LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
With this July 4th edition of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth we cross that invisible line that marks the midway point in both our 2009 publishing schedule and the year itself. As the calendar shifts into July and the holiday weekend, the high summer season kicks in big timeand the energy level bumps up a few more notches. July 8-11, in fact, the team from Bump!Logo channel's gay travel showwill be in town and filming all around Rehoboth Beach. Watch for them in your favorite places, and let's show them what a great little town we have here.
The most exciting news here in Delaware, of course, was the passage of SB 121 in both the House and the Senate on June 24. The bill adds sexual orientation to Delaware's non-discrimination laws and comes after more than a decade of hard work by a great many people from around the state. SB 121 passed in the Senate by a vote of 14 yes, 5 no, and 1 absent. The House then suspended its rules and passed the bill by a vote of 26 yes, 14 no, and 1 absent. I'm thrilled to say that Governor Jack Markell signed SB 121 at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, Thursday, July 2. The signing was open to the public and we had a great crowd to celebrate this wonderful event. One of the many people who worked on SB 121 (in all of its versions) was Delaware ACLU Executive Director Drew Fennell. Drew was also instrumental in another cause for celebration, the passagejust a few hours before SB 121of SB 84, a de facto parent bill that gives the Family Court the power to grant second parent adoptions. That means that same-sex couples can both be legal parents to their children. Delaware has had second parent adoption since 2001, but the state Supreme Court overturned it last February. Governor Markell will sign that bill in Wilmington at noon on July 6. Over the last several months we've talked a lot about LottoHEART, our great new art and entertainment event on the first night of the Whole Lotta Love Weekend. At the recent LottoHEART Preview Party the buzz about it had increased dramatically, especially because all the LottoHEART paintings can be previewed online as a part of the selection process. The 200 artists who each did a piece for LottoHEART also did one for the Blind Date (random draw) portion of the event. The Blind Date paintings will also be online after all of them have been sold. After the event, the artists of each piece will also be revealed online. On a personal note, I have to say a word of thanks to LottoHEART chair Sondra Arkin (and her husband Ron Childress) for the incredible amount of work given to making this one-of-a-kind event possible. Sondra has given of her time, genius, friendship, and art to CAMP Rehoboth for many, many years, and we are deeply grateful. A lotta thanks for a lotta heart! Last week an email arrived at CAMP Rehoboth. "I and a group from Pittsburgh will be in Rehoboth Beach for the Labor Day weekend...Will you be having the Sundance Dance at the Convention Center...? We always have a wonderful time in Rehoboth..." My answer, of course, was "yes!" The note reminded me that this year will be the 22nd time that we have danced the Sundance and that people come from all over for it. Put it on your calendar now, think psychedelic, and get ready for Sundance 2009: Dawn of the Electric Rainbow Sun. Go to sundancebenefit.com for more info on sponsorship or to purchase tickets. There's always something happening at CAMP and around townlooking ahead, make plans now for: Cause 4 Paws (July 11, RB Convention Center); Delmarva Piano Festival (July 11-12, CAMP Rehoboth); Beebe Health Day (July 11, CAMP Rehoboth); Rehoboth Homeowners Candidate Forum (July 23, CAMP Rehoboth); and the Bruce Vilanch Comedy Show (August 15, RB Convention Center). |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 08 July 03, 2009 |