Learning from the Mer Pods

Photo credit: Pexels

Subcultures have been around for a long time, from the Furries of the 1970s, adults who dressed up as furry animals; to the Bronies in the 1980s, adult male fans of “My Little Pony.” The mermaid subculture is now a half-billion-dollar a-year industry. Participants don mermaid tails costing from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

 A former U.S. Navy man, Newton Perry, was the originator of the Weeki Wachee Springs Mermaid Show in West Central Florida. By the 1950s Weeki Wachee had become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Weeki Wachee is still going strong today, auditioning a new generation of mermaids.

The Mertailor makes tails and other accessories for mermen, mermaids, and even Guppy Tails for children. The Mertailor created his own Aquarium in Lecanto, Fla., to expand the Mermaid experience. He recently invited the original Weeki Wachee mermaids to swim at his Aquarium when Weeki Wachee cancelled the reunion show of the original mermaids

Mermaids and mermen who perform have mernames and create merpersonas for themselves that become their professional names and characters.

Merpeople perform at aquariums, casinos, and parties for all ages. They even have created merpods which are families that swim together for the fun of it. You can see merpods lounging together on beaches and in swimming pools in their mertails and costumes. The merpods become their chosen families with support and acceptance.

Credit: Pink Feather Photography

Many mermaids and mermen have formed ocean conservation groups. One example is Mahino Mermaid and her Merpod, Mahina Conservation Tribe which teaches children about ocean and seabird conservation.

There are merteachers and merschools around the world that teach men and women how to be merpeople for performances or just for fun. Evertythingmermaid.com is a great source of information for the mercommunity.

Merman Jax is the owner of Los Angeles based Dark Tide Productions LLC.  Responding to a question in an interview, Merman Jax said “Be a proud but humble merman, set an example. We are guardians of the sea, and most do with strength and sincerity.”

Merman Jax gives lectures on merman mythology to help people understand the rich history of the merpeople. Merman Jax is a professional merman and books gigs for himself and other members of his troop.

Mermaiding is a haven for members of the LGBTQIA+ community especially for trans and nonbinary people because they can be themselves without judgment. “Mermaiding is the queer subculture promoting self-acceptance,” says author Darshita Goyal on Vice.com.

The fluid LGBTQIA+ population finds the mermaid culture inviting because trans and nonbinary people can pick what identity they want without having to worry about pronouns or not aligning to the gender they were born as. They receive the acceptance they don’t always get in the outside world.

For mermaids who are shaped more abundantly, Mermaid Che Monique is here for you! According to her website, Mermaid Che is a fat, Black Mermaid with natural hair. She is here to remind us that we all deserve to live a full and magical life.

She is the founding member of the Society of Fat Mermaids. She has also created her own clothing line and is available for mermaid appearances. One of her tee shirts says, “Gender is Fluid Under the Sea.” Mermaid Che Monique is very popular on social media. 

Mermaiding does pose some safety risks. Hyperthermia from swimming in cold water with real fish is a danger. The ocean can be treacherous, and mermaid teachers tell their students never to go out if the ocean is rough because it is a drowning risk.

But the people who participate in mermaiding say that the happiness it brings to their lives is worth the risks. It is a form of meditation for some that takes away the stress of everyday life and allows them to focus on the beauty of the moment. Youtube has many beautiful videos of mermaids swimming, one of which shows three mesmerizing mermaids in their natural setting.

The mermaiding subculture is popular in other countries as well including Israel. The top 10 places for mermaiding, according to Mermaid Kat, are: Hawaii, Maldives, Indonesia, Australia, Bahamas, Thailand, Egypt, Florida, Philippines, and Mexico.

To me, the popularity of this subculture can teach people outside of it many valuable lessons —compassion and unconditional love for everyone. It teaches adults that they can keep the fun and whimsy of childhood as an adult, and it doesn’t make them childish or less mature.

Mermaids are the living embodiment of what humanity will be like when they are citizens of the New Earth; a kinder, more understanding world where everyone has a place, and nobody is left out.