Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 34, No. 5

inside

THIS ISSUE

Email editor@camprehoboth.com. Photographs must be high resolution (300 dpi). Documents should be sent as attachments in Microsoft Word®. Deadline for submissions is two weeks prior to the issue release date. Letters to the Editor (up to 300 words) are published at the discretion of the Editor on a space-available basis. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

CONTRIBUTORS: Amanda Mahony Albanese, Ann Aptaker, Chris Azzopardi, Rich Barnett, Matty Brown, Ed Castelli, Pattie Cinelli, Michael Cook, Jeffrey Dannis, Clarence Fluker, Michael Thomas Ford, Joe Gfaller, Fay Jacobs, Glenn Lash, Kim Leisey, Tricia Massella, Marce McCollum-Martin, Christopher Moore, Sharon Morgan, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Stephen Raskauskas, Richard Rosendall, Nancy Sakaduski, Romeo San Vicente, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Marj Shannon, Beth Shockley, Leslie Sinclair, Heather Rion Starr, Mary Jo Tarallo, Hope Vella, Eric Wahl

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is published 11 times per year, between February and December, as a program of CAMP Rehoboth Inc., a non-profit community service organization. CAMP Rehoboth seeks to create a more positive environment of cooperation and understanding among all people. Revenue generated by advertisements supports CAMP Rehoboth’s purpose as outlined in our mission statement.

The inclusion or mention of any person, group, or business in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth does not, nor is it intended in any way, to imply sexual orientation or gender identity. The content of the columns are the views and opinions of the writers and may not indicate the position of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc.

© 2024 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved by CAMP

Rehoboth

CAMP REHOBOTH

MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

MISSION

CAMP Rehoboth is an LGBTQ+ community center determined to Create A More Positive (CAMP) environment that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in southern Delaware and beyond. We seek to promote cooperation, understanding among all people, and well-being, as we continue our to work to build a safer community with room for all.

VISION

CAMP Rehoboth envisions communities in Southern Delaware and beyond where all LGBTQ+ people thrive.

PURPOSE

Promoting the health and wellness of our community through a variety of programs including HIV testing and counseling, mental health support, fitness classes, mindfulness classes, support for LGBTQ youth, and building community and support.

Promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking, and giving aid to artists and craftspeople with an emphasis on the works of LGBTQ people.

Advocating for our community to build a safe and inclusive community through voter information, education, and registration; and analysis of issues and candidates.

Education and outreach to the larger community, including sensitivity training seminars, and printed materials to promote positive images of LGBTQ people and our allies.

Networking resources and information by publishing a magazine, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.

HappyFrom the Editor

BY MARJ SHANNON, EDITOR

Pride Month! I hope this finds you celebrating in oh, so many ways, with more festivities yet to come.

Speaking of which—take a look at CAMP News, Community News, and CAMP Arts for some local options. For one: immerse yourself in some key LGBTQ+ history at CAMP Rehoboth’s upcoming production of Voices from Stonewall (see page 20 for more).

June also brings Father’s Day, leading Beth Shockley and Pattie Cinelli to reflect on theirs, both of whom hold special places in their daughters’ hearts. For another look at fatherhood, check out our book review—Safe recounts two dads’ journey to creating a family. June wraps up with Queer Youth of Faith Day on the 30th; the Rev. Heather Rion Starr has some thoughts about that.

July is Disability Pride Month; see Hope Vella’s timely piece on how to better serve people with disabilities at events—and how gratifying it is for everyone when that happens. It’s also National Ice Cream Month; in celebration, Nancy Sakaduski gives us a glimpse into Ben & Jerry’s. It’s a company with a long history of social justice: in 1989 it started providing same-sex partner benefits to its employees. Of course, July also has that whiz-bang holiday on the 4th; Terri Schlichenmeyer has surfaced lots of fun facts.

Given it’s summer, perhaps you’re looking for some fun in (or out of) the sun? Joe Gfaller has lots of ideas, some stretching ‘way beyond Rehoboth. Between live theatre, cabarets, and concerts—well, if you can’t find something to do, you just aren’t trying! Speaking of entertainment—SUNFESTIVAL is already prepping for a fabulous end-of-summer weekend. (I know—we just kicked-off summer, and now we’re looking at the end?!) See page 14 for a glimpse ahead. And remember: SUNFESTIVAL sells out fast.

But maybe you were just hoping for some quiet time at the beach with a book? Glenn Lash points us toward some Pride-related children’s books in the CAMP Library. And Fay Jacob’s has some thoughts on James Sears’s new book, Queering Rehoboth Beach.

PRESIDENT Wesley Combs

VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ledogar

SECRETARY Pat Catanzariti

TREASURER Polly Donaldson

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS

Amanda Mahony Albanese, Lewis Dawley, Mike DeFlavia, David Garrett, Jenn Harpel, Kim Leisey (non-voting), Michelle Manfredi, and Teri Seaton

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kim Leisey

CAMP REHOBOTH

37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | email editor@camprehoboth.com www.camprehoboth.com

CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CAMP Rehoboth are considered charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes and may be deducted to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of our exemption document is available for public inspection.

So—what else is in these pages? There’s Amanda Mahony Albanese’s piece on mental health among LGBTQ+ youth; the news is not all one would hope. Sharon Morgan has something to say about the importance of touch. There’s also Madonna’s Celebration Tour, aging, hypocrisy, and living in the mindful present.

So—that beach read? Maybe it’s Letters! (We hope so.)

Paint the Block…Rainbow!

After Memorial Day weekend, the City of Rehoboth Beach painted rainbow crosswalks on Baltimore Avenue at the intersections of First Street and Baltimore Avenue and Second Street and Baltimore Avenue. The crosswalks show all the colors of the Inclusive Pride Flag. Rainbow crosswalks help affirm the vibrant and proud LGBTQ+ community that resides in and visits Rehoboth Beach. CAMP Rehoboth was thrilled to work with the city and Rehoboth Beach Main Street to make this project a reality! ▼

Steve Elkins Fellow Named

In May, the Blade Foundation announced the recipient of its 2024 Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism as Joseph Reberkenny, a recent graduate of American University.

In a release, Reberkenny expressed excitement about the fellowship. “I am honored to work for the Blade and to contribute to its rich history in supporting the LGBTQ community,” Reberkenny said. “I am excited to cover Delaware’s politics and can’t wait to amplify voices that deserve to be heard.”

“The CAMP Rehoboth community is thrilled to know that the Washington Blade continues to support a student intern in memory of Steve Elkins,” said Kim Leisey, PhD, Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth. ▼

Cadet Training Continues

CAMPRehoboth continued its LGBTQ+ Diversity Training in partnership with local law enforcement, following its long-standing training and relationship with the Rehoboth Beach summer cadets. On Tuesday, May 21, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey, PhD, and Communications Manager Matty Brown led a training for 22 summer cadets working with the Dewey Beach Police Department. Throughout the session, cadets were engaged and asked insightful questions about how their work intersects with people’s sexu -

al orientations and gender identities.

On Friday, May 31, Leisey led a training for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Forty-three officers participated, and similarly were engaged with learning about how to support local LGBTQ+ visitors and residents.

Thank you, DNREC and Dewey Beach Police Department, for opening your doors to CAMP Rehoboth, and for committing to affirming the local LGBTQ+ community. ▼

Proclaiming Pride in Rehoboth Beach

OnFriday, May 17, the City of Rehoboth Beach honored Pride month with an official Proclamation, and invited CAMP Rehoboth guests to gather. Mayor Stan Mills reported that the city decided to carry out the Proclamation earlier this year because the commissioners would not meet again before June 1. ▼

Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills, Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Patrick Gossett, Mike DeFlavia, Carol Bresler, Carolyn Billinghurst, Hope Vella, and Matty Brown.

Yvie Oddly Coming to Rehoboth Beach

In partnership with Browseabout Books, CAMP Rehoboth will host a book launch event for Yvie Oddly, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 winner and author of All About Yvie: Into the Oddity Mark your calendars for July 30, 3:00-5:00 p.m., and reserve a spot online at camprehoboth.com to hear about the book and meet the star in CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium.

ABOUT THE BOOK: All About Yvie is an intimate and in-depth look into the life of Yvie Oddly. It begins with their childhood and then tells of their coming out and coming to terms with their sexuality and gender, and how those things impact their journey as an artist. It follows Yvie through their experience on Drag Race (Season 11 and All Stars, All Winners), and their rise to superstardom. ▼

From left: Kasey-Gonzalez Cruz, Derrick Johnson, Rev. Eddie Jusino, Leslie Ledogar, Kim Leisey,

Photo courtesy Reberkenny

Broadwalk Supports the DBCC

Asone of Women’s FEST’s signature events, the Broadwalk on the Boardwalk raised funds for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC). The Broadwalk nearly doubled last year’s donation, this year raising a total of $5,798 for DBCC’s programming. Broadwalk enjoyed beautiful weather, heartfelt camaraderie, and resonated with participating survivors and loved ones.

In May, CAMP Rehoboth hosted a check presentation with representatives from the Broadwalk and DBCC. From left: Karen Laitman, Broadwalk on the Boardwalk Chairperson; Connie Holdridge, DBCC Director of Survivorship and Education; Laurie Thompson, CAMP Rehoboth Development Manager; Mark McDaniels, CAMP Rehoboth Deputy Director; and Kim Leisey, Executive Director. ▼

Shades of Blue Pool Party

Join us as we make a splash again this year at Shades of Blue Pool Party! What better way to kick-off Independence Day weekend than under the sun and in the pool with 500+ others, all the while helping raise money for CAMP Rehoboth. Suggested donation is $20 at the door or online at camprehoboth.com.

With DJ Mike Reimer spinning the hottest music, it’s sure to be another great time. So, don your blue and come by 6 Futcher Drive on July 5 from noon–6:00p.m. (Rain date July 6.) ▼

On the Cover: Embracing Unity in Diversity

Sixmodels show their Pride for the cover of our June issue, representing the colors of the rainbow. Our colorful cover models: Bruce Clayton (red), Gail Jackson (orange), Kate Galloway (yellow), Logan Farro (green), Kathryn Lienhard (blue), and Kasey Gonzalez-Cruz (purple).

HOW DO YOU SHOW PRIDE?

BRUCE: “As a gay triathlon coach and personal trainer, I show my pride through fitness by encouraging other folks in the LGBTQ+ community to improve their health and wellness in a welcoming, accepting, and healthy environment.”

GAIL: “I show my pride by living as my

authentic self in all matters and never accepting others' judgment of who I was created to be.”

KATE: “I show pride by living each day to the fullest and living in my truth while allowing others to do the same.”

LOGAN: “I show pride through my words and actions: by being undeniably me.”

KATHRYN: “I show pride by embracing my full self—my complexities, flaws, strengths, and changes.”

KASEY: “Advocating for everyone to be able to live their most authentic lives, especially for those who are trying to find their own voice. Being my most authentic me, 100 percent of the time.” ▼

SUMMER KICKS OFF Memorial Day Weekend 2024 was one for the books!

CAMP Rehoboth’s own Tony Burns captured this shot below, illustrating what Rehoboth Beach’s community is all about: vibrant, diverse, and joyful. Happy Summer!

Check out more CAMPshots, starting on page 76.

⊳ TRAVELS WITH LETTERS ⊲

CLUB ATLANTIS CANCUN

Bill Graff & Jeff Schuck

From the Executive Director

See and Be Seen

The property of CAMP Rehoboth is visible here on Baltimore Avenue and throughout Delaware. Our LBGTQ+ Pride decorations, beautiful gardens, community courtyard, and crisp new renovations welcome many and all. We stand as a visible symbol to the community at large that we are here, we are visible, and we continue to work for the LGBTQ+ community throughout southern Delaware (and beyond).

CAMP Rehoboth envisions communities where all LGBTQ+ people thrive. The staff of CAMP Rehoboth work daily to ensure that each LGBTQ+ person is well, has a voice, feels safe, is unapologetically their authentic self, and experiences a sense of belonging.

We have well over 1,000 CAMP Rehoboth members in a state that is second in the nation in the number of LGBTQ+ persons. So—who’s first? Oregon—a state that has a population of over four million people. That’s four times Delaware’s population of just over one million people.

