This is the last
issue of the 12th season of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and it has been an
amazing year from my perspective. As editor of Letters and director of its
parent organization, CAMP Rehoboth, I am extremely thankful for all of you
who are a part of this remarkable community. As we look to the holiday
season and the coming new year, I hope that each of you will be a part of
the work of CAMP Rehoboth.
Creating a vision has always been a part of
the work of CAMP Rehoboth, but none of us would be here without the
activists and visionaries who blazed a trail before us. One of the
greatest of those trailblazers was Harry Hay, who has been called the
founder and architect of the modern gay movement. Harry Hay died on
October 24 at the age of 90, and his passing is mourned by all of us who
seek to create a better world. In 1950, Harry helped found the Mattachine
Society—the original gay organization—and in 1979 he launched the
Radical Faeries. Right up until his death, Harry Hay continued to
challenge our community to wrestle with the questions of who we are as gay
people, and why we are here. His ideas, as are those of most true
visionaries, were often at odds with members of his own community. In his
book, Gay Soul, Mark Thompson’s interview with Harry suggests that “no
one, least of all gay people themselves, yet knows what it really means to
be queer in America. Or, for that matter, what visionary political and
social gifts we have to contribute.” As gay people, we have a long way
to go, but thankfully, Harry Hay, and others like him have given us a
strong foundation, and a lot to think about.
Visitors to Rehoboth Beach this winter may
be somewhat daunted by all the construction taking place on Rehoboth
Avenue, but in the long run it will all be worth it. Please don’t let
the construction stop you from shopping and dining in town. Many of the
retail shops and restaurants are open for business, and especially need
our support during this time of change. On page 6, Fay Jacobs writes about
the downtown revitalization and all the work that has gone into preparing
for it.
Speaking of Fay Jacobs, congratulations are
in order as she has been named Delaware Tourism’s Person of the Year.
Fay has been a part of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth for many years. and her
work as Director of Rehoboth Beach Main Street has made her a vital part
of our community as well. From the Fourth of July fireworks to the
upcoming Rehoboth Beach Dolphin Project, Fay’s participation has made a
huge difference to our town.
Congratulations are in order as well to
Washington, DC Council Member Carol Schwartz on receiving the National
Capital Area Leadership award from the Human Rights Campaign for her work
on behalf of the gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Carol has been
a big supporter of CAMP Rehoboth and Sundance over the years, and is well
deserving of the HRC recognition.
December 1 is, of course, World AIDS Day,
and Rehoboth will once again be the site of a Candlelight Walk on Rehoboth
Avenue, and a Service of Remembrance and Hope at Epworth United Methodist
Church. Participants in the walk should gather at the Rehoboth Bandstand
between 6 and 6:30 p.m. The service will begin at 7:00 p.m., with food
provided by the Blue Moon immediately following. For more information on
World AIDS Day, see page 5 and 21.
To really get in the mood for the holidays,
don’t miss the Community Unity Dinner at the Rehoboth Convention Center
on Sunday, December 8, from 4-7 p.m. CAMP Rehoboth staff will be joining
local celebrities to dish up dessert for the Main Street sponsored
spaghetti dinner. Admission is $6.
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