LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
It has been a momentous spring in many waysboth for CAMP Rehoboth and for the larger gay and lesbian community. For those of us in Rehoboth there are exciting new plans for a gay and lesbian Community Center, plus the emergence of new and active volunteers and leaders as a result of the winter and spring meetings of the CAMP Rehoboth Project Advisory Committee. On a larger scale, we've just completed another March on Washingtonthis one for equalitywhich reminded us that while we've come a long way over the years, there is still a great deal of work to do. In the words of last year's ACLU project, "Equality Begins at Home," and it does. The work we do at home, in our own community, is our best chance of building a strong foundation for an equal world in the new millennium. On page 8, Murray writes about the March, equality, and a very special young journalist that we hold close to our hearts. Speaking of momentous, Vermont governor Howard Dean signed the historic "civil union" bill last week that will give gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits afforded married couples. It is another step on the ladder that leads to equalityand one that needs to spread to other states unless we all want to take up residence in Vermont. We are not going to get anywhere fast talking about marriageit's too threatening for some reasonbut as long as we have the same rights and benefits does it really matter what we call it? It still leaves us free to celebrate and sanctify our relationships in whatever way we feel is important to us. It's not perfect, I know, but it's a big step in the right direction. As Memorial Day weekend draws near, so does the summer's fundraising seasonand the first of the big events is the return of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington to the Rehoboth Convention Center to benefit Sussex County AIDS Committee (SCAC) on June 24. The Chorus is kind enough to donate their time and talents to SCAC and our community, asking only that we provide places for them to stay. If you live in the Rehoboth area and have room to host one or more members of the Chorus for June 23-24, please call the SCAC office at 644-1090. It's a great way to make some new friends and to provide a little help for the community. While I am talking about providing help for the community, SCAC volunteer coordinator David Russell is working hard with SCAC's SHARP Center director Jeanne Doe to recruit new volunteers for the SCAC Sunshine Club. The Sunshine Club has been established to provide compassionate support for HIV+ people and their families during difficult times in their illness, and is very much in need of volunteers. At CAMP Rehoboth, we are glad to announce that Salvatore Seeley is taking over as director of our state funded safe sex program, CAMPsafe. This year's CAMPsafe campaign continues its "you only have one life, guard it well campaign," with a whole new line-up of CAMPsafe models and a new condom wrapper design that includes a package of lube as well. Watch for CAMPsafe details throughout the summer, as well as special events like the popular Cloud 9 Safe Tea Dances and other events at your favorite bars, restaurants and clubs. Earlier, I mentioned the CAMP Rehoboth project advisory committee, which has completed it's winter/spring monthly series, and for the summer will move much of its work into smaller sub-committees. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the current projectsCommunity Center visioning process, the development of a women's program, or youth issues, call Kathy Weir at the CAMP office. I can't believe it's here already, but we are now back to our bi-weekly summer publishing schedule. Keep us postedwe like to know what you think. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 4, May 5, 2000. |