CAMP Rehoboth’s history was built on visibility. Our work with the city government, homeowners’ association, Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Chamber of Commerce, police departments, visitors, other nonprofits, and healthcare organizations is rooted in our visibility. We are steadfast in our belief that human dignity—no matter who you love, or your gender identity or expression—requires equality.

CAMP

BY KIM LEISEY, PHD

Visibility allows possibility to become reality. We have helped to create an inclusive culture in Rehoboth Beach and

Your visibility and engagement are more important today than ever.

surrounding communities—a culture that rose from hatred and violence to love and admiration. Our visibility worked to ensure marriage equality for all. Our visibility includes our allies and their support.

And we know that in this month of Pride and celebration, progress is never final. Your visibility as an LGBTQ+ person and ally require that you have more to do. Your visibility and engagement are more important today than ever. There are those LGTBQ+ people among us who remain invisible and silent. Their struggles and suffering are real. Their health disparities are life threatening. You have the power to be active in our vision.

I ask that you be visible. This is—as Mary Oliver has reminded us—“your one wild and precious life.” Live it visibly. Support queer-owned businesses and organizations. Invite others in. Walk tall and big. Become a member of CAMP Rehoboth, joining the community that is working with others. Register to vote. Write to your representatives in the US Congress and ask them to pass the H.R. 15 Equality Act. This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings.

Most of all during this month of Pride and moving forward, love each other constantly. We believe love wins! ▼

Kim Leisey, PhD, is Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth.

Photo: Brian Kyed on Unsplash.

THE DUPRE KEATING GROUP IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF WOMEN’S FEST

Our team would like to extend a special thank you to this year’s volunteers and organizers for hosting a spectacular event. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

DAWN A. DUPRE | EVP Financial Advisor

MEGAN E. KEATING | VP, Financial Advisor

SARAH L. S. SMITH | VP, Financial Advisor

MARY ANN PERRONE | VP, Financial Advisor

JOSHUA DUPRE | Financial Advisor Associate

KATE A. FISHER | Senior Registered Private Client Associate

JULIANNA CONLAN | Senior Private Client Associate

TRISIA KAVKA-COOGAN | Private Client Associate To learn more about how our team can help you connect your life and finances, please scan the QR code to check out our website.

For more information about Janney, please see Janney’s Relationship Summary (Form CRS) on www.janney.com/crs which details all material facts about the scope and terms of our relationship with you and any potential conflicts of interest.

CAMPNews

Pride Celebrations Continue

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus—On the Road Again

June 14 & 15 at 7:00 p.m., June 16 at 3:00 p.m., Epworth United Methodist Church

The CAMP Rehoboth Chorus presents “On the Road Again,” a musical travelogue across America on Father’s Day weekend, June 14-16. Take a ride on “The City of New Orleans.” Or enjoy a scenic drive on “Route 66.” Or spend a leisurely day on a “Pontoon.” Artistic Director Doug Yetter will be accompanied by David Zipse and the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus band. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at camprehoboth.com.

Pride in the Courtyard

Thursday, June 20, 5:00-7:00 p.m., CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard

Celebrate Pride with CAMP Rehoboth at a social in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard and Elkins-Archibald Atrium. Light refreshments will be provided. Register at camprehoboth.com. Donations accepted.

Voices from Stonewall

June 28 & 29, CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium

Hear tales from the night of the Stonewall riots in the exciting and moving production, Voices from Stonewall, on stage at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Attendees will hear the words of the people who were there when bottles flew, police wagons arrived, and young drag queens, homeless kids, transgender youth, some butch lesbians, and a collection of gay people surprised the police and finally fought back.

Written by playwright Michael Gilles and writer Fay Jacobs, Voices from Stonewall premiered at CAMP Rehoboth in 2019 on Stonewall’s 50th Anniversary. This year’s production is directed by Jacobs and features actors Matty Brown, Gwen Osborne, and Eric Peterson. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at camprehoboth.com. ▼

CROP Visits Brandywine Valley SPCA

On May 29, CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) volunteers helped staff at Brandywine Valley SPCA plant an annual garden at their facility in Georgetown. Once completed, the volunteers were given a tour of the facility and some enrichment time with the dogs and cats.

Stay tuned for future CROP collaborations with Brandywine Valley SPCA and sign up for CAMP Rehoboth volunteer opportunities at camprehoboth.com/volunteers. ▼

Prism Set for Summer Beach Bonfire

Prism,

CAMP Rehoboth’s young professionals networking group, is gearing up for its July outing: a summer beach bonfire! The event will provide a chance for young professionals—and those young at heart—to support each other in a relaxed, social setting. For the date, location, and more information on how to register, visit camprehoboth.com. ▼

A DATE WITH DESTINY

Silvia Ritchie Meets Steve & Murray

“For me the ‘Saturday Parlor’ atmosphere was of enlightenment, inclusivity, and openness and equality for all.”

There is a well-known saying that most Girl Scouts would remember: “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Silvia Ritchie followed that mantra by attending “Saturday Parlor” salons hosted by Muriel Inez Crawford and Anyda Marchant back in the day and she readily fondly shares her memories with a twinkle in her eye.

A salon is a gathering of friends and friends of friends that typically take place in one’s apartment or home. Some of the more famous ones took place in Paris around the turn of the century and they were frequented by a blend of luminaries such as Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and others in the arts, music, and literary communities.

Anyda Marchant (January 27, 1911— January 11, 2006), was a founding partner for Naiad Press in 1973 and A&M Books in 1995, and a writer of primarily lesbian popular fiction. Her pen name was Sarah Aldridge. She met legal secretary Muriel Inez Crawford (April 21, 1914—June 7, 2006) in 1947. Marchant was one of the first women to pass the bar in Washington DC and she served the World Bank as an attorney in the legal department for 18 years until retiring in 1972. Crawford served as an executive secretary at the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling, followed by a position as executive secretary to the president of the Southern Railroad (now Amtrak).

The couple was together for almost 60 years until Marchant/Aldridge's death. Crawford died less than six months later.

The Rehoboth salons hosted by Marchant and Crawford attracted a dazzling and diverse crowd that included neighbors, clergy, writers, musicians, young and old, gay and straight. “Everyone was invited,” Ritchie recalls. “It was the place where everyone went to have interesting conversations, political and non-political.”

These gatherings helped give birth to

BY MARY JO TARALLO

the strong LGBTQ+ community that exists to this day, and were where Ritchie first met Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald in 1994.

“Rehoboth was not an LBGTQ+ friendly town in 1994 when I moved here,” said Ritchie. “Many cars had bumper stickers saying, ‘Keep Rehoboth a Family Town!’ It might be safe to say that today’s residents and vacationers cannot imagine that in Rehoboth Beach and nearby beach towns.”

Ritchie currently lives at The Moorings with her now-partner, John, but she originally hails from New York City. She was friends with many HIV patients there during the period of 1990/1991. Her husband, Bill, had been diagnosed with a fever of unknown origin (FUO). Doctors gave him five years to live, and the couple spent weeks at Sloan Kettering to find out what caused it. He was treated in the infectious disease department along with AIDS patients, all of whom eventually died. “It was heartbreaking to see them—one by one—go missing from the doctor's office,” she said. “This is why we joined the Gay Men's Health Association of NYC, a fundraising organization and information center.”

The Ritchies moved to Rehoboth in 1994. Bill—who outlived his prognosis by many years—eventually passed away from a form of hepatitis in 2010, at the age of 80.

Silvia’s encounter with Steve and Murray was an epiphany.

“I was so overjoyed at what they had started and had envisioned for Rehoboth Beach,” she said. “Many discussions ensued,” she added. “For me the ‘Saturday Parlor’ atmosphere was of enlightenment, inclusivity, and openness and equality for all.”

Silvia said that she worked at the time with some who were homophobic, racist, or xenophobic. Ritchie is originally from Zurich, Switzerland, and still has a distinguishable accent. “Feeling alienated throughout the week during my first few years here at work was

“Everyone was invited, it was the place where everyone went to have interesting conversations, political and non-political.”

unpleasant to say the least,” she remembers. “My husband, Muriel and Anyda, and the Saturday Parlor crowd gave me the balance I needed to feel ‘at home’ during my first years here,” she said.

Muriel and Andya were the forerunners of open lesbianism in Rehoboth, according to Ritchie, and they all were best of friends. Long before moving to Rehoboth, Ritchie and her husband rented a one-bedroom cottage here in September 1979 or 1980 and would join Muriel and Anyda on their porch for Dewars or cocktails, listening to classical music from a CD player. To Ritchie, this was family! Muriel would prepare nibbles for cocktails and, depending on the crowd, they were elaborate or simple. “Being with Muriel

and Anyda for cocktails was one of our highlights because we could exchange travel stories and/or life stories,” Ritchie recalls.

Silvia has continued to support CAMP Rehoboth as a volunteer in various ways. Prior to COVID she taught Tai Chi once a week. During the month of June, she is donating her time to be substitute instructor for the Tai Chi/Qi Gong class on Tuesdays while regular instructor Marianne Walch is at a Tai Chi conference.

Her philosophy of life is simple and completely compatible with the CAMP Rehoboth mantra. She advocates: “Accept everyone how they are. Don’t be judgmental. Love without putting a barrier between you and the other person. Be kind. Be honest to yourself.

Enjoy the small things and do not be jealous.”

“It takes a village” is another phrase that may seem like a tired cliché, but people like Silvia Ritchie know it is so true. Think about it. Her Rehoboth (and CAMP Rehoboth) experience is a case in point. ▼

Mary Jo Tarallo is a former journalist and public relations professional for various non-profits including a ski industry trade association. She won a Gold Award for a United Way TV program starring Oprah Winfrey.

Aging Gracelessly

BY FAY JACOBS

Taking a Deep Dive into Rehoboth History

In May I did two massive things: I had a total knee replacement and I read James Sears’s book Queering Rehoboth Beach cover to cover.

Of course, it was the surgery and recuperation that gave me the time to sit in my recliner and learn all the minute details about the politics and cultural evolution making the city of Rehoboth Beach (and eventually the larger area) a place with room for all.

It’s a very deep dive and endlessly fascinating.

The book is scholarly, impeccably researched, and amazingly thorough. As Murray Archibald said to me, “It’s weird to read about the details of your life in a book.” I agree. Although I was in on the action starting 29 years ago—not 35 or 40. So, later than many participants. But I too found reading about events, controversies, and political dust-ups I participated in an odd—yet fascinating— experience.

The story of the origins of CAMP Rehoboth, with many more players than you might know about, is also captivating. Yes, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald were there from day one, but so were others, leading to an eventual tug-of-war over the tactics to be used to fight for inclusion and equality. Should it be the Act-Up in-your-face model or (as I call it) the Steve Elkins, getting-to-knowyou model?

As we know, the Elkins model won out and by the end of the almost 300 pages, it’s rewarding to see that our heroes, Murray and Steve, are celebrated and given credit for much of the success CAMP Rehoboth has achieved.

If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll enjoy reading about the major players like Joyce Felton, the Blue Moon, the Back Porch, Glen Thompson of The Renegade, the volatile controversy over The Strand nightclub, and the years-long antipathy between those players and the Rehoboth Beach Homeowner Association and the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners.

One thing I found incredibly amusing is what turns out to have been my naïveté when I came to town full-time. I’d been vacationing here for several years, enjoying the restaurants, clubs (Renegade, Strand, Nomad) and parties (Sundance, Love, Follies) before I arrived permanently in 1999 for a job as Executive Director of Rehoboth Beach Main Street.

From my first day on the job, I met and worked with Rehoboth Beach’s major political figures and long-time business owners and we got along well.

The story of the origins of CAMP Rehoboth, with many more players than you might know about, is also captivating.

Little did I know that some of these folks were the same characters who had been loudly homophobic and driving very public efforts to deny liquor licenses to gay venues and fuel contentious issues between the establishment and the growing gay community.

Reading the excruciating details in this book, I’m glad I was the village idiot, taking time learning who were true allies and who were not.

I’m also thankful that my years of columns about our town’s gay history and interviews with major players turned out to be pretty factually accurate for somebody not schooled in research but mere storytelling.

