LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
On a recent, gorgeous Sunday afternoon in may, Murray and I took a stroll around town, stopping into some of our favorite spots to snap a photograph, or have a drink, or visit with friends. With Memorial Day Weekend rapidly approaching, the town was buzzing with final preparations for the summer season. All over town the bright faces of newly hired bar and wait staff shone as eagerly as the fresh coats of paint on the restaurants and bars in which they worked. As we walked through the fading sunshine at the end of the day, I was reminded all over again why it is that we call this place home, and why it is that so many people come back year after year. It's going to be another great seasonwelcome to summer 2001.
For those of us who do call this place home, however, life's not all just fun in the sunthere's still work to be done. First and foremost is the important task of seeing that HB99the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate, based on real or perceived sexual orientationgets out of committee and onto the Senate floor for discussion and a vote. Recent protests by over 200 anti-gay, right wing conservatives, makes it even more important that each of us takes the time to let our voices be heard. Peter Medwick, and Corey and Doug Marshall-Steele have been working hard on the Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Project, and their letters on page 4 of this issue present a clear explanation of the problem, and what we can do about it. Please don't put this off expecting others to do it for youyour voice will make a difference! Another way to make a difference in our community is to make sure you're registered to vote in this summer's Board of Commissioners election. Remember, you can vote in Rehoboth even though you vote in state elections elsewhere. If you are a property owner or leaseholder in Rehoboth (prior to February 11), and are 18 years of age or older you can vote. You must register by 4:30 p.m. on June 8 at the Office of the City Manager in City Hallbe sure to have your drivers license or an equivalent ID with you. City Hall hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to Noon. The election is August 11. For absentee ballots you must go personally to the City Manager's office after June 27. The mission statements of both CAMP Rehoboth and the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project, emphasize the importance of working not just with the gay and lesbian community, but with the community as a whole. I am always delighted to see the many ways that we are able to live up to that missionto truly make this a place with "room for all" of the many people who call it home. I was especially delightedeven amused, you might sayto see a CAMP Rehoboth crew heading off to the Rehoboth Convention Center last week to help decorate for the Cape Henlopen High School Prom. Actually, it's not so strange after allwho else but Murray and his fabric hanging assistants Kathy Weir and Joe Mirabella would have access to 200 yards of pale blue tissue lam! With all the new programs and projects of CAMP Rehoboth, we start this eleventh summer season with a great deal of excitement about the future. In its fourth year, our CAMPsafe program will launch its 2001 safe sex campaign called, "Work Hard! Play Safe." On page 10, CAMPsafe director Sal Seeley writes about this year's campaign and introduces a new line of CAMPsafe postcards. And on page 8, Murray talks about the five year Founders Circle being created to raise money for the construction of the new CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. From all of us in CAMP, have a happy and safe summer 2001! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 5, May 18, 2001. |