A vocal group of activists known as “Inclusivi-TEA” have launched a campaign demanding that the legendary Burning Man festival undergo a major rebrand to “Burning Person” in the spirit of inclusivity and gender neutrality. The group argues that the name “Burning Man” reinforces a patriarchal culture that is at odds with the ethos of radical inclusion for which the festival claims to stand.
“These terms matter. What are we saying when we keep calling it Burning MAN? That only men can be on fire? Metaphorically, of course,” said Sky Harmony, leader of Inclusivi-TEA. “It’s 2023! The binary is out; inclusive language is in!”
In addition to the name change, the group demands a radical overhaul of festival vocabulary. “We’re not attendees; we’re ‘Partici-They-People,'” Sky elaborated while sipping on a fair-trade, organic, kombucha latte. “And the event shouldn’t be held in a ‘camp,’ which has so many historical and triggering connotations. It should be a ‘Safety-Neutral Gathering Space.'”
Burning Man—or Burning Person—organizers were quick to respond. “We appreciate the call for inclusivity, and we’re looking into how best to extinguish the flames of exclusion,” said a spokesperson, choosing words cautiously. “However, we do want to clarify that the ‘Man’ in ‘Burning Man’ actually refers to the large wooden effigy that we burn, which, to our knowledge, has not expressed a gender preference.”
The festival has been a venue for open expression and artistic creativity, but Inclusivi-TEA claims it’s not enough. They’ve outlined further demands, including but not limited to:
- Gender-neutral porta-potties with educational pamphlets on ‘How to Pee Inclusively’
- Replacing fire dancers with “smoke wavers” to avoid triggering those who are afraid of fire
- Changing the term ‘Art Cars’ to ‘Art Non-Binary Vehicles’
However, not everyone is on board with these changes. Long-time Burning Man attendee, Dusty Nomad, expressed his concerns: “I thought this was a place where we all could escape labels and societal norms. Next thing you know, they’ll be demanding gluten-free sand and hypoallergenic dust storms.”
Whether or not the festival will go through a major rebrand is yet to be seen, but the topic has certainly ignited a fiery debate among its community.