James Sears’s deep dive is exhaustive, adding many details I never discovered but in many ways echoing the lore we have had in print before. Whew!

If I have one comment, it’s not about what’s included in this book—but what’s not. While many people and players are quoted, Sears relied heavily on only four

or five people to weigh in on much of our history since 1980.

While quotes from Murray and Steve are included frequently to head up chapters, two male voices and two female voices are used pretty exclusively to relate their opinions of much of what went on. The two male voices were heavily involved in the major controversies. Their views were essential. But perhaps the views of some onlookers might have rounded out the tales.

As for the two women, I know both active longtime residents pretty well and their views were remarkably valuable. But additional voices may have provided different perspectives on some of the trends and events. I wanted a wider view, additional opinions, and more recollections.

But in the end, this is an astounding compilation of Rehoboth’s history from its birth as a Methodist campground to its successful evolution to a diverse community with room for all.

You can read it cover to cover, flip through and read about times that interest you (you’ll be amazed), or buy it for your bookshelf or coffee table. The tale is relatable and we can relish it as the history of a place we love. And for this reader, it’s a satisfying look into the actions and motivations of several people I love and respect. The book covers and celebrates lots of folks who played important roles in our history, and others who, to say the least, made the journey challenging—and success sweet.

And it gives us the motivation, with new players, new volunteers, new issues to keep up the progress.

As for the knee replacement, like our history it was complex, compelling, frequently painful, and ultimately successful. Also like our history, I’m glad it’s over. ▼

Fay Jacobs is the author of five published books and is touring with her one-woman sit-down comedy show, Aging Gracelessly.

LGBTQ+

Set off on an unforgettable journey with a luxury safari getaway.

Dive into the stunning vistas of Africa and behold magnificent wildlife in their native surroundings. With exhilarating game drives and expert-led bush walks, safari vacations promise an extraordinary adventure for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike.

We share a passion for crafting extraordinary African experiences for every individual. Safety and comfort are our top priorities for LGBTQ+ couples and families, and we meticulously plan every detail to ensure an immersive journey into Africa’s magic.

SUNFESTIVAL 2024

The Ultimate Party Get Ready for SUNFESTIVAL 2024!

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

d Tickets will go quickly—get them now—don’t be left out.

d If you or your friends need accommodations, it’s a busy weekend—you’ll want to get those now, too.

d VIP Lounge access and premium seating are available with various ticket and sponsorship levels.

d SUNFESTIVAL is the ultimate party to close out the summer.

It started as an end-of-summer pool party to raise funds for HIV/AIDS but has evolved—through the leadership of CAMP Rehoboth’s co-founders, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald—into SUNFESTIVAL, a multi-day, annual extravaganza that raises critical funds for CAMP Rehoboth and its many programs and services.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

A Night of Comedy Featuring SUNFESTIVAL Headliner Joe Dombrowski, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center

Kicking off SUNFESTIVAL with a bang is Joe Dombrowski, who has performed in clubs, theaters, and festivals around the globe. His stand-up comedy often highlights his outrageous, g-g-g-gay family dynamics and his time as an elementary school teacher. Joe Dombrowski has been featured as a headlining act at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal and the New York comedy festival. He will also be headlining two shows in the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke Fest at The Hollywood Improv.

Experience a night filled with laughter, as Joe Dombrowski will lift your spirits and tickle your funny bone. It’s been said that his comedy is a must-see for anyone who works with kids, has kids, or used to be a kid.

For up-to-date information, tickets, and sponsorships, go to: give.camprehoboth. org/events/sunfestival-2024.

Live

Auction

SUNFESTIVAL will again include a spectacular live auction of bucket-list-filling items, including a trip to Paris! Keep an eye on the CAMP Rehoboth website to see what will be up for bid this year.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

A Night of Dance Featuring

DJ Producer Robbie Leslie and DJ Producer Joe Gauthreaux, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center

Back this year for the SUNFESTIVAL dance are world-class DJ/producers Robbie Leslie and Joe Gauthreaux, providing classic mirror ball memories, dance floor anthems, and the latest club beats. This hugely popular annual event features amazing light effects, and a dance floor second to none.

Robbie Leslie has been a major feature at Sundance/SUNFESTIVAL since the tea dance debuted in 2018. It’s “the icing on the cake of summer events for me,” he says. “I love playing this wonderful party!”

Second up is another returning favorite, Joe Gauthreaux, who is known for putting his heart and soul into every performance, every music production, and every podcast.

Robbie Leslie Joe Gauthreaux

SUNFESTIVAL 2024

His style is primarily vocal house music infused with tribal rhythms and melodic trance beats. Gauthreaux is one of the most sought-after DJs and producers in the industry and has played at New Orleans’ Oz Nightclub, URGE Festival, Winter Party Festival, WE Party Madrid, White Party—Palm Springs and Zurich, Song Kran Bangkok, New Year’s Rio, and Atlantis Cruises, and has had club residencies in Miami, Chicago, DC, San Francisco, and Atlanta. He also wrote and produced the sleeper hit “You Are My Family,” which became a gay pride classic.

Robbie Leslie loves the synergy he has with Joe Gauthreaux. “We have great chemistry in the booth,” Leslie says. “I begin the party and peak the room just before he takes the helm and shifts the energy into an even higher gear.”

Accessibility Team

CAMP Rehoboth is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment for all participants. If you plan on joining us for SUNFESTIVAL and have needs related to accessibility, please contact accessibility@camprehoboth.com.

Be a Host or Sponsor

Consider supporting CAMP Reho both’s mission to promote coopera tion, well-being, and understanding among all people as it continues working to build a safer community with room for all. Levels of support start at just $150. Benefits,

“We have great chemistry in the booth, I begin the party and peak the room just before he takes the helm and shifts the energy into an even higher gear.”

- ROBBIE LESLIE

depending on level, include t-shirts, extra tickets, preferred seating, access to the VIP lounge, and donor recognition (if desired).

Want to Help Make it Happen?

The SUNFESTIVAL committee is looking for volunteers to help make this event a huge success. In addition to event volunteers, the committee is seeking chairs/leads for the auction and marketing sub-committees. There are also openings on the sponsorship committee. Email kim@camprehoboth.com to learn more.

For up-to-date information, tickets, and sponsorships, go to: give.camprehoboth. org/events/sunfestival-2024. ▼

Photos, top to bottom: L-R: Brenda Dunn, Karen Anderson, Lisa Schlosser, Page Denise, Hope Vella, Barb Clipper, Graeme Davis, (back row) Jeff Brydzinski, Al Drulis, Chris Ortiz, Kyle Taylor, Kyle Pacelli, (front row) Scott Silber, Tyler Prete, John Krafty, Clayton Cox, Michael Fetchko, Keith Petrack.

Become a SunFestival 2024 Sponsor

When you become a sponsor of SUNFESTIVAL 2024, you are demonstrating your support of CAMP Rehoboth and its important work in our community.

Sponsor Benefits

THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, SO ACT NOW! NEW THIS YEAR: PRESENTING / ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR & VIP ROOM SPONSOR!

CAMP Supporter: $600

• 3 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (seating in Section 1, cash bar).

• 3 tickets to the Sunday dance.

• 3 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

RUBY: $2,500

• Name or large logo listing as Ruby Sponsor on: Digital banner in lobby of Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the SUNFESTIVAL webpage and social media channels.

• 4 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (1 VIP table).

• 4 tickets to the Sunday night dance.

• 4 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

• Name or large logo listing as Sapphire Sponsor on: Digital banner in lobby of Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the SUNFESTIVAL webpage and social media channels.

• Private Meet and Greet with talent after the show.

Emerald: $1,500

• 4 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (1 VIP table).

• 4 tickets to the Sunday night dance.

• 4 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

VIP Room Sponsor

-$5,000

• Name or large logo listing as VIP Room Sponsor on: Digital banner in lobby of Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the SUNFESTIVAL webpage and social media channels.

• Signage recognition outside VIP Room both nights.

• 4 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (1 VIP table).

• 4 tickets to the Sunday night dance.

• 4 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

Sapphire: $5,000 presenting/Entertainment Sponsor -$10,000

• Name mentioned in articles and name/logo at top of ads as Presenting Sponsor

• Name or large logo listing as Presenting Sponsor on: Digital banner in lobby of Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the SUNFESTIVAL webpage and social media channels.

• Public acknowledgment as Presenting Sponsor on both evenings.

• 8 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (2 VIP tables).

• 8 tickets to the Sunday dance.

• 8 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

• Private Meet and Greet with talent after the show.

• 8 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (2 VIP tables).

• 8 tickets to the Sunday night dance.

• 8 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

Diamond: $10,000

• Name or large logo listing as Diamond Sponsor on: Digital banner in lobby of Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the SUNFESTIVAL webpage and social media channels.

• Public acknowledgment as Diamond Sponsor on both evenings.

• Purple Rainbow Membership at CAMP Rehoboth.

• Private Meet and Greet with talent after the show.

• 12 tickets to Saturday night entertainment/live auction (three VIP tables of four people).

• 12 tickets to the Sunday dance.

• 12 SUNFESTIVAL T-shirts.

• Access to VIP lounge with open bar and light appetizers both nights.

• Two full page ads in Letters between September 2024-April 2025.

To learn more, or to sign-up to be a sponsor, visit www.camprehoboth.org/sunfestival or contact Laurie Thompson at laurie@camprehoboth.com.

Reflections

Remembering What Dad Taught Me

The bang made me jump. Who could be knocking at our front door? Anyone who knew us would come around back. My mom ran into the vestibule. When she opened the door, I heard my uncle say, “He’s gone, Mary.” He and my father, Donald, had driven my brother to John F. Kennedy Airport. My father dropped dead of a massive heart attack at the ticket counter.

It was the day after Christmas. My dad never got a chance to wear the new perfectly-fitting pants I bought him. He never listened to the cassette tape I bought him to help reduce stress. He was trying to do better. It just didn’t work. That day in 1984 changed the trajectory of my life. I had been on a career high, about to get certified to teach fitness in addition to expanding my writing career. I was also looking forward to getting to know my dad, whom I had admired all my life. After decades of being tongue-tied and hesitant around my in-charge, uncommunicative, loud father, we were getting softer with and more curious about each other. We were becoming adult friends. His sudden death changed that.

I got busy making funeral arrangements, sifting through legal papers, paying bills, and dealing with phone calls and visitors. I’m not sure I even gave myself permission to cry. Afterwards, I honored my dad’s request that I “take care” of my family should he die; that included supporting my mom, my deaf brother (who was in college), and my single aunt (his sister). I forgot about me and focused on making sure everyone else was okay.

Without giving it a second thought, I became my father. I learned well from him. I learned never to reveal a lot of personal stuff, assertively get what you need, and how to get things done. As my father was to his family, I became to my friends—a connector, an initiator, and a decision-maker.

I emulated how my dad never judged people by the way they looked. Instead,

he judged by what they said and how they acted. His prejudice was about stupidity, not the color of one’s skin, sexual orientation, or economic class.

I learned how important it was to live within my means without credit card debt. He fought switching from cash to

This Father’s Day I acknowledge and appreciate the gifts I received from a dad…who was driven by common sense, kindness, and generosity.

credit for years until I was a teen, when my dad was forced to get credit so we could stay in a hotel on vacation. “Isn’t my cash good enough?” he raged.

Our home, growing up, was open to any relatives, friends, or work colleagues who stopped by. A pot of coffee was put on the stove, the Entenmann’s was brought out, and conversation flowed around the kitchen table. That’s how my dad was. Now, almost nothing is better to me than sitting around a table with friends who stop by to visit. How I love having company—especially surprise visitors.

My mom never got a driver’s license and dad didn’t drink, so he became the designated driver, whether it was taking a relative or colleague to an appointment, doing the food shopping,

BY PATTIE CINELLI

running an errand, or going out socially. I have become the person most comfortable with driving—just like my dad.

This Father’s Day I acknowledge and appreciate the gifts I received from a dad who outwardly was a man of few words with a short fuse, yet who was driven by common sense, kindness, and generosity. The conflict between his family, who talked loud, gave big, and criticized often, and what my father held inside, was his killer.

