For teachers throughout the U.S., the summer months usually bring opportunities for rest, relaxation, and moments of peace that come from the ability to exist without structure and in pursuit of personal passions and hobbies. As a trans educator living in a moment where systemic and street level violence against trans adults and our youth continues to grow everyday, the ability to recharge and recover from an intense school year was not afforded to me. Instead of spending time tending my garden, creating music, or simply recovering, this summer required intentional advocacy and intense work to continue creating and cultivating learning environments that are safe, inclusive, and a fortress of protection from the onslaught of systemic hate from all levels of social and political life.
And yet, in the midst of this tumultuous summer, I was able to be a part of one the most magical and soul-reviving experiences of my life. Action Camp, a week-long sleepaway camp for LGBTQ+ teenagers and facilitated by LGBTQ+ and allied adults, is an opportunity created and co-hosted by the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) and Youth Services each summer. Each day there are youth-led activities and workshops and include everything from queer history and activism to deep conversations about identity and lived experience. If you have ever dreamed of a world where queer and trans people can live fully and freely as themselves without the violence and shame inflicted on them by the world around us, Action Camp is that. It is a space where young people can be in community with other LGBTQ+ people and leave with the tools to continue building that community elsewhere in their lives. And importantly, it is a space where young people can see that a future is possible.
For the week of camp, I served as a bunk counselor, supporting 5 young campers on the cusp of finishing high school, a few who were in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of camp and a few who, like me, were brand new. Each morning, afternoon, and evening we were able to connect our lived experiences to the lessons learned in camp, all of which are rooted in the Camp Values: Body-positivity, Non-Punitive, Anti-Oppression, and Trauma-Informed. I fully believe that the community we created as a bunk helped all of us to feel grounded and ready to take on whatever came next.
As reflected by camper Fay in a recent Sun Times article, campers (and counselors!) can focus on existing as the best versions of themselves without the violence and hatred imposed by the outside world. While the focus of the camp is always on making the campers feel supported and informed, counselors can’t help but also leave feeling a level of empowerment and healing. For me, a 36 year old trans woman who transitioned much later in life, watching young people have the opportunity to live completely and fully in their truth was so beautifully overwhelming. My heart felt healing at a level that I have never experienced throughout my queer life.
Right now, trans youth are feeling the brunt of social and political attacks on LGBTQ+ people. Efforts to strip trans people of their bodily autonomy have left hospitals across the nation and here in Illinois afraid to continue life-saving gender-affirming care for young people because of threats from the Federal government. Trans people are being used as scapegoats in response to the ever growing gun violence raging across the country. Schools everywhere are considering turning their backs on trans youth in response to hate groups like Moms for Liberty. People in positions of power are actively calling for trans people to be institutionalized and removed from public life. And huddled in the midst of all of this fighting are kids who want nothing more than to just exist and to be afforded the full rights of access to care, community, bathrooms, and sports that every other child is given without question. They are watching as people filled with hate are openly debating and advocating for them to not be allowed to exist, while their access to suicide prevention resources are gradually removed. In response to all of this, Action Camp serves as a beacon of hope, a temporary respite from it all, allowing kids a safe haven from the pain of the outside world.
For as long as I live, I will never forget the moment a young camper came to me in tears because they were so grateful that they could be surrounded by so many openly trans adults. For this camper, it was an important recognition that they too could live in a world where a future is possible and where they can be a happy and thriving adult living their truth. Spaces like these are not just life-saving, they are life-giving, life-changing, and life-empowering. They are transformative and they show us what is possible when young queer and trans people are allowed to do more than just survive. And now more than ever, we need more spaces like these to exist in every community. It was my honor to be able to be a part of such an incredible space and I hope with all my heart that I will be able to participate for years to come!
Applications for Action Camp open on April 1st of each year, so be on the lookout at https://www.ysgn.org/action-camp/ if you or your young person are interested in being a part of this incredible experience!
TODAY! from 3-6pm, catch us at Jeni’s Icecream in Andersonville for an Ice Cream Social fundraiser
Sunday, October 12th, join us for a day of fun and community at our throwback Field Day event at Madison Meadow, in Lombard, IL.
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