader, and consultant who offers groups and trainings on intimacy, spirituality, and sexuality. He believes that gay, bisexual, and transgender men hold unique gifts and that healing involves rediscovering and embracing these gifts that have often been shunned in our families and by our culture. He is also delighted to be a new father.