Perhaps the most important concept I learned from my father is how to avoid letting drama and pressure from circumstances over which I have no control rule my life. Daddy tried his best, but he couldn’t beat his belief that his genetics and temperament would kill him. He didn’t know how to change. I didn’t want to become helpless like him. I am forever grateful that because of him, I learned how to stay well and thrive. I figured out how to get to know my own body, understanding what works for me and what doesn’t. I learned the importance of taking a step back, slowing down, and saying “no” once in a while. Deep breaths, good music, a good book, and physical movement are among what calms me. I learned the importance of controlling my reactions with a pause and the thought, “What is it I want from this encounter?”

I have no idea whether my father would take pride in my life as it has unfolded. I am envious of friends who have had a long, loving relationship with their dad and have felt his unconditional love. I choose to believe my dad would have recognized why I made the life decisions I have and understood that I am doing the best I can. I know he did. ▼

Pattie Cinelli is a writer and a holistic health & fitness professional. Email her with questions or column ideas to: fitmiss44@aol.com.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

BY STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

Voices from Stonewall Returns to the Stage

Celebrate your Pride, learn more about LGBTQ+ history, and support local artists by seeing an exciting theater production—Voices from Stonewall —at CAMP Rehoboth. Co-author Fay Jacobs directs; actors Matty Brown, Gwen Osborne, and Eric Peterson bring it all to life.

What Were the Stonewall Riots?

The Stonewall riots, which took place in June 1969, are considered a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. They occurred at the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ+ bar located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The riots began in response to a police raid, which was a common occurrence at the time. LGBTQ+ establishments were frequently targeted by law enforcement due to discriminatory laws and social stigmas against homosexuality.

The initial resistance displayed at Stonewall quickly escalated into larger protests and demonstrations. The riots saw participation from a diverse group of people, including drag queens, transgender individuals, lesbians, and gay men, among others. The intensity of the protests and the visible defiance against police oppression galvanized the LGBTQ+ community.

The Stonewall riots are often cited as the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. They marked the first time that a large number of LGBTQ+ individuals collectively and openly resisted systemic oppression. Following the riots there was a surge in activism, leading to the formation of various LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, such as the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA).

The Stonewall riots brought greater visibility to LGBTQ+ issues and helped to challenge the pervasive social stigma and discrimination faced by the community. The Stonewall riots also intersected with other civil rights movements of the time, including the feminist movement and the civil rights movement. This intersectionality helped to build solidarity

among different marginalized groups and to frame LGBTQ+ rights as an integral part of the broader struggle for social justice and equality.

How Did “Stonewall” Get on Stage?

Voices from Stonewall is an original production by Fay Jacobs and Michael Gilles that premiered at CAMP Rehoboth in 2019.

“Live theater is the most immediate and visceral way to experience a story…. Seeing Stonewall on stage puts you in that bar, in the midst of the chaos.”

Jacobs was inspired to co-create this show to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. To tell the story through the voices of the people who lived through the events, Gilles collected stories of eyewitnesses and did dramaturgical research.

By incorporating the stories of so many participants in the events, the production tells a rich and complex story featuring many perspectives. Eric Peterson returns to the production after participating in a 2023 revival. “I think I played over 20 roles, from patrons to historians to omniscient narrators,” Peterson said. “My favorite last year was the cop who gets caught inside the bar.”

Why You Should See It

“Live theater is the most immediate and visceral way to experience a story,” Peterson reminds us. “Seeing Stonewall on stage puts you in that bar, in the midst of the chaos. It’s a very exciting experience.”

Because the show includes original research and first-hand accounts, even LGBTQ+ history buffs are bound to learn a thing or two as audience members. Says actor Matty Brown, “I was fortunate enough to work on a research

thesis on the Stonewall riots in college. But even so, no amount of research and reading about the riots had the same impact as hearing the voices in person. Live theater, more so than any other medium, helps remind us that these were real people with real senses of joy, anger, and fearlessness.”

It’s also especially important to tell LGBTQ+ stories, since for so long our histories have been erased. “Because most of us don’t have queer parents,” Peterson reminds us, “LGBTQ kids don’t learn our own history the way a lot of marginalized groups do. And I think it’s vital. We have to know where we come from in order to know who we are.”

Even when we do keep histories alive, we don’t always include the full picture, like Stonewall tries to do. Writer and director Jacobs admits, “I really didn’t know that the homeless youth and transgender women were the people who really started the riots. They were the backbone of the community, and they had had enough.

“These days, important figures like Marsha P. Johnson are being recognized, and I’m glad they’re finally getting their due, because for so long, the narrative was controlled by white gay men.” Voices from Stonewall, she hopes, can help reframe the narrative so that important voices and communities aren’t erased from queer and civil rights history.

Adds Brown, “It’s important to continue re-telling the Stonewall story so that we do not get complacent in our rights.” Hopefully, as the fight for equality continues, the actual fights can stay on stage.

How you can see it

There will be just two performances of Voices from Stonewall on stage at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center: June 28 and 29, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available at camprehoboth.com. ▼

Stephen Raskauskas is a Sussex County native who has produced content for radio, TV, digital, and print.

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CommunityNews

Comic Fay Jacobs to Perform at Seaside Jewish Community

Sit-down comic Fay

Jacobs will perform at the Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth Beach at 7:30 pm on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers and are available by registering on the Seaside website at: seasidejewishcommunity.com/event/comedy-night.

Fay has been touring the country with her one-woman show, “Aging Gracelessly: Don’t Say Fay!” At its core is the author’s insistence that nothing is ever so horrible if it’s worth the story you can tell. The event has Fay’s signature humor and relatable stories for everyone. She tackles the aging process, life in Rehoboth and environs, and all manner of recognizable situations. She even has stories of long-ago Purim costumes and the revival of Miami Beach’s 1960s favorites, Wolfies and The Rascal House. ▼

Just in Time for PRIDE!

The fully-launched version of LGBTQ+ History of Delaware:

We Have Always Been Here, a project developed and presented by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA), is now available at history.delaware.gov/lgbtqhistory/.

The online exhibit is the culmination of a year-long intensive research project exploring the people, places, important documents, objects, and memorabilia that have shaped queer history in the First State over the centuries.

“It’s been such an incredibly rewarding journey to pull this project together, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally share it with the public,” said Meg Hutchins, project lead and HCA’s Engagement and Collections Manager. “Seeing these stories come together on this platform will hopefully shed a new light on an often-overlooked group of people who have made an incredibly important mark on Delaware history….”

Visitors to the site can explore stories featuring artists, authors, documents, photographs, places, and Delawareans who told their truths—our truths—across time. This is not just a static exhibit: the team behind the project would love to continue to grow the collection of stories. To share yours, contact collections.team@delaware.gov. ▼

Pride Shabbat

Seaside

Jewish Community, 18970 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, will hold its annual Pride Shabbat service on Friday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m. This joyful and meaningful service will be led by Emerita Rabbi Beth Cohen and Cantor Deborah Katchko Gray.

Everyone wishing to attend in-person needs to pre-register (use link below) by Thursday, June 27. Be sure to include the number of people in your group, and their names. The service also will be available via Zoom; the link can be found on the pre-registration webpage.

Pre-register at: seasidejewishcommunity.com/socialevents. ▼

Ordained by Angels

All Saints' Church, located at 18 Olive Avenue in downtown Rehoboth, will host Jerry Anderson, acclaimed author and long-time AIDS chaplain, on Saturday, June 22, at 6:00 p.m. Anderson will present a discussion and signing of his book, Ordained by Angels, a Memoir of an AIDS Chaplain. Anderson, an Episcopal priest, wrote his memoir in conjunction with Shaun Sanders to share his story of being on the frontlines at the very beginning of the AIDS crisis. Chapter one actually takes place in Rehoboth Beach during the summer of 1983, according to Anderson.

This special event will take place immediately following the church's weekly Saturday 5:00 p.m. outdoor garden service. Those attending are welcome to bring a chair or blanket for seating. Weather permitting, attendees will gather in the garden adjacent to the sanctuary on Olive Avenue. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place in the church sanctuary.

Light refreshments will be served and there will be copies of Fr. Jerry's books available for sale. There is no charge to attend and all are welcome. For more information about Fr. Jerry please go to his website: ordainedbyangels. com. For more information about this event email: info@ allsaintsandstgeorges.org or call 302-227-7202. ▼

Out & About

Hypocrites in High Places

In the waning days of May, two stories crossed my news feed. They took place on different continents in different decades, but in many other ways, they were strikingly similar. They both involved powerful men saying things behind closed doors, things they assumed would be kept private. Both statements, however, were published— one, days after; the other, 20 years later. But they both saw the light of day, and they were both at odds with the images these men would rather project.

The first of these stories involved Pope Francis, who (according to the New York Times) had been in a private meeting with a group of Italian bishops when he was asked whether openly gay men should be admitted into seminaries to study for the priesthood. According to reports, Francis said no, that seminaries were already too full of “frociaggine,” an Italian slur that roughly translates to “f*gg*ts.”

As a gay ex-Catholic who now identifies as an atheist, the news was disappointing, but not overtly wounding, and certainly not surprising. The Catholic church was where I first learned about homosexuality, and it wasn’t a very positive message. I suppose my Catholic upbringing is one of the reasons why I couldn’t bear to come out, even to myself, until the age of 25. So, despite meeting more than my share of gay priests in my life, I maintain a healthy skepticism when it comes to the folks in the Vatican.

And yet, Pope Francis is supposed to be the “nice” Pope. He’s certainly better than his predecessor, who was virulently homophobic both in public and private, despite his fancy red patent leather shoes and movie-star-handsome “personal secretary.” When Francis became Pope in 2013, he became known for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, and a focus on the world’s poor. In 2023, he made headlines by condemning “unjust” laws that criminalize homosexuality, stating that “God loves us as we are.”

Many of the gay Catholics in my life rejoiced when they heard this, even though

Francis also said that homosexuality was still considered a sin—so we shouldn’t go to jail, but unless we repent, we won’t get into heaven. I suppose this represents progress, but calling Pope Francis the best Pope of my lifetime still feels like damning with the faintest of praise.

As someone who today believes in neither a God nor an afterlife, none of this really affects me—but it irks me all the same. I can give Pope Francis a smidgen of credit for issuing a public apology as soon as the slur came to light, but that it was spoken at all points to how the man truly regards me in his heart—as just another f*gg*t, apparently.

This year, Pride is still a sense of joy and purpose, but it’s also an aspiration— to live without fear and to be my very best self, even when I don’t think anyone’s watching.

The other story came from a producer on the first season of The Apprentice, back in the good old days when Donald Trump was just a tacky real estate magnate, not an existential threat to our democracy. Like everyone who worked The Apprentice, Bill Pruitt signed a non-disclosure agreement, preventing him from saying anything about his behind-thescenes experiences…a gag order, if you like. But his NDA had an expiration date of 20 years, and it had just expired.

The article he wrote for Slate Magazine is also not exactly shocking, but a doozy of a read. Among the many revelations were the fact that Trump was not the first choice to star in The Apprentice, but the only one who would take the job after several other high-profile moguls had turned it down, a description of just how run-down the Trump offices were in 2004, and an anecdote about an architect who

BY ERIC C. PETERSON

was never paid for designing the clubhouse on one of Trump’s golf courses, and who couldn’t afford to sue.

But the story that caught the most attention was Trump’s casual use of the n-word in reference to Season 1’s runner-up, Kwame Jackson, along with the implication that Jackson lost because Trump was unsure if the audience “would buy a [n-word] winning.” According to Pruitt, he said this while cameras were rolling.

Now, Trump’s racism is no big secret. This is the man who took out a full-page ad calling for the “Central Park Five” to be put to death, and never apologized, even after they were fully exonerated. This is the man who began a movement to question our first Black president’s eligibility for office. This is the man who recently posted a campaign video that clearly echoed the language of the Nazi movement.

This is also a man who has not commented on his use of a bigoted slur, much less apologized for it. But like Pope Francis, it’s very likely that Trump wishes this story had not been told. And I’d bet money that he’s now working furiously to prevent any incriminating tapes from being released.

