What is Different Kind of Dude Fest?

- “Different Kind of Dude Fest is about possibilities. As guys, we have a lot of limits on how we behave, what we feel, and who we connect with. These are limits that keep us from emotional intimacy, knowing our full selves, being able to not know the right answer and from healthy vulnerability.

This comes with a pain that is oftentimes taken out against those closest to us–women, children and other guys that don’t pay enough attention to their limits.

What if we came together to talk honestly about these gender expectations and punk? What if we had space to explore the many possibilities of being, acting and feeling that already surround us? That’s what Different Kind of Dude Fest is all about.”

-”To me, Different Kind of Dude Fest is about creating a safe, inclusive space where people feel like they can learn, grow, discuss, and have a positive experience. Different Kind of Dude Fest is a place to learn about yourself and how to deal with the issues that go along with living in a misogynist, patriarchal society. We have all internalized this self-defeating culture, and Different Kind of Dude Fest can be a place where we can explore how to change and heal within ourselves.”

Why is Different Kind of Dude Fest necessary?

- Because there are things guys don’t talk about:

* Why does domestic and sexual violence touch so many lives and come from hands like ours?

* Why does sex often feel more like an addiction, and intimacy like an assault?

* Why do so few of us have guy friends that we can share our greatest joys and deepest sorrows with?

* Why are guys more likely to die young, commit suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol?

* Why do we still hear words like “gay”, “fag” and “pussy” to keep us boxed in?

* Why do so many of us keep hidden the parts of ourselves that cry, love and want desperately to grow?

Different Kind of Dude Fest is necessary because in a world so dominated by war, fear, alienation and lost hope we need each other for support and inspiration. Together we can shift the spotlight to focus on the parts of ourselves that don’t get airtime or neatly fit into boxes; to recognize similarity in our differences. Different Kind of Dude Fest is necessary because we all have the potential to struggle for change and be good anti-sexist allies. In fact, so many of us already are, and this is a chance for us to talk, learn and connect.

How do we make Different Kind of Dude Fest inspirational?

- By coming with open minds. We make it inspirational by building relationships instead of pointing fingers. We all have shit to deal with and this a chance to deal with it together, to look up from guilt and blame and find a hope we can fight for. Different Kind of Dude Fest might be challenging, but it’s gonna be a damn good time too.

- It inspires me:

* That people and the bands they care about can come together on these issues.

* To support bands that want to join in these dialogues with us.

* That Different Kind of Dude Fest is a part of the process of repairing and healing in a culture that doesn’t acknowledge people’s need to do that.

* That Different Kind of Dude Fest can be one more step towards creating a less violent, more hopeful world for everyone.