Ok so in response to my stream... I am being asked for a summary of events,
I did my stream based on what I could tell as an outside observer that runs events there and visits on a semi-regular basis (definitely will do so more in Longmont..)
The timeline of events best I could tell at that time was:
1) New fae (Kindness) comes into the picture, becomes involved with Bonnie.
2) Apparently there was some kind of argument, where Kindness (may or may not) have had an incident with temporary blindness that (may or may not) have had to do with a seizure (nothing is ever confirmed about this)
3) Accusations of "faking symptoms" on one side, and "ableism" on the other side occur.
4) Bonnie and Kindness drift away from the TUR
5) Bonnie takes "fresh look" at TUR and starts making allegations on Twitter
6) At some point KF gets involved. There is suspicion that Bonnie threw them into the hornets' nest.
In this document I’m not even going to touch the KF aspect.
There are other random events, and they all seem to have to do with relationship issues. One person on twitter claims their life was ruined by TUR, but the only evidence seems to have to do with being in an ex-relationship with one of the operators.
Another incident where there was a sexual assault by someone who had come to stay there, and was removed due to it, particularly when they started making threats of gun violence, occurred.
The Westcliffe location is Bonnie's property, she wants everyone out now (which happened recently) and they plan to rebuild in Longmont. Another important reason for moving is because the Westcliffe location is not making for a safe place for LGBTQIA+ folks to find sanctuary, given the nature of the community around it.
Before I wanted to say anything else about it I decided to consult the Ranch themselves to get a more accurate account of events from their perspective. This is the result.
Norintha
The argument between Sky/Bonnie/Kindness was private between the three of them
Then at the weekly meeting Sky broaches the issues (he is a palliative caregive and felt Kindness was making light of dying old people) Bonnie accused him of rape.
Alynna Trypnotk : ok
Norintha
It's worth mentioning Kindness spent most of a year contacting Mistress on various accounts, refusing to take hard No for an answer.
Bonnie's fresh looks always coincidence with announcements from the ranch or ranch appearances.
Alynna Trypnotk : How did this all start, from your view?
Norintha
Well for some background, Bonnie was basically always championing kicking out someone she would rotate targets depending on whims. (Daisy/Justyne/the trans masc couple/the trio from philly for being "useless" J for depression, so forth and so on)
So she always was against the mission of the ranch, while demanding to be officially the CFO
Alynna Trypnotk : what was her official role?
Norintha
But she met Kindness at DenFur, and basically moved in with fae.
She's the CFO of Tenacious Unicorn Ranch (the 501(c)3 corporation)
She filed the paperwork with the state and everything.
The demands for CFO were when the ranch was still in Livermore she was CFO in Westcliffe.
Alynna Trypnotk : Is there a procedure in place in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws to remove her?
Norintha
The board could just remove her.
She has previously failed to avail herself to the board or to answer official requests.
Alynna Trypnotk : Are there any articles in place regarding when a member of the board becomes a bad actor?
Norintha
I mean there are laws for when a fiduciary violates their legal obligations to act in the best interests of whatever they are a fiduciary for.
Alynna Trypnotk
Well, in the Articles and ByLaws there should have also been some additional procedure.
Norintha
All I can say in that direction is that there was unauthorized access into the 501(c)(3) corporate info accounts and everything is locked down pending further legal need
*recently
Alynna Trypnotk : nods
Norintha
Baring a gag after this is all done, remind me that this is one you want to hear
Like take a screen cap and save it somewhere with an evocative name
Alynna Trypnotk
I would actually recommend re-incorporation at this point, but that's me. We tried to make 5280 bulletproof when it comes to bad actors.
Norintha : Thank you
Alynna Trypnotk : Our bylaws can be examined.
Norintha : nodnod
Anyway back to the timeline
Alynna Trypnotk
Alright so... She was wanting to boot out "useless people" (hopefully she didn't actually use that language...)
Norintha
Useless was said as was "fuck up"
And other less savory terms
She's been grossly ableist
Alynna Trypnotk : So noted.
Norintha
She met Kindness and fell instantly for faer
By the first of September Bonnie was making demands of the ranch in regards to allowing kindness on
We had previous issues with Bonnie onboarding people unilaterally
(eviction for anyone who doesn't vote yes!)
So we actually demanded that everyone be involved
Alynna Trypnotk : Wouldn't eviction also require a vote?
Norintha : Not when Bonnie thinks she's the landlord.
Alynna Trypnotk
What is the vote pass percentage?
I see.
Norintha
We've only ever removed one person from the ranch and that was Rosa for credibly threatening gun violence. Other than that one time forcible removal hasn't ever been on the table for anything short of domestic/sexual violence.
