CAMP News
Check out the latest news, updates, and more at CAMP Rehoboth!
Summer Cadet Training
On Friday, April 19, CAMP Rehoboth hosted its annual LGBTQ+ Diversity Training for the City of Rehoboth Beach’s summer cadets. Cadets were engaged and open with questions about sexual orientation and gender identity. “It’s important that our city’s cadets understand the population they serve,” said Kim Leisey, PhD, Executive Director at CAMP Rehoboth.
Special thanks to Lt. Will Sullivan and the City of Rehoboth Beach Police Department for hosting this training and continuing its relationship with CAMP Rehoboth for over 30 years.
For those interested in partnering with CAMP Rehoboth for LGBTQ+ Diversity Training, please contact info@camprehoboth.com. ▼
Pictured: Executive Director Kim Leisey, PhD, speaks with the Rehoboth Beach summer cadets.
CROP at SDTR
A great crew of workers representing the CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) volunteered for three hours on the Friday morning of Women’s FEST at the Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding Center (SDTR). After learning about SDTR, three teams of workers helped scrub horse stalls, perform maintenance on farm equipment, clean the sign out front, and help set up for their Derby Day fundraiser. The day was a win-win for everyone! ▼
CAMP Families
CAMP Rehoboth is looking for community members to help lead activities this summer for our CAMP Families program. This group is intended as a space for families of all kinds—including LGBTQ+ parents, parents of LGBTQ+ children, allies, and a mix of all or in-between—to connect and gather to share their experiences. For more information or to express interest, reach out to kim@camprehoboth.com. ▼
Wear Orange Weekend
On Friday, June 7, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., join CAMP Rehoboth and Moms Demand Action for a BoardWALK to end gun violence. Attendees are encouraged to wear orange that day to honor National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Meet at the Rehoboth Bandstand for a photo op, followed by the walk on the boards. ▼
Fay Jacobs Scholarship Endowed
CAMP Rehoboth is excited to announce that the Fay Jacobs Scholarship is fully endowed through the Delaware Community Foundation, to fund future Letters from CAMP Rehoboth interns.
CAMP Rehoboth celebrated the scholarship at an event on Friday, April 12, hosted by members Karen Anderson and Brenda Dunn. Special thanks to Karen, Brenda, and the entire host committee for their support. Overall, the event raised $17,020 for the scholarship.
Donations are still welcome to continue growing funds for this scholarship. Visit camprehoboth.com, click “Donate,” and select the “Fay Jacobs LGBTQ Youth Journalism” option to make a contribution. ▼
Congrats, Marianne!
CAMP Rehoboth congratulates Marianne DeLorenzo for winning Women’s FEST Diamond Sponsor Olivia Travel’s “A Taste of France” riverboat cruise to Burgundy and Provence. Marianne purchased her lucky raffle ticket at the Evie Simmons Memorial Golf Tournament. The trip sails from August 27 to September 3, 2024, and is the first-of-its-kind donation from Olivia, granting Marianne a deluxe stateroom for two.
Thank you, Olivia Travel! And fair winds and following seas to Marianne, later this summer! ▼
Book Launch Benefits CAMP Rehoboth
CAMP Rehoboth extends its gratitude to local author Will Freshwater, who hosted a book launch at the Top of the Pines on March 23, with proceeds benefitting CAMP Rehoboth.
The event, which featured a conversation between Freshwater and Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff, celebrated the launch of the final installment in Freshwater’s Provincetown series, titled The Dark Horse. Freshwater reported that he’s working on a Rehoboth Beach series next.
The launch raised over $3,000 for CAMP Rehoboth’s programs. Thank you, Will, and all who donated! ▼
Title IX Final Rule Aims to Protect Queer Students
The US Department of Education has issued its long-awaited final rule on Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination by any educational institution or program that receives federal financial assistance. While the rule contains many points of interest, including detailed procedural requirements for how schools should respond to complaints of sexual harassment or sexual assault, it also creates ground-breaking protections for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and others affiliated with a school or other education program. These requirements should have important implications for public and private schools throughout Delaware. The effective date of the new rule is August 1, 2024.
With limited exceptions, the Final Rule declares that any denial or discriminatory treatment against an LGBTQ+ student, faculty, staff, or other person is unlawful sex discrimination.
This includes any denial or restriction to full access to bathrooms, locker rooms, classes, or any educational activity based on an individual’s gender identity. This also includes appearance codes that discriminate based on gender identity, gender presentation, and inconsistency with sex stereotypes. The Final Rule discusses at length the extensive evidence of the traumatizing and health-harming effects of restrictions on bathrooms and locker rooms, and other discriminatory treatment of transgender persons.
However, the rule does not comment on housing for a specific sex nor participation in school athletic/sports teams. For the latter, the Education Department has a separate rulemaking proceeding, still pending, that proposes a rather nuanced approach to this issue. ▼
La Red Health Fair
On Wednesday, May 1, CAMP Rehoboth participated in the La Red Health Fair at the La Red Health Center in Georgetown, Delaware. Josh Sheets, CAMPsafe Program Coordinator, represented CAMP Rehoboth alongside partner organizations. “Several hundred people attended and had the opportunity to learn about all the health opportunities within our community,” said Josh.
Find out more about CAMPsafe at camprehoboth.com/health. ▼
Check out our Pride Month Listicle here!