OREGON S LG8TQ NEWSMAGAZINE
community
MARCH 18, 2011
PO LITICS OF LOVE
F rid a y , M a rch 2 5 , 2 0 1 1
7:15 PM S N E A K I N ’ O U T
camps for six years before
Theissen and her partner
discovered CampOUT.
Theissen says the feeling m
of family and community was such a positive
experience that she wanted her older children
to join.
“It was a great family time together," says
Theissen. “We have returned every year since.
The friendships that I have made at Camp
Westwind continue to be some of the most
important in my life.”
For Theissen, part of the attraction to the
camp is its inclusion of straight children and,
later, their own spouses and their children—
completing in her case three generations of
campers, LGBTQ_or not.
“It is a safe environment where families can
be together, being exacdy who they are without
any of the bigotry of the outside world leaking
in,” says Theissen. “This is no small thing. LG-
BTQfamilies deal with bigotry every single day
in their lives. Being in a place with the absence
of that oppressive environment is a great gift.”
Kunkel agrees, emphasizing the welcoming
nature of Cam pOUT for younger campers.
“I think definitely it helps [children of
same-sex couples] feel like they’re not alone,”
relates Kunkel. “Some of them might go to
schools where they’re not socializing with
other kids who have same-sex parents. I feel
it’s giving them that social confidence and
independence piece that they’re not alone and
they’re building these friendships, then com
ing back year after year and they’re really ex
cited to see those people.”
Imo Talbert has been at Cam pO U T for 35
summers and was pre
viously on staff and
volunteered
with
YWCA. She, her part
ner and their two adopted girls still make the
trek to Camp Westwind every year.
“Cam pOUT feels a lot like a family re
union,” explains Talbert. “We have watched
each other’s children grow up and each sum
mer we get to meet new members of the fam
ily. It is very affirming to see so many healthy,
happy families.”
The camp is also a place where straight
couples can bring their questioning youth, says
Kunkel. The fact that Cam pO UT is run exactly
the same way as any of the YWCA’s family
camps solidifies the sense of openness the or
ganization strives for.
“It’s not just for same-sex couples; if a family
has a youth that is just coming out or has come
out and they want to have a family experience,
this is a great place to come.
“Last summer we had a kid who was 12 and
who’s been coming since he was about 6,” con
tinues Kunkel. “He was looking around and he
said, ‘You know, this is the first summer I’ve
actually realized that this was a camp for same-
sex couples?”
Registration for Cam pO U T this year is
currently just over half capacity. Now that the
word is out, where will you hang your camp
ing hat? J#]
Registration fo r CampOUT, running August 10-
q-nn PM
SU ZA N NE
a.uu rivi W ESTE N H O E FE R
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Saturday,
Sunday,
March 26, 2011 March 27, 2011
DOCUMENTARY
FILM
2:00 PM GEN S IL E N T
9 :1 5 & 1 1 :15 A M
This film puts a face on what experts
call an epidemic: GLBT Seniors so
afraid of discrimination in long-term
health care or b ullying by other seniors
that many go back into the closet
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
TO HONOR AND AFFIRM
THE WORTH AND DIGNITY
OF SAME-SEX COUPLES
First Unitarian Church, Portland • 1211 SW Main Street
C l /
503-228-6389 • www.firstunitarianportland.org
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