When I think about Pride, I usually think about how freeing it is to be out of the closet and how much I love being a part of the big, beautiful rainbow we call the “LGBTQ community.” But this year, I’m thinking about something a little deeper. I’m thinking about all the ways I could do a better job aligning who I am in public with everything I say and do in private. This year, Pride is still a sense of joy and purpose, but it’s also an aspiration—to live without fear and to be my very best self, even when I don’t think anyone’s watching. Happy Pride, everyone. And don’t forget to register to vote. ▼

Eric Peterson is Interim Managing Editor of Amble Press, a novelist (Loyalty, Love & Vermouth), and a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner. Follow Eric on Threads at @ red7eric.

CAMPsafe Serves Our Community PREVENT HIV & Mpox

FREE Condoms—Protect Yourself!

FREE condoms (internal, external, non-latex) and dental dams are ALWAYS available at CAMP Rehoboth and other locations, including Diego’s, Freddie’s, Aqua, and all free walk-in HIV testing sites.

Mpox: YOU can stop the spread! Mpox can spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person with mpox, or contact with their saliva, upper respiratory secretions, and areas around the genitals. Find the latest information on mpox and where to get vaccines at cdc.gov/poxvirus/ mpox/

PrEP, HIV PEP, and Mpox PEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication taken daily that can reduce your chance of getting HIV. HIV PEP (postexposure prophylaxis) is a medication that must be taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure to prevent HIV. Mpox PEP reduces your chances of getting mpox after possible exposure to the mpox virus. To find out more, visit cdc.gov/hiv/default.html

FREE WALK-IN HIV TESTING

Free, rapid, walk-in HIV testing and counseling is available at CAMP Rehoboth and in western Sussex County. Testing days/times are subject to change; please call ahead to verify the current testing schedule.

CAMP Rehoboth

37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE Tel: 302-227-5620

Mondays 10 AM-1 PM Tuesdays 2:30-4:30 PM Wednesdays 1-4 PM Thursdays 1-3 PM Fridays .......................................... 9 AM-12 PM

ACE Peer Resource Center - Georgetown 20707 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-585-4963

ACE Peer Resource Center - Seaford 547 N. Bradford St., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-628-3016

Addiction Medical Facility - Seaford 1309 Bridgeville Hwy., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-629-2300

Higher Ground Outreach 12 E. Pine St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-470-7497

Laurel State Service Center 31039 N. Poplar St., Laurel, DE Tel: 302-227-5620*

*Call CAMP Rehoboth to schedule an HIV test at the Laurel State Service Center.

Springboard Village  411 Kimmey St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-253-8246

Scan the QR Code for the most up-todate testing hours and locations.

GET TESTED with Sharon Morgan, HIV testing volunteer, on Fridays, 9 a.m - 12 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth

PROUDLY SUPPORTING PRIDE IN SUSSEX COUNTY

At Beebe Healthcare, we’re proud to celebrate and honor our commitment to providing the best care for all members of our diverse and vibrant community. Our culture of empathy and excellence represents a critical part of that mission.

This month and every month, we remain committed to offering a safe place where members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community can speak about their experiences and access care with respect and dignity.

As we celebrate Pride Month, please know that we see you and we support you. You can be yourself with us. Together, we’re fostering a community that strives for acceptance, equity and a sense of belonging for all.

CAMPStories BY

RICH

Chai Tea at Tea?

By a certain age we’ve all experienced the adage “what goes around comes around.” This summer it certainly seems to apply to the tea dance. They’re everywhere. I was recently on the patio at Diego’s one sunny Sunday afternoon for their tea dance and I couldn’t help but overhear a cute young thing in a tank top ask another cute young thing in hot pants if he could get an iced chai tea latte.…

While I was surprised by what I heard, I remembered back when I didn’t know anything about gay tea dances. Gay history for most of us isn’t taught. It’s learned from our elders and then shared.

…the Renegade held a regularly advertised Sunday tea dance back in the 80s…

The concept of the tea dance originated in 19th century England and France where afternoon gatherings allowed attendees to enjoy tea and light refreshments while dancing to live music. As these events made their way across the Atlantic to this country, they maintained their genteel nature, becoming a staple of upper-class social life. During the 1950s and 60s the tea dance began to take on its distinct identity within the gay community. During this era, gay folks faced significant social stigma and legal challenges. In many cities it was illegal for bars to sell alcohol to people known to be gay and police conducted raids on establishments catering to them. Same-sex dancing was often prohibited.

The tea dance provided a perfect cover: it was a seemingly innocuous event that allowed people to gather without drawing undue attention. Tea was usually held at a bar in the late afternoon on Sundays for dancing, mingling, and relaxation. It was all rather subdued. The dancing, for example, often took the form of popular group line dances.

On Fire Island, an established gay and lesbian venue 3.9 miles off the south shore of Long Island, New York, the tea dance became a staple of the summer weekend social scene for those visiting from the city. In 1966, a man named John Whyte opened the Blue Whale Bar in Fire Island Pines. He claimed it was the home of the original tea dance. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but he certainly helped popularize the concept. He also created the Blue Whale cocktail—a mix of gin and Blue Curacao—which became a trademark at tea.

Even in an out-of-the-way gay enclave like Fire Island Pines, men kept their guard up. The only way guys danced together was in a group. Line dances like the “The Madison” allowed gays to dance together so long as there was no touching. In the 1970 gay film The Boys in the Band,

the characters perform The Madison during a lively and memorable scene.

By the 1970s Stonewall and disco music arrived, and tea dance would now grow into a phenomenon that all of Fire Island would find their way to. With the creation of the longer-playing 12″ disco single record, one song could be mixed into another, allowing for non-interrupted solo dancing—a style of dance that superseded line dancing and that everyone today takes for granted. The golden age of the tea dance had arrived, not only in Fire Island but in Provincetown and Key West, too.

Tea dances eventually migrated to urban neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and the Castro in San Francisco and began attracting younger, less affluent gays. They put their own spin on tea. T-shirts and denim became their uniform and beer their beverage. As this demographic liked to party at night, tea dances gradually moved later until they became subsumed into the night club scene. By the 80s, classic tea dances began to fade away during the AIDS crisis. But they never fully disappeared. In fact, I attended my first tea in Key West in 1989. Here in Rehoboth the tea dance never caught on like it did in Fire Island and Provincetown. Yes, the Renegade held a regularly advertised Sunday tea dance back in the 80s and the occasional ladies’ tea occurred at the Palms Restaurant on Rehoboth Avenue (later to become Cloud 9). Some people referred to the rollicking happy hour at the Blue Moon bar in the 90s as a tea dance, but I disagree. A tea dance, in my opinion, requires music, dancing, and some flirtation and the Moon bar was way too crowded for that. One might say the numerous late-afternoon/early-evening house parties that were a long-time Rehoboth summer tradition served the function of a de facto tea dance—gays creating the space to express their identities joyfully. Rehoboth’s evolution into a gay destination just took a different route than did Fire Island and P’town, one that had to deal with quite a bit of anti-gay sentiment back in the height of the tea dance era.

So, when you attend your next tea dance think about it as a celebration, but also as a living testament to the creativity and resilience of the entire LGBTQ+ community. And if you unexpectedly find yourself in a situation where you overhear some cute young thing ask for an iced chai tea latte, please do him a favor and suggest he try a Blue Whale cocktail instead. ▼

Rich Barnett is the author of The Discreet Charms of a Bourgeois Beach Town, and Fun with Dick and James.

RAINBOW MEMBERS RECEIVE:

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LISSA DULANY

BY MARCE MCCOLLUM-MARTIN

MARCE MCCOLLUMMARTIN: When did you start volunteering at CAMP Rehoboth?

LISSA DULANY: I started volunteering for CAMP in the fall of 2022, a couple months after I moved here. As I had been very involved with Atlanta Pride events while I lived there, I was happy to join the planning committee for Women’s FEST 2023. It was a great way to meet like-minded folks: service-oriented.

MMM: Favorite season at the beach and why?

LD: Non-meter season is my favorite—for obvious reasons (smile). It’s also the time that restaurant chefs try new recipes and appreciate us. I love walking all over town, on the beach, and in the parks.

MMM: Name a childhood mentor or someone that influenced you.

LD: Ms. Siler, my advanced chemistry teacher. Prior to her, I’d had several good science teachers, and had been involved in science fairs since junior high. But Ms. Siler—she was really good: we learned how to think about science, not just memorize facts. And the labs were great—we probably had no idea that some of what we did was dangerous (I have stories). I’m a science geek to this day.

MMM: What do you value most in friendship?

LD: In a relationship with a good friend, one of the things I love most is being able to start anywhere and anytime, as if time had not elapsed in between. There is a sixth sense of understanding. But it’s critical to keep asking questions and listening for the answers—it does annoy me when someone assumes they know what I believe without asking…. Another trait I value in a friend is the ability to laugh at oneself, and I hope that I also do that well. Honesty, integrity, and a desire to make a difference.

MMM: What talent would you like to have?

LD: I’ve interpreted talent as superpower, as that’s more fun. And the superpower that I’d like is to be able to FLY. I fly in my dreams, and sometimes I teach others to fly in my dreams. It’s magical—OK, that may be obvious. I do enjoy flying in planes as a poor substitute….▼

Marce McCollum-Martin

is a member of the CAMP Rehoboth

Volunteer Development Committee (VDC).

health+wellness

That Magic Touch

Everything you touch touches you.

–JIDENNA

Fire and ice. A gentle mist on a sultry day. Downy feathers. A cat’s tongue. Jagged rocks. Paper cuts. Crisp linen. Towels fresh out of the dryer. Rose petals. Their thorns. Elmer’s glue on fingers. Arms around shoulders. A tear’s kiss. A lover’s caress. All these sensations and the memories they evoke are due to the magic of touch.

Our sense of touch allows us to send and receive signals to understand the world around us. Touch is essential for countless behaviors ranging from avoiding bodily harm to quantifying social interactions.

Skin is the largest organ of the body and houses the interrelated pathways that define touch. Three main types of receptors reside in the external layers of the skin that work together to form a complete picture of what we are feeling. Thermoreceptors sense changes in temperature, becoming more active in colder conditions and less active in warmer conditions. Mechanoreceptors sense changes in pressure, allowing for the distinction between a crushing blow or a glancing brush against skin. Nociceptors sense pain, but do not distinguish between types of pain, only recognizing cell damage.

While each receptor type is unique, the signal pathways they take are remarkably similar and it’s up to the brain to somehow fill in the blanks. Scientists still are not sure how that is accomplished.

Proprioception, the sensitivity to touch, begins about the eighth week of gestation and by 32 weeks a fetus can distinguish brush strokes. Several studies suggest touching the abdomen is a powerful stimulus, with fetuses exhibiting increased arm, head, and mouth movements when the mother strokes her abdomen. However, such touch by another on the abdomen does not elicit as strong a fetal response

and it’s surmised the growing fetus can also distinguish the mother’s congruent motions. The internal environment is also stimulating, with the fetus consistently interacting with amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, and the placenta.

Touch is essential for countless behaviors ranging from avoiding bodily harm to quantifying social interactions.

Neonatal development is also strongly influenced by touch. Newborns exposed to somatosensory stimulation show facilitated growth, better sleep, and improved cognitive development. During the first year, babies who are routinely touched demonstrate greater emotional resilience as they grow up. In addition, those who consistently experience affectionate touch have lower stress hormone levels.

Of all the senses, babies use touch the most in the first year. They learn about their world and strengthen brain connections by grasping objects and

BY SHARON MORGAN

feeling different textures. In repeated trials, babies seem to favor expanding their knowledge base, choosing a new object over one they had just handled. Touch also plays a part in the development of self as babies become aware as early as four months that their actions can influence caregiver response. The benefits of touch are reciprocal; physical contact with an infant releases the hormone oxytocin, which is associated with nurturing behaviors and positive mood.

Oxytocin is frequently referred to as the bonding hormone and has its roots in evolutionary biology. For survival, humans evolved as social creatures, seeing protection and safety in numbers. This need for community persists today, although emotional rather than physical security is emphasized. Hugging and other forms of non-sexual contact releases oxytocin, increasing the bonds between individuals and heightening a sense of wellbeing. The hormone also can make one feel more generous, grateful, nurturing, and collaborative.

