LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Though I'm always surprised that time has passed so swiftly, this is, indeed, the Memorial Day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth and the beginning of the 2007 summer season. Thinking about Memorial Day reminds me of the first summer that Murray and I spent in Rehoboth Beach27 years ago. Our friend Joe McMahon had invited us share a little house on Norfolk Street for the summer, and like so many others who now call Rehoboth home, we fell in love with the beach, the town, and most of all with the wonderful friends we made. Ten years later when we moved here full time and started CAMP Rehoboth, it was because of those friendships. Every summer, the arrival of Memorial Day weekend makes me both nostalgic for the many summers' past, and excited for the one just ahead. It is the time when we reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It is an expectant timeand I expect it to be another great summer.
Since 1992 the Rehoboth Beach summer season has, for me, begun with a diversity training session with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department. Over the years, the nature of the training session and the attitude of the young members of the summer police force has changed somewhat, and though I do believe that many young people are growing up with a more accepting attitude about GLBT issues, there is still much work to be done. Over the last year we've had a rise in the number of complaints about verbal harassment, and we spent some time at the training session talking about that. Don Imus' recent comments provided fertile ground for a discussion about the way words can be used to hurt and threaten others. Verbal harassment is only one of the ways that discrimination is expressed in our culture and many of the others, though far more subtle, are even more damaging. Though we are all hopeful that the Delaware non-discrimination bill will finally have a chance to pass, and though at this point discrimination against gay people is not against the law in our state, reporting incidences of discrimination in housing and employment is very, very important. On behalf of the Delaware Human Relations Commission, of which I am a member, we need every incident to be recorded. To report discrimination of any kind, contact me at CAMP Rehoboth or call the Human Relations Commission at (877)-54-HUMAN (544-8626). The new summer season arrives, of course, with a lot more than just sand and shorts and suntan oilit's also party time. For us that means events, and we've got plenty. The first major event is The Black and White Beach Ball at the Atlantic Sands Ballroom on June 2. Created to celebrate the Founders' Circle of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, this popular event sells out early. Tickets are $100 and limited so call the CAMP Rehoboth office for reservations. The B&W Beach Ball features the 2007 HeART of the Community Art Auctionwhich, by the way, can be previewed at the HeARTist's Preview Party at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center on May 26. For more about the HeART of the Community Art Project, see page 6. Gor many years now the Love Weekend benefit has been a July 4th tradition. Because the holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, we're combining the Love Main Event and the Love Retro Ball into one big Love Remixed: One Night Only party reminiscent of the early days of the event. DJ David Knapp is excited about creating a special night that marries a current sound with familiar tunes. Other exciting Love Weekend events include the Love Welcome Party at CAMP Rehoboth, the Love Sponsor Party at Bruce Miller and Dean LaVigne's beautiful ocean front home at Prospect Street and the Boardwalk, and the addition of a Sponsor's Lounge at the dance. For more about sponsor levels and ticket information for Love Weekend see page 59 or call the CAMP Rehoboth office. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 17, No. 5 May 18, 2007 |