We Don't Kick People Out.
We didn't really "get" that Bonnie was in terrible terms with her mom and likely couldn't actually force a removal.
Alynna Trypnotk
How you all resolve issues with residents would be a worthy topic for another time, but you are saying that as owner of the property, Bonnie exerted extra pressure.
Norintha : Yes
That is the one word answer.
Alynna Trypnotk : So the cause of Bonnie leaving is... that a motion to onboard Kindness wasn't passing?
Norintha : Yes ultimately
Alynna Trypnotk : Why wasn't it passing?
Norintha : We told Bonnie it had to be anonymous and unanimous around BLFC (it was October that year)
Alynna Trypnotk
It might seem I am asking dumb or obvious questions, but I want this to be something I can write up, and post, and have it actually answer the communities' questions about it.
Norintha
Several people felt uncomfortable around Kindness as he kept trying to tell them they were actually plural and they were hurting their own headmates, Sky was uncomfortable because as an end-of-life caregiver they felt Kindness was making light of serious issues, and Mistress because Kindness previously wouldn't take no for an answer (Kindness's assertion that Mistress didn't know fae was someone Mistress previously talked with was wrong, she just has tact)
Alynna Trypnotk
There is something else I was wanting to ask. Kindness and your mistress. What was fae asking for and getting a hard no on?
Norintha
Different things at different times, I know at one point fae tried and failed to internet date Mistress, fae also wanted to extended visit
Pre Bonnie
Alynna Trypnotk : Were unanimous votes to onboard someone, the typical?
Norintha : Yes
The trio and the trans masc couple both had them
Alynna Trypnotk
I was about to ask what the warning signs were to bringing faer on, but you covered it.
Mistress is Penny, correct?
Norintha : Yes
Alynna Trypnotk : I knew that, of course, but wanted to make it noted.
Norintha : We didn't actually make it to a vote
Alynna Trypnotk : Who was hurting Kindness' headmates, according to faer?
Norintha
Bonnie skulked off to live in with Kindness for keeps after BLFC.
No that everyone on the ranch was plural and the ranchers were hurting our own headmates by denying it
Kindness and Bonnie offered a "unified theory of plurality"
Their words.
Alynna Trypnotk
Fae was insisting every... umm... yeah, how about no.
Is Bonnie plural?
Norintha
Yes to the best of my knowledge
(and this unified theory extends to everyone on the planet)
Alynna Trypnotk
As a plural system, I may ask about this "unified theory" at some point. But even if it bore itself out, you still can't enforce identification as such.
If Bonnie and Kindness will still talk to me after this, I will ask them.
Is there anything between then and the move-out that should be mentioned?
Norintha
Bonnie spent a lot of time from September to the move out in Kindness's apartment as the blow up with Sky happened fairly early and Bonnie clearly didn't want to be near Sky after leveling and recanting a rape accusation
Alynna Trypnotk : But the situation is different between those three now?
Norintha
But they visited a few times basically to try to convince the ranch that Bonnie + Kindness was a better deal than Sky
Yes Bonnie recanted and Sky is one of the flavors of white appropriated eastern religions that is misinterpreted into demanding perfect forgiveness at all times.
Or Sky is a giant fucking doormat of a Buddhist.
Either or
Alynna Trypnotk
So what are Sky's objections?
Norintha
(Sky's description of events at the ranch meeting) That Sky and Bonnie had a conversation with/about being a triad with Kindness and Sky was balking at that because Kindness comes off as manipulative (a yes on that from every ranch member) and then Kindness stood up said he couldn't see and started walking into walls and reaching out stiff-armed to knock stuff over.
Sky felt that was so incredibly shitty of a thing to do they brought it up in the full meeting.
Alynna Trypnotk
So Sky forgave them for all of that, and left with them?
Norintha
Well no, Sky didn't/maybe still doesn't like Kindness and after a messy breakup with one of the people from Philly moved out into a place in Westcliffe
Alynna Trypnotk
Funny place to .. settle, but anyway.
So .. Bonnie and Kindness moved out. Because Kindness couldn't get onboarded. Then what happened?
Norintha
Contact petered out come November, and we didn't see either of them again after a trip up to Kindness's to talk about Bonnie's future with the ranch.
Alynna Trypnotk : How did that talk go?
Norintha
It was disturbing
Neither of them could stay on topic for more than a few seconds and there were a hoard of pet rats free running all around the apartment
It smelled foul and Kindness was gaunt
Alynna Trypnotk
Are they still together? Are you suspecting Kindness is being abused?