Touch has healing properties as well. Since the mid-70s, researchers at the University of Miami’s Touch Research Institute have demonstrated that massage increases natural killer cells by decreasing cortisol levels. As such, populations with cancer and chronic diseases have shown symptom improvement and palliative benefits from massage. The same researchers surmise yoga acts as a form of self-massage, providing the same sort of hormonal regulation. Some clinicians have even recommended seniors, who are more likely to find themselves alone, engage in routine massage to stave off touch starvation.

Touch hunger or starvation is a condition by which those deprived of routine physical contact exhibit signs of irritability, anxiousness, or depression. With the lack of contact, cortisol levels rise, elevating heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rate, and adversely impacting the immune and digestive systems. The recent COVID pandemic and subsequent social distancing brought this condition to the

forefront. But even prior to the pandemic, health professionals were voicing increasing alarm that social media and “no touch” policies were having adverse effects on children and young adults, as more and more were not interacting with each other. To mitigate the effects of isolation, experts recommend limiting time on social media. Engage in singing and dancing, solitary activities that can boost oxytocin levels. Even video chats or online engagement in activities with others, while not a replacement for touch, can create a sense of community.

Of course, not all touch is healthy. As parents or caregivers of children, teaching them what is inappropriate touching must begin early in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

Draw the Circle Wide

Just ask Sharon Marquart, fouryear leader of CAMP Rehoboth’s Women in Circle: the circle is wide, it is deep, it is safe, and it is a wonderful place for women to connect. It’s a diverse group that draws lesbians, trans women, bisexuals, locals, out-of-towners, regulars, and newcomers. A typical meeting sees about 15 women, with two to three being new to the group.

Meeting bi-weekly (first and third Saturdays of each month, at 10:00 a.m.), Women in Circle is moving out of Rehoboth for the summer (that traffic; those meters…): its June 15, July 6 and 20, and August 3 and 17 get-togethers will convene at the Lewes Public Library. As of September 21, meetings will return to CAMP Rehoboth.

So—what’s the best thing about Women in Circle? Sharon believes it’s the connection and community it

Prevention, one in four girls and one in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse in their childhood.

...those deprived of routine physical contact exhibit signs of irritability, anxiousness, or depression.

As adults, intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a global epidemic, with one in three individuals, mostly women, acknowledging some form of IPV in their lifetime. According to the National Council

health+wellness

on Aging, an estimated one in 10 Americans age 60 years or older experience some form of emotional, physical, or financial abuse, yet only about 25 percent of the cases are reported. About 60 percent of the perpetrators of elder abuse are family members.

Each year, the ubiquitous handshake is celebrated on the last Thursday in June. An ancient form of ensuring those you encountered had no hidden weapons, by the 1700s the Quakers had embraced the handshake as a way of salutation, irrespective of social class. This month, take an old lesson from Ma Bell of telephone fame: reach out and touch someone. ▼

LET’S STAY CONNECTED!

offers. It’s a place to begin friendships that sometimes grow well beyond the bi-weekly meetings. It’s a place to explore ideas and find empowerment and offer support. Some recent topics of discussion: the science of happiness, setting intentions, managing change, chair yoga, new beginnings, aging gracefully, and sound healing. What’s not on the agenda? Religion and politics. (Whew!)

Sharon enjoyed a long career as a life coach, non-denominational/interfaith minister, author, and teacher. She says, “My life’s passion is teaching and supporting women in living their best lives, as they navigate life’s inevitable twists and turns. Women in Circle offers me a platform to indulge my passion. And I love that I can share with lesbians.”

Looking for a place to feel welcome, explore ideas, and form connections?

Try Women in Circle—they’re always ready to draw the circle wider still. ▼

Sharon A. Morgan is a retired advanced practice nurse with over 30 years of clinical and healthcare policy background

Youth Crisis Support: Crisis intervention services for children under 18. Parents and caregivers are connected to a crisis clinician. Available 24/7. Call 800-9694357 or text DE to 741-741.

988: Free, confidential support and resources for anyone in distress. Available 24/7. Call 988.

Delaware Hope Line: Free coaching and support. Links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services. Available 24/7. Call 833-9-HOPEDE (833-946-7333).

All of CAMP Rehoboth’s programs, services, and events are listed here: camprehoboth.com/community-calendar. Please visit the site often to ensure you have up-to-date information on what is being offered—and when. ▼

Photo: Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

ROOM FOR ALL

Radical Inclusivity

“Belonging is rooted in relationships. Having people in our lives who know us, like us, accept us, need us, miss us, and love us is at the heart of our well-being.”

–ERIK W. CARTER

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an overall prevalence of disability among American adults at 27 percent. The Human Rights Campaign reports a 36 percent prevalence of disability among adults identifying as LGBTQ+. So, why aren’t we seeing more people with disabilities at our events?

Part of the problem is that we forget about intersectionality. Using myself as an example: I am a woman. I am a lesbian. I am an African American. I have a disability. I am all these things. They cannot be separated, if I am to remain authentic and whole.

The same applies to all people with disabilities. We belong in the churches, mosques, and synagogues. We belong at the happy hours, festivals, dances, concerts, and theaters. We belong at the restaurants, on the sidewalks, in the bars, at the picnics, on the beaches, and in the parks.

We, as a society, aren’t raised knowing how to interact with people with disabilities. Some of us are told, “don’t stare!” Others are taught to treat people with disabilities as if they are fragile and helpless. Unless we are raised with or by persons with disabilities, we may feel uncertain and awkward when we share space with these individuals.

Maslow identified a sense of belonging as a basic need. What we are striving to accomplish is to make our community inclusive for everyone. We want everyone to feel they belong. It’s about more than simply providing what’s required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Rather, it’s about:

• a shift in mindset

• a change in perspective

• an intentional effort to plan events with the expectation that people with

disabilities will attend

• making an extra effort to ensure that seating at the next happy hour will accommodate everyone before you make a reservation—and then choosing another venue if it can’t

• respecting everyone’s rights to autonomy and self-determination

• learning the appropriate etiquette and language—it’s just as important as our pronouns and how we identify ourselves

• focusing on abilities and on enabling everyone to enjoy the things and interests that we have in common

What we are striving to accomplish is to make our community inclusive for everyone.

I’ve been honored to help CAMP Rehoboth and other organizations begin their journeys to radical inclusivity. Intentional event planning is possible, and the return is priceless. Some examples of intentional planning include: 1) Providing qualified ASL interpreters at events with the expectation that Deaf and Hard-ofHearing people will attend; 2) Providing adequate accessible parking for the attendees; 3) Ensuring that all passageways are wide and free of permanent or even temporary obstructions (including long tablecloths); 4) Offering pre-registration to ensure the needs for accommodation are known, so they can be met (this is also an opportunity to form relationships); and 5) Marketing that assures people with disabilities know they are welcome.

We’ve been doing this for LGBTQ+ events in our area for the past three years and the comments from the people to whom we provided services are cherished:

“This was our first Women’s FEST and the accessibility team was a wonderful surprise.”

BY S. HOPE VELLA, BSW

“My entire experience, from phone conversations to accommodations, was excellent.”

“They were aware and prepared before I even arrived at the event.”

“I was impressed that they accommodated space for our friends at events so we wouldn’t feel separated.”

“I have never been given the amount of attention, respect, and understanding at an event like this team provided.”

“For those who might not attend due to the complexity of having mobility issues and trying to navigate crowds, I would assure them that there is a friendly, welcoming team of folks available to help.”

And my favorite, “All the volunteers I encountered seemed excited to welcome us and share their Rehoboth with us.”

Are we excited to share our Rehoboth with everyone? Are we excited to include everyone in spaces in which they belong, and embrace their intersectionality? I know I’m grateful that the people I have in my life embraced the new me when disability was added to my intersectional “quadfecta.”

My LGBTQ+ family rallied around me after I was injured, knowing that I would never be the same. The inclusivity I experienced from my LGBTQ+ community allowed me to embrace the new me as much as I embrace my other areas of intersection. I am whole because of a community that unabashedly assured me that I still belonged.

Every person with a disability should have the opportunity to feel that they belong. I’m proud of the efforts CAMP Rehoboth has made and continues to make. I’m proud of our community. I’m grateful that I landed in a community that accepted me as I was and as I am now. Happy LGBTQ+ Pride and Happy Disability LGBTQ+ Pride to you all! ▼

S. Hope Vella, BSW, is a disability inclusion advocate who is passionate about her work. She can be reached at hope@ phoenixaccessibilityteam.com.

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Is your worry starting to take over your daily life?

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I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM…

Ben & Jerry’s: Social Activism in a Cone

Peace, Love, & Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry’s believes that ice cream can save the world. That’s why they think of themselves as a social justice company that makes ice cream.

In 1978, after taking a five-dollar correspondence course in ice cream making from Penn State and with the help of a $12,000 investment ($4,000 of it borrowed), childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Now a multi-billion-dollar brand, Ben & Jerry’s is a success story that proves you can do well by doing good.

Ben & Jerry’s has a mission that focuses on meeting human needs and eliminating injustices. They use their business to create economic opportunities; they strive to reduce their impact on the environment; they’re thoughtful about product sourcing. And they use their financial and societal power to affect change.

Since social justice is a major part of Ben & Jerry’s corporate mission, it should come as no surprise that they’ve come out (so to speak) for LGBTQ+ rights. According to Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Global Social Mission Director, “When Jerry and Ben were at the helm, they wanted to ensure that every individual who worked at Ben & Jerry’s was respected equally, regardless of who they loved.” They were one of the first companies in the US to offer benefits to same-sex

partners in 1989—virtually unheard of at the time. Miller says that cofounder Jerry Greenfield challenged Ben & Jerry’s employees by stating, “When issues are important enough, you have to be willing to take to the streets.”

In addition to creating a work environment that was supportive of LGBTQ+ employees, Ben & Jerry’s looked for opportunities to be an ally. Sometimes they literally took to the streets (to march), and other times they used the power of ice cream.

When same-sex marriage became a political issue in Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s changed the name of its popular Chubby Hubby flavor to “Hubby Hubby.” (They also introduced a flavor called “Apple-y Ever After” in the UK.) And when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, the company created a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough variation and named it “I Dough, I Dough” to celebrate the decision (proceeds were donated to the Human Rights Campaign).

Their efforts continue. “In 2022,” says Miller, “as hateful anti-trans legislation was cropping up in several states, we created a billboard campaign [“Trans Rights are Human Rights”] to show support and stand in solidarity with trans youth.”

There were worries that Ben & Jerry’s would abandon their mission after being acquired by global giant Unilever. But in 2012, with the full support of Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s became the first wholly owned subsidiary in the world to gain B Corporation certification. B Corps must

ICE CREAM | FUN FACTS

1. Frozen desserts date back to roughly 550 BCE.

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Since social justice is a major part of Ben & Jerry’s corporate mission, it should come as no surprise that they’ve come out (so to speak) for LGBTQ+ rights.

meet social, economic, and environmental standards for social corporate responsibility. This designation identifies them as not only the best companies in the world, but the best companies for the world.

Continued on page 44

2. Ice cream and frozen custard are both made from cream or milk and sugar, but custard additionally contains more than 1.4 percent egg yolk.

3. The Kohr brothers (Archie and Elton) invented frozen custard in 1919. They realized that when they added egg yolks to ice cream, it had a smoother texture and the ice cream stayed cold longer.

4. President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month in 1984.

OUTlook

My Father, Myself

But sometimes, even if only for a few minutes, there are perfect moments.

The Father’s Day holiday has me reflecting on a question I wish I had asked my dad when he was living. What was the best day of his life? It’s hard to answer that question in one fell swoop the older you are, I think, so there’s no telling what his answer would have been. The day he met my mother? The time he recorded with Nat King Cole? The days his children were born? I can only guess. But one thing I am lucky to have is the knowledge of many of my father’s joyous times—things he told me in the last 18 months of his life that I had not known before.

