LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
In Brief |
New Support Groups At CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project has announced plans to sponsor new GLBT support groups which will begin within the next few weeks. These are in addition to the gay men's and women's weekly support groups which they have sponsored for the last year. The current support groups include two gay women's support groups (Solutions and Sistertalk) and one gay men's support group (The Retreat). The new groups are schedule to begin within the next few weeks. One new support group embraces the "T" in GLBT. This group is for anyone who varies from the standard gender roles that were assigned at birth. This may include Transvestites, cross dressers, Drag Queens, Drag Kings, masculine women, feminine men, butch women, Transsexuals, or any other personal identification for anyone who is uncomfortable with his or her assigned gender. Gwendolyn (Wendy) Valeska-Jones who currently manages Baltimore's Tran*Quility support group will be facilitating this group. Wendy will be assisted by her partner, Valerie Valeska-Jones. The support group is expected to begin in early July. The second new group, expected to begin in early July will be supportive of gay men's couples. The group is expected to run for 8 to 10 weeks and will be open to the first five couples who register. The focus of this group will be on relationship issues, including, but not limited to: communication, privacy, sharing, monogamy, other sexual arrangements, and codependency. This group will meet weekly. In order to participate in this group, both partners in the relationship must attend. Peter Robinson, MSW and Dave Dagenais, LGSW will co-facilitate this group. The third new group will be an expansion of The Retreat, the ongoing gay men's support group. This group will differ somewhat from The Retreat by virtue of its focus and intensity. This group is open to all gay men who have previously participated in other support groups or have involved themselves in individual therapy. While not a therapy group in a clinical sense, group members will be expected to share their vulnerabilities and their feelings with other group members. Jim Dickinson, who previously co-facilitated The Retreat, will facilitate this new gay men's support group. This group will begin on Thursday, June 21. Watch for additional information, including times, places, dates and frequency of meetings, in the next issue of Letters. MCC Rehoboth Plans Women's Health Day MCC Rehoboth's Women's Health Day is Saturday, June 2, beginning at 10 a.m. The event at the MCC Rehoboth Worship and Ministry Center, 21 Midway Center, Route 1, Rehoboth (next to the Pasta Bowl) is free of charge. The day will feature workshops and presentations by Andrea Woodard, Senior Educator for the Screening for Life program; Sandra Hoy, Program Coordinator of the Delaware Breast Cancer coalition; and Marylee Verdi, Community Educator at Beebe Medical Center. For more information, please call the church at 302-645-4945. MCC Rehoboth is a Commissioned Church of the UFMCC (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches) with over 300 churches worldwide. MCC Rehoboth is an inclusive and progressive Christian church with a supportive affirming ministry to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) community, their loved ones, family, and friends. For additional information, contact Wayne Juneau at 302-226-3231, or e-mail wjuneau@att.net. To speak with Pastor Tom Bohache, call 302-645-4945 or email MCCReho@aol.com. Girl Scouts Attacked for Inclusion of Lesbians and Gays A group of religious extremists called the American Family Association, based in Tupelo Mississippi, is attacking the Girl Scouts because that organization refuses to discriminate against lesbians and gays. Unlike the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts have always been inclusive. In the mid-90s, the organization went on the public record with a statement to the Associated Press that said it does not discriminate based on sexual orientation. A few months ago, the Girl Scout national president, Connie Matsui, made favorable remarks about a video called "That's A Family," which positively depicts lesbian and gay family groups. (Ms. Matsui attended a screening at The White House during the final days of the Clinton Administration.) The American Family Association has sent 10,000 letters of protest to the national Girl Scout organization, demanding that Ms. Matsui retract her statement and/or resign. In contrast, the Girl Scouts have received only 5that's right, fiveletters of support. It's important that the Girl Scouts hear from the GLBT community, since they're beginning to equivocate on their stand. Write to Ms. Matsui and let her know that we appreciate the Girl Scouts' stand on behalf of diversity and of gay and lesbian families. And forward this message to your friends. Send messages to cmatsui@girlscouts.org. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 6, June 1, 2001. |