[Adventure] in Finding Inclusive Spaces

[Adventure 136]

My thirteen year old is genderfluid. Assigned female at birth, they are now going by he/they pronouns and have a new name. Having announced his genderfluidness during quarantine, he hasn't had many opportunities to experience the challenges of living his truth out in the world. 

Then along came summer camp. They applied to the Lutheran (Christian) camp with their birth name and gender assigned at birth months ago, before their new name and gender identity came into focus. We discussed how and where they would feel most comfortable at camp. They determined that a LGBTQIA+ cabin would be their first choice, if such thing existed. Their next choice would be to bunk with the boys. 

His usual choice of bunkmate had come out as transgender during this past year, and I think part of my child's choice to bunk with masculine types had to do with thinking this would mean that he could still bunk with his friend. 

We contacted the director of youth programs at the camp and his response made my heart sing. The camp has a LGBTQIA+ task force that is working on making camp as inclusive as possible. He'd happily get into the camp's computer system and change both name and pronouns on all their paperwork. 

And he provided some information. While a LGBTQIA+ tent or cabin is in the works for the future, camp is busy updating some bathrooms to single use gender neutral bathrooms and building more bathrooms. They're putting covid-safe measures into place to ensure campers' safety, among other things. There simply isn't time to do all the things they want to do before resident camp opens to campers in six weeks. 

Our campers are welcome to stay wherever they feel most comfortable and will be able to room together, wherever they choose to spend their two weeks. They will have access to single occupant bathrooms and showers. Their counselors will be well-informed and supportive, I'm sure. 

My child's friend has concerns about staying with the boys, so both teens are going to discuss it and make the decision that works best for both of them, together. I'm sure whatever they choose, they'll have a blast at camp and never once feel like they don't belong in that space. Boom Chicka Boom!