Norintha
Everyone wanted to leave as fast as we could, uncomfortable wasn't the start of how they made the three of us still v
I mean the things Kindness tweets sounds like massive neglect is happening at best.
Making Kindness fashion a bedpan (which spills), refusing bus fare/suggesting they don't go to doctor visits/telling them Kindness isn't well enough to bathe when Kindness asks
Alynna Trypnotk : What was the result of that meeting, btw?
Norintha
The three of us (Mistress, Kat, and myself) were incredibly skeeved out and Bonnie ceased direct contact to everyone to the best of my knowledge.
Alynna Trypnotk : So nothing was decided about her future.
Norintha
Bonnie has released a drip of personal texts with Mistress, but I have no access or knowledge of them beyond what's been published by Bonnie.
Alynna Trypnotk : The location was not in any kind of shape where a discussion could take place?
Norintha
It was clear Bonnie had decided to stay with Kindness and was talking about starting a TUR north to rescue rats.
We nodded politely out of fear she would shoot at us.
(or again in the case of Mistress)
Alynna Trypnotk
She had a weapon?
At the ready?
Norintha
Bonnie owned a Ruger Precision Rifle in .300 and a Ruger Five-seveN pistol in an unknown location.
Alynna Trypnotk
Wait, she shot.. in the general direction, of Penny?
Norintha
They were talking in the dome, Bonnie got up, went to the dome bathroom, and a round discharged from her Five-seven at an upward angle in the direction of Mistress, missing her by inches.
Bonnie's defence was that she "was playing with my gun on the toilet"
Alynna Trypnotk : Was that talk an argument?
Norintha : Yeah, most topics with Bonnie ended up being arguments.
Alynna Trypnotk
Understood. I am not going to add my opinion here on gun safety and the preceding. I think it speaks for itself.
Norintha
Bonnie was no longer allowed to carry her sidearm in the dome (she insisted on being strapped 24/7)
That was the result of the almost murder.
Alynna Trypnotk : So after that meeting, what happened?
Norintha
After we got out of Kindness's apartment?
We all asked each other if it was as bad as we each experienced
We confirmed that yes it was bad and had a ranch meeting
Everyone (J/Daisy/Trans masc couple/ trio from philly) added their opinions and experiences and no one felt comfortable with Bonnie or Kindness retuning.
Alynna Trypnotk : *nodnods* And Bonnie and Kindness were informed?
Norintha
They hadn't been to the ranch in months and didn't have a means to come to the ranch so everyone felt that was a conflict that didn't need to happen.
I'll cop to being conflict averse to a fault
Alynna Trypnotk
*nods* And I bet this has been crazy for you as a result.
So, after that, when did the twitter outrage start?
Norintha
The worst part is watching my loved ones hurt
She made a tweet about "taking down the ranch" on or about the first of November after the official account made a post about the expansion.
Alynna Trypnotk : The expansion to Longmont?
Norintha : Yes the expansion to Longmont/Westcliffe location 2
Alynna Trypnotk : Is Westcliffe 2 still planned?
Norintha : No
Don't have enough animals to need the space
Alynna Trypnotk
*nods* ... since the whole Twitter thing is well documented I'm going to move to some more positive questions.
Norintha : *nodnod*
Alynna Trypnotk : How big is the Longmont location?
Norintha : It's small
10 paca, 5 goats and JoJo.
Alynna Trypnotk : Plans to expand in Longmont?
Norintha
Well the three female goats are pregnant.
Dunno if we are going to keep them
Alynna Trypnotk : I suppose its also too soon to tell.
Norintha
That's the big part
I want to keep doing things
But I gotta have a rest
Alynna Trypnotk : I personally believe that the whole twitter attack is to wear the Ranch down.
Norintha : I agree
Alynna Trypnotk : What does the Ranch want to do in Longmont?
Norintha
I'd like to get back into showing kids/teens that working with animals is a fulfilling and rewarding life.
My first goal though is therapy
Even for someone as dinged and scabbed as I already was, turns out there was still something left to harm.
Alynna Trypnotk
Are you all planning on being a sanctuary for LGBTQIA+ folk again?
Norintha : Yes
Unequivocally
Alynna Trypnotk : *smiles*
And events? I mean I'd still like to do the regular events again like Transgiving ..
Norintha
Yeah we want to do those as soon as you are up to it
And I want to start the queer game nights ASAP too
Alynna Trypnotk
Oh I am ready now.
She had the epilepsy diagnosis and even got to change medications a few times, but her insistence that she had eleventy million "siezures" a day and had super intense amnesia means this electroencephalohram will show she's faking. I guess she's pre-empting it.
