In Brief

Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered individuals experience unequal access and substandard health care. The GLBT community in Delaware faces unique challenges such as homophobia and heterosexism. These challenges cause many gay individuals to avoid seeking medical care and not to be able to be open and honest with their doctors. However, the situation is getting better here in Sussex County because providers like Beebe Hospital are educating their network of doctors about the GLBT community.

So, why do we need CAMP Health Days? Good question. In the fall of 2003, CAMP Rehoboth began the wellness program. When we talk about wellness, we’re talking about more than the absence of disease, and about more than your physical body. Wellness includes your mental, spiritual, sexual, intellectual, social and emotional well-being. Being healthy is about having the skills and resources to meet your needs and goals, and to change or cope with what life brings. It is about you as an individual and the environment in which you live. As part of this program, we have been talking to members of the community to see what needs people are requesting. As with any new program, we are starting out slowly so we can provide quality programs for the GLBT community. Stay tuned for more details on programs we will be offering.

One of our first events this summer will be in collaboration with Beebe Hospital. On Saturday, July 17 we will offer several health screenings at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, 39 Baltimore Avenue. Screenings include: blood pressure, osteoporosis and metabolic scale/body fat. We will provide free health screenings, food and goodies for the community.

Feel free to call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620 if there are any questions about the event.

See you there!

Don’t Forget to Check Your Drawers

CAMP Rehoboth wants that jewelry you no longer use when you go out on the town; those beautiful, and sometimes outrageous, scarves you no longer wear; and those purses that spend more time in the closet than at your side. Bundle up those accessories and help send a child to camp.

CAMP Rehoboth continues to work with Camp To Belong (CTB), a national non-profit organization, dedicated to reuniting biological siblings of children in foster care. Its primary goal is to provide a sense of belonging to youth as individuals, and as siblings, while they journey through and beyond the social service system. Camp To Belong has a year-round commitment to educate the world about the significance of the sibling bond as the longest relationship in life. The CTB programs receive both national and international attention. Camp To Belong is the recipient of numerous awards, including Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network Use Your Life Award.

CAMP Rehoboth collects the items and then sends them to Camp to Belong where they will be sold at their Glitterfests to raise money to send kids to camp in one of three locations in California, Colorado and Maine. It continues to be successful due to the generosity of people just like you.

Drop off your no longer needed accessories at the CAMP Rehoboth office, 39 Baltimore Avenue. For more information on Camp To Belong, go to www.camptobelong.org or e-mail Andrea at andrea@camprehoboth.com.

jamé foks’ Saturday Night Dance Party

DJ jamé foks invites you to join her for a Saturday night dance party and show at AJ’s Bistro and Bar located in Peddler’s Village Shopping Center on Rt. 24 in Lewes.

That’s right, AJ’s has a dance floor! They also have a huge parking lot with tons of parking.

Saturday, July 17, jame’ presents "Queens of Comedy" with special guest performances by Ms. Tisha Towers and Ms. Erica Skyy. Saturday, July 24 they are hosting a Renegade Reunion Party.

Music starts at 10 p.m. with a brief show at 11 p.m. and then dancing for the rest of the night.

AJ’s serves a complete menu and the food is incredible. The full liquor bar is large and features a huge beer selection, and AJ’s serves a late night bar menu including pizzas, wings and other yummy bar food!

AJ’s is located on RT. 24 just 5 miles west of Rehoboth Beach in the Peddler’s Village Shopping Center. From downtown Rehoboth, go North on RT. 1 to McDonald’s, turn left onto RT. 24 West. Drive 5 minutes, cross the Love Creek bridge to Peddler’s Village, AJ’s is on the right.

Stonewall Democrat Summer Benefit

Delaware Stonewall is pleased to announce that Governor Ruth Ann Minner, U.S. Representative Barney Frank, and National Stonewall’s Chrissy Gephardt will headline its August 7 summer benefit in Rehoboth Beach.

Established in 2003, Delaware Stonewall is the state’s only political organization working to build bridges between the gay and lesbian community and the State Democratic Party.

Congressman Frank, a 20-year member of Congress from Massachusetts, is the nation’s best known gay politician and one of the Democratic Party’s intellectual and political leaders. Governor Minner has been outspoken in her belief that Delaware’s Democratic Party is one of inclusion and that Delaware should protect its gay citizens from discrimination.

Joining Governor Minner and Representative Frank is Chrissy Gephardt, who is spearheading "get out the vote" activities for the National Stonewall Democrats. Gephardt is the daughter of former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. She led outreach efforts to the gay and lesbian community in her father’s former presidential campaign.

"The 2004 elections are critical for Democrats, both locally and nationally," said Delaware Stonewall President Jane Monahan. "We want to use this event as a big old-fashioned rally to inspire Democrats of all persuasions to join forces, get involved, and triumph at the polls come November. The money we raise," continued Monahan, "will enable us to work hard for Democrats this fall."

More than 300 people attended Delaware Stonewall’s summer benefit last year, including numerous state and local elected officials. "We attracted a diverse cross-section of "Democrats – young, old, straight, gay, upstate, and downstate" said Delaware Stonewall Vice President Rich Barnett, "and we hope we can again this year."

The benefit will be held on Saturday, August 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the home of Dr. Jim D’Orta at 123 Silver Lake Drive in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Check or cash only please. Special sponsorship opportunities are available for $200 and $500. Interested parties, contact Larry Hooker at 302-227-4845 or larry@delawarestonewall.com for reservations or information.

The mission of Delaware Stonewall Democrats, a chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats, is to secure for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people the equal human rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of Delaware; to foster the ideals of the Democratic Party; and to contribute to the Party’s growth and influence.

Grab Your Partner, Don’t Let Go!

Like country/western dancing? Enjoy doing the two step? There is some discussion with a local restaurant about having line dancing and two step lessons followed by open dancing. But first it has to be determined if there is enough interest to sustain the program here at the beach.

If you are interested in country/western dancing, contact sharkums@ yahoo.com and ask to be added to the CW Dance list. They’ll keep you posted on the progress of pulling this group together.