LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
it's amazing to me that it's already mid june. Maybe it's just that big birthday that's looming on the near horizon making me feel like an old man, but it seems to me that life in Rehoboth is busier than ever. Tea-dances, fundraisers, parties, concerts, theater, support groups, Community Center, CAMPsafe, political eventsthere's something happening all the time. June is usually the slowest of the three summer months, which makes me wonder just what the rest of the summer will be like. june is also the traditional "gay pride" month, and with all the big cities that feed our Rehoboth community celebrating pride events, it has me thinking about just what that means to us in this summer of the year 2000. I'd like to think that we have outgrown the need for "pride" events, that they should just be big celebrations of who we are, that they should just become one big "Gay Day" event. Yet even as I write these words, ignorance, prejudice and fear continue to cause there to be a need for healing within the gay and lesbian communityand healing is what "gay pride" is all about, isn't it? To some degree all of us still need a celebration where we can shake off the lingering anti-gay residue that accumulates in our contact with the world around us. Even the dialogues that inch us slowly forwardlike the ones taking place within the religious communitiescan leave us with a bad taste in our mouths. No matter how secure or jaded we become, ugly and hateful words and actions can leave us tired, depressed and alienated. Maybe "pride" isn't exactly the right word, but who cares, the celebration is what is important. i can't think about healing without the proposed Community Center coming to mind, because that too will offer a safe refuge where health and healing is important. In a recent conversation with someone who worried that it would take money away from our AIDS work, I replied that, in fact, it should enhance it. With youth issues, support groups and other general wellness issues it gives us a chance to work on the well being of our whole community. When we are healthy and balanced, both mentally and physically we are more likely to take care of ourselvesand less likely to engage in unsafe behavior. Even without walls, the Community Center Project is already working to make things happen. On page 6, Peter Robinson announces the plans for a gay men's support group called The Retreat and soon to follow is a support group for gay and lesbian couples. it has been years since an issue of letters from camp rehoboth appeared without a Fay Jacob's CAMPout columnand I hope this is the last. Many of you have heard by now that Fay's partner Bonnie was hospitalized last week when a blood clot damaged her kidney following surgery for an injury suffered in a fall. Bonnie is now out of intensive care and improving and we wish her a speedy recovery. Somehow I know that Fay will find a way to make us both laugh and cry about it all when she returns in the next issue. with all the activities that make up the summer season I am always grateful that we live in such a supportive community. Many people give generously of their time, talents and resources as was evidenced by last weekend's successful Bachelor Auction and LOVE 2000 kick off event at the Blue Moon, and the Community Center Party the previous weekend at Cloud 9. I am especially grateful to Joyce Felton, Rob Dick, Randy Overbaugh, Chris Riss and all the volunteers who worked to make these events successful. And speaking of volunteershelp! With all the events coming up on the summer's agendafrom LOVE to SUNDANCEvolunteers are always needed. Stop by the CAMP office or give us a call. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 7, June 16, 2000. |