At 85, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, given 18 months, told to stop driving, and urged to live with a family member. It was mutually decided among my brothers and me that he should live with Sandy and me—it was the best choice for him to live out his final months. We were already taking care of Sandy’s mom and there was plenty of room. So, he closed up his swinging bachelor’s pad in Salisbury and we brought plenty of his stuff to Dover.

We shared so many wonderful meals, Sandy’s mom and my dad became friends and confidantes, and dad told many stories—most new to me. We spent lots of time talking and reminiscing. As silly as it seems now, I finally, officially said the words, “Dad, I’m a lesbian,” as if he didn’t know, or hadn’t known for a long time. He just gave me a half smile in acknowledgement and answered my questions about whether he or my mom knew or had ever spoken of it when she was living. A big no. Okay.

My father was a good dad by the standards of his day—he worked hard—basically all the time—to provide for us. He loved his children, his wife. But the truth was, I didn’t see him that much growing up. And I missed out on a lot. Part of it was my own fault—I was a difficult teen. I had my reasons, but it didn’t make it easy for him to get through.

But my dad was there, and I knew he loved me. After all, it was my dad who taught me to drive. No way could my mother do it, she would have had a stroke. So,

BY BETH SHOCKLEY

dad picked up that slack and I’m so glad he did.

Learning to drive from dad was cool—he was calm, he was peppy and fun, he made sure I obeyed the rules without scaring me, and it was a wonderful bonding experience. I can still see him smiling in the passenger seat, honestly happy to be there. And of course, that’s where he would be as I would drive him to his doctors’ appointments 34 years later.

My dad also gave me the best Christmas present I’ve ever received, a 1973 Martin 0-18 acoustic guitar. I’d been eyeing it up and playing it at his music store for nearly a year before it disappeared during the busy Christmas season. I asked dad about it and he explained that it had been sold. I figured I’d never see it again. Turns out, it was wrapped under our Christmas tree that morning in 1974 and when I realized what it was, I just erupted in joy. I looked over at my dad, because I knew my mother would never sanction such an expensive gift, and we just grinned at each other.

For a long time, I bought into the family mythology that I was a lot like my mother. That may have been true when I was growing up, but these days I’m not so sure it ever was. It certainly doesn’t seem to be the case in recent years. I hear “Charlie-isms” pop out of my mouth, or I can’t find things, or I sing silly songs in my head. He used to sing them out loud.

I’m a proud Democrat, just like my dad. I can, like him, be truly clueless sometimes. I inherited his love of music and some talent. I see his eyes in mine.

I think he was truly happy to see me with the love of my life, Sandy, and our life together. They got to know each other, too, in those last 18 months. So, I don’t know how my dad would answer the question about his best day. But I know many of mine happened during those 18 months he came to live with us, and I got to know my father, really for the first time. ▼

Beth Shockley is a retired senior writer/editor living in Dover with her wife and furbabies.

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CAMP Library Chronicles

Pride Illustrated

It is time to play the Library Edition of LGBTQ+ Pride Trivia!

The category is “Children’s Picture Books.”

Considered (by scholars no less) to be the first published picture book to include any LGBTQ+ characters. Is it:

A) Tales Told for Children by Hans Christian Andersen, 1835

B) Mother Goose by Jessie Wilcox Smith, 1914

C) Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, 1964

D) Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman, 1989

Wrong . . . the answer is E) When Megan Went Away by Jane Severance, 1979. Wha’?!

I was not trying to deceive you; all the above authors exist under our rainbow umbrella. My hope, dear reader, is to get you to ponder what it is that makes literature “LGBTQ+.” Let’s argue that a queer artist’s sensibilities just might make their way into the art they create. Popular authors/illustrators such as Maurice Sendek, Ian Falconer, Tomie dePaola, and Magaret Wise Brown were all LGBT or Q but were never actually known for depicting “out” characters. Mr. dePaola comes closest with his beloved (and my personal fave) Oliver Button is a Sissy, 1979.

Yet society at large wants to keep the history straight. Allow me to use as an example the classic Frog and Toad

Continued from page 38

Now, Unilever has plans to spin off its ice cream business (including Ben & Jerry’s). Although Unilever says the divestiture is for business reasons, there has been friction in the past over some of Ben & Jerry’s social activism. According to a company statement, Ben & Jerry’s “remains committed to advancing our three-part mission and is well positioned to continue to grow our global company.” The restructuring is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?

Ben & Jerry’s has had fun naming their flavors over the years, from longtime favorites like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey to short-lived choices like Schweddy Balls and Miz Jelena’s Sweet Potato Pie (ginger ice cream with a fudge swirl), that ended up in their Flavor Graveyard (an actual graveyard at Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury, Vermont).

BY GLENN LASH

Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, 1970. Lobel came out as gay four years after writing the first book in the series. He revealed in a 1977 interview in The Lion and the Unicorn Academic Journal, “the ways he would work through his emotions while still maintaining his children’s audience.” It was his daughter Arianne who, in the New Yorker article of 2016, commented, “It was the only thing he wrote that involved a relationship.”

Today there are shelves full of LGBTQ+-themed picture books. Take pride in them. But also take pride in the work of LGBTQ+ children’s authors and illustrators who, owing to the times in which they lived, had to find creative ways to let their queer side shine. ▼

Closer to home, The Ice Cream Store in Rehoboth Beach has become legendary for its novel flavors, which include Ask Me About Your Dog, Better Than Sex, Booger, Cereal Killer, I Don’t Give a Fork, Crack, and Devil’s Breath Carolina Reaper Pepper. And while the average American eats roughly 20 pounds of ice cream a year, judging by a

typical day on the Rehoboth boardwalk, some folks won’t need the full year. ▼

is an award-winning

and

who owns

Photo credit: Courtesy of Glenn Lash

Nancy Sakaduski

writer

editor

Cat & Mouse Press in Lewes, Delaware.

Photos courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s

Words Matter

The Season Ahead

Seasons change and we do things to prepare for them. We switch out the clothes in our closets so that the items that are more weather- and temperature-appropriate are closer at hand. We do things around and to our homes to ensure comfort and safety in the season ahead. We create plans for holidays, birthdays, and how we’ll mark the milestones that each season brings. We try our best to be ready. We will talk about our plans with friends and family, and we are reminded that we’re not the only ones. Inevitably, seasons change and there’s nothing we can do about that; all we can do is prepare ourselves for them as best as we can.

Summer is coming and this year, while the skies are blue, the sun is shining and I am comforted by its warmth, I am committing to wholly embracing this season and preparing for one down the road. Old age. In a few months, I will officially be in my mid-forties—which is still young—and I’ve realized that I need to invest more thought and time in planning how I will navigate my senior season when it comes. I am fortunate to have friends that are decades older than me. And even more fortunate that many of them have directly and indirectly shared pieces of their lives that provide me with models of how to age in place, with grace and pride.

Leading to my fortieth birthday, I sent out an email asking 40 people that I respect for a piece of advice or words of wisdom for the decade approaching me. One response that stood out was, “if you do your 40s right, your 50s will be even better.” I imagine that can be true for each decade. The goal is to build upon each, creating the life that you want. And that takes forethought and action. Preparing for the season ahead.

How much money am I saving or investing each month? Is this enough? Is full or partial retirement something that

I can achieve, or will I need to work fulltime forever? As I move from my earning years to my yearning years, will I need to move to another city or region to afford my current lifestyle? What adjustments can I make to my budget and finances now that will help me later? These are

I think it is just as important to talk about how we invest in meaningful relationships with family and friends.

the types of questions that I’m asking myself more and more, and looking to a financial advisor and people who know much more about these matters than me for advice.

I’m also taking note of some of my older friends who have retired from their day jobs and strategically chosen to take on part-time work that provides perks and benefits that support their ability to continue to enjoy some pleasures that would be more out of reach of their retirement income. One friend is a retired college administrator who works just enough hours a week for an airline that he can fly free—he’s always enjoyed traveling but can’t afford the airfares as he once did. Another friend, an attorney, will retire from federal government service at the end of the year. He’s already started applying for part-time employment at hotels that would offer significant room discounts. He doesn’t want to retire and sit at home. They are being creative and figuring out how to make the life they want affordable to them. I will be dedicating time this summer to contemplating how to satisfy both my financial needs and wants in my golden years.

BY CLARENCE FLUKER

Beyond money, there is also meaning. I want to have a meaningful life as I age. For me that includes good physical and mental health, and a real sense of community. Most often when I read in magazines or hear people on television and podcasts discuss investing for the future, they’re only talking about finance. I think it is just as important to talk about how we invest in meaningful relationships with family and friends. Our social ties are necessary to strengthen and sustain us in our final seasons, particularly as LGBTQ+ people. According to SAGE, a national advocacy and services organization for LGBTQ+ elders, social connectedness is an important factor in healthy aging, impacting happiness, health, and even lifespan. In addition, they report that 21 percent of older LGBTQ+ people have provided care to friends, compared to only six percent of non-LGBTQ+ older adults. We need each other.

As you enjoy this season, imagine how and with whom you want to savor the next. ▼

Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social impact strategist. Follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter): @CJFluker or Instagram: @Mr_CJFluker

GRETA | GINGER | GLADYS

(L-R): Greta, Ginger, and Gladys. Ginger and Gladys have completed seven levels of obedience classes and are AKC-certified therapy dogs. They—along with their human, Lori—volunteer with Pets on Wheels, visiting nursing homes, schools, and libraries as Lori’s schedule allows. Greta simply enjoys life at home.

FUN FACT: Among the kids in their neighborhood, the girls are known as the “3Gs” or the “G3s.”

Interested in having your critter(s) featured in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth? Send a high resolution picture (300 dpi) along with their name(s) and one fun fact to editor@camprehoboth.com. Our roaming photographer will also take photos in the courtyard all year long.

JUN 14

JUN 16

2:00PM-8:00PM

Mental Health Matters

BY AMANDA MAHONY ALBANESE, LPCMH

The 2024 Trevor Project Survey

What 18,000 LGBTQ+ Youth Had to Say

As a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH), I am familiar with the Trevor Project’s work with LGBTQ+ youth. But still, I found myself impressed by the extensive research completed with their latest US National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People (thetrevorproject.org). This survey, conducted annually, includes data collected from more than 18,000 LGBTQ youth and young adults, ages 13 to 24, across the country. The report makes fascinating reading; I’d suggest you browse it yourself.

I wondered how the results reported would compare to what I see in my own clinical setting. As a clinician, I specialize in working with youth, adolescents, and LGBTQ+ people, as well as people who have been impacted by trauma. Working at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and now in an outpatient private practice, I have seen my fair share of people dealing with the issues mentioned in the Trevor Project’s report:

• Young adults and adolescents who experience bullying and harassment, both online and in person;

• Those who have attempted suicide;

• Those who felt ostracized from their communities, churches/synagogues, and families after disclosing their sexual preferences and gender identities; and

• Those who suffer with depressive and anxiety disorders.

After studying the Trevor Project’s survey results, I utilized what I know of the clients I have regularly worked with in Sussex County to see how those results compared to the very tiny subset of Sussex County’s larger LGBTQ+ population I see in my practice.

I went about this by looking at the time period January through April, 2024. During those months, I conducted an average of 102 sessions each month in my office in Rehoboth Beach. As most of my clients are seen bi-weekly—meaning I see the same clients every two

weeks—I narrowed the data down to 51 sessions, as I wanted to focus on people v. sessions.

Of those 51 people, 25 (49 percent) identify as LGBTQ+. Of those 25, 16 (nearly two-thirds) are within the demographic the Trevor Project studied—i.e., are between the ages of 13 and 24. Among these 16 people, there is a broad array of sexual orientations and gender identities; various races and ethnicities also are represented.

As a clinician, I specialize in working with youth, adolescents, and LGBTQ+ people, as well as people who have been impacted by trauma.

Before we get into some specific numbers, there are a couple caveats:

• I did not survey anyone; my figures simply represent what I know about my small subset of people.

• And—importantly—my data pool is drawn from people who are seeking therapy, i.e., these individuals likely are not representative of the LGBTQ+ youth population at large.

• Further, my data pool does not “match” the Trevor Project’s population, which was drawn from an online sample, some of whom were receiving (or had received) therapy and some of whom were/had not.

Now, here are some survey highlights I picked out and compared against what I know about my population:

• The Trevor Project reports: “41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year—and young people who are

transgender, nonbinary, and/or people of color reported higher rates than their peers.”

In my small (16-person) data pool, the percentage was lower. While it was good to see a figure below that of the Project’s, even that smaller percentage is much too large.

• The Trevor Project states: “Fewer than 40% of LGBTQ young people found their home to be LGBTQ-affirming.”

In my data pool, a much smaller percentage did NOT consider their homes to be LGBTQ+ affirming. Indeed, a large majority found them to be affirming. Importantly: some individuals in my data pool are not yet out to their families; these individuals do find their secrecy a stressor.

• The Trevor Project reports: “14% of LGBTQ young people attempted suicide in the past year.”

Sadly, a larger percentage of my small data pool reported having attempted suicide—though it may not have been within the past year.

• The Trevor Project states “67% of LGBTQ young people reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety.”

Again sadly, nearly all of my data pool reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

• The Trevor Project reports “54% of LGBTQ young people reported experiencing symptoms of depression.”

Historically, everyone in my data pool has experienced depression.

A few generalizations: most of my clients in the 13-24-year-old age range care about gender-affirming healthcare, whether they identify as transgender or not.

Most of this demographic had issues accessing mental health care due to long waitlists in this area for specialized clinicians OR to parental issues with children seeking care in a mental health care setting.

Many rely on school counselors, guidance counselors, and friends for

The Trevor Project reports: “41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year...”

support when not “out” in family systems. However, most of this population consider their schools to have work to do when it comes to inclusivity.

Everyone composing my small data pool—100 percent—have experienced some sort of micro-aggressive behavior or outright bullying because of their gender or sexual identities. Many rely on the programs offered by CAMP Rehoboth and other LGBTQ+-affirming nonprofits, both within Delaware and online.

I think the survey did a great job of really exploring the challenges and stressors this particular population faces. It speaks clearly to the fact that many do not feel supported in their communities

- Letters.pdf 1 1/23/2024 11:39:52 AM

or families with their mental health needs. As clinicians, we are continually learning and growing to best serve our populations, and these survey results will continue to impact my work.

Additionally, I hope to utilize the skills gleaned in a recent LGBTQ+ Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Training, offered by Yale University and organized by CAMP Rehoboth, to benefit this population in our own community.

If you are thinking about getting involved, start with where you are, with what you have:

• Mentor a child in your community or family.

• Support an organization (like CAMP!) that serves this population.

• Lead a support group.

• Consider speaking openly and honestly about your own experiences as a youth, to help our young people to feel less alone.

It all matters. In the end, it comes down to us and our communities to impact our youth and change things for the better. ▼

Amanda Mahony Albanese is a licensed mental health counselor and a member of the CAMP Rehoboth Board.

Celebrity Interview

BEN PLATT’S

Queer Folk Reverie

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

The Broadway star on bringing queerness to folk music and what Pride means to him.

…I just wanted it to be…about a queer upbringing in America where it’s purely about the joy of it and the fun of it…

Ben Platt is in full-on folk-roots mode for his third solo album, Honeymind. Considering this particular genre isn’t necessarily a welcoming platform for openly queer musicians (or even close to one), there is a quiet rebelliousness to Platt simply existing in that space—just ask Beyoncé, who shook up the country community just for being a Black artist releasing her rural-toned Cowboy Carter, a nod to her Southern roots. As for Platt, his subtle defiance is front and center on the album’s cover, as he queers a classic vintage car-makeout scene while straddling the lap of his fiancé, Noah Galvin. But it is also embedded in its songs of longing, love, and more love, too.

During a recent April afternoon from his place in New York, I spoke with Platt about the reasons he’s especially proud to be an openly queer artist on Honeymind, and how buying his first home with Galvin inspired one very special song on the album.

CHRIS AZZOPARDI: When I saw you in Detroit in 2019, what I noticed was just how loving and loyal your fans are. They really love you. I wondered about that long history, which I’d say definitely dates back to your role on Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen. How do you explain the bond you’ve established with your fans?

BEN PLATT: It’s hard. It’s sort of ineffable because the introduction was Dear Evan Hansen, and that was something where I was really emotionally burying myself as much as I possibly could, and I think I was able to really forge a meaningful connection without ever necessarily expressing my own perspective.

When I started to do that, it was in the same vein of really trying not to create any kind of wall or filter or version of myself, but rather just continuing to share even more openly, as much as I could, my own experiences and my point of view. I always try to give as much of myself as I have available to me whenever I’m performing or doing anything for an audience or for fans. I’m lucky there are people who really seem to connect to that.

CA: On the flip side, who do you feel this level of love for?

BP: Anyone that is really vocally impressive, I fall in love with, but Beyoncé remains my number one in the sense that she is sort of guarded, and I think that’s been a whole part of her thing—how perfect and pristine she is. Within that, you can see so much unbelievable hard work, talent, vision, and experience that she’s trying to share and communicate. I just think she’s the greatest live performer ever. If we’re judging by who leaves it all on the floor and gives you everything they have in their body, Beyoncé’s number one.

CA: With Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé also happens to be finding her place in Americana right now. Did you two orchestrate this?

BP: Yeah, we decided on our conference call that we should both stick to the same stylistic world. [Laughs.]

CA: What inspired your shift to folk music?

BP: It was the kind of thing where that’s just really very organically what started to come out. I went to Nashville for the first round of writing for this record, all the way back in April 2022. I knew I wanted to go to Nashville because there’s so many writers there that I

I can make people feel seen and feel like they are safe to share those things. So I take it very seriously…

love, both ones that I have worked with before, like Alex Hope, who’s a writer on almost half of the songs on the album. Then a lot that I admired that I wanted to work with, like Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Jim Robbins, and Laura Veltz. I went with the intention of just working with these people who I knew were very storytelling-forward and emotionally narrative-driven and honest and melodic, and all the things that I wanted.

When I started to write about where I was at and the experiences I was having, that’s just the sound that emerged. As it started to come out, I got really excited because it felt very natural to my style of storytelling and singing. Then also just the idea of the super expressly queer perspective living in that sonic world is not something I necessarily have heard or seen a lot. Most of the artists that I love in that zone write beautiful songs that are very universal, but aren’t necessarily like

the Troye Sivans and Lil Nas Xs, and the people who are giving us really specifically queer content, which I love. The idea of doing something like that, but in this much more subdued kind of introspective, emotionally earnest style, was really exciting to me.

CA: I know that you’ll get this reference because you’ve covered Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke,” but the boy you’re singing about in “All American Queen” sounds like he should be friends with the boy in Brandi’s song “The Joke.”

BP: Absolutely. I feel like hopefully the boy in “The Joke” grows up to become the boy in “All American Queen.”

Because there are so many origin songs, I just wanted it to be like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and all these songs about just happy upbringings, American images, values, and traditionally American terms, and the idea of writing about a queer upbringing in America where it’s purely about the joy of it and the fun of

it, and there’s no talk about intolerance, difference, otherness, oppression, or trauma, any of that. It’s just this super dirt road, fun, gay narrative, which was really fun and exciting to me. That’s another one I wrote with Alex.

CA: Then, of course, for any queer person, your song “Andrew,” the first single, is entirely relatable. Who among us hasn’t had an unrequited crush on a straight boy? How did that song come about, and how did you navigate your first Andrew?

BP: The song came about because I was talking to a friend of mine who was one of the writers on the album, a different writer than Alex, who I wrote “Andrew” with, but she was telling me about her child and how he has a best friend who he loves so much, and how she was getting the sense that there was a little bit of an unrequited infatuation happening and that he felt so much for Continued on page 56

Continued from page 55

this friend that she just didn’t feel was the same for him.

It just seemed like so many friendships and experiences that I had growing up in elementary school, middle school, and high school. The next day during a session, I said, “I really want to write about this ineffable straight boy who is kind and doesn’t do anything wrong, and there’s no one at fault. It’s just a chemical misfire, essentially.” I love the song that we wrote, and for me, probably my first few Andrews were things I couldn’t even really name, like friends who I had that I had feelings for or love for, but I didn’t know what it was.

One of my best friends in high school, who did improv and musicals with me, I just really connected with on every level. Of course, I developed feelings. It was tough, and I had nice friends around me to help me understand that it was no one’s fault, and that he’s just a good friend. He’s still one of my best friends, so it worked out. CA: What was the whole shoot like for that car-makeout cover photo?

BP: It was really fun. Interscope [Records] has done a great job of just really responding to my ideas and bringing a lot of creativity and authenticity to what I’m trying to do. What was exciting to me in getting on set and seeing that kind of a car, the diner that we shot in, and the open road, is all these really bromantic, beautiful American images that we’ve seen so many times, and just getting to use them for gay stuff for once.

CA: You have me thinking about “Treehouse,” a love song that sounds like it has a special place in your life. And you get to sing it with Brandy Clark, both of you out, queer performers, taking on what is traditional-sounding folk. I’m wondering what all of that coming together felt like for you.

BP: It was wonderful. I wrote it with Brandy and Jimmy Robbins, and it was one of the first things we wrote back in April of 2022. It existed for a while as just a song that I would sing alone, and it was inspired by Noah, and I recently found our sort of home-home, like our first real joint home, and we’ve been calling it our “treehouse,” because

there’s a lot of trees outside the window, and it just felt like somewhere we could hole up together.

The song is really emblematic to me of the safe space that you create with your partner and the idea that no matter how careful you are and how safe it is, it’s always going to be a little precarious. You just have to be very protective of it.

…we all need to be looking out for our trans community members and making sure we’re lifting them up and sharing stories and art of theirs that is, again, rooted in joy and complexity…

CA: How often do you think about being a queer role model, and what do you think it means to your fans that you are one?

BP: I so don’t have answers or expertise that other queer people don’t have. I think I always find myself underestimating the power of just being forthright about my own relationship and my experiences.

Anytime I see someone online, or in person, or at a show with their partner, or a queer couple, or just a queer young person who feels seen, or is either really happy because of the music, or crying because of the music, or whatever it might be…it’s like, what an important and special opportunity I have, just purely by sharing what I’m already excited about and happy to share. I can make people feel seen and feel like they are safe to share those things. So I take it very seriously, but I also try to be as clear as possible that I know as little as anybody else.

CA: With Honeymind out around Pride, and with so much anti-queer rhetoric

and legislation this year, what does it feel like to be releasing something so authentic to yourself as a queer person in this precarious moment?

BP: It feels wonderful. I think everybody has a different role in any fight or any conversation, and I feel like what I have to offer is this music and my art, and just trying to be as transparent as I can. To be able to do that right now, I feel really lucky. I just think any opportunity we have to lean into the joy, complexity, and all the things that make us not just equal but superior, I think that is very important.

Specifically, as a last note, we all need to be looking out for our trans community members and making sure we’re lifting them up and sharing stories and art of theirs that is, again, rooted in joy and complexity—how compelling and interesting and beautiful it is, not just the debate about identity or the trauma or the oppression. I think it’s important to just focus on the humanity and to make sure that they’re as protected and as lifted-up as us gay men are, even though we aren’t always either. ▼

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @ chrisazzopardi.

Photo

credit: Vince Aung

WILL YOUR PLAN WORK?

Will your Power of Attorney actually do its job?

Every week we see Powers of Attorney that have sections omitted, crossed through, or left blank. Worse yet, they don’t name the right people for the job. The worst conversations we have are explaining that a Power of Attorney is insufficient, and we can’t move forward with the recommended planning strategies during incapacity. Contact us to ensure your estate plan will do its job.

CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE

BEACH AREA LODGING

Atlantic Sands Hotel, Boardwalk & Baltimore Ave

Atlantic View Hotel, Ocean Front 2 Clayton St, Dewey

Atlantis Inn, 154 Rehoboth Ave

Beach View Hotel, 6 Wilmington Ave

Breakers Hotel, 105 2nd St & Baltimore Ave

Canalside Inn, 34 6th St

Rehoboth Guest House, 40 Maryland Ave

302-227-2511

302-227-3878

302-227-9446

302-227-2999

302-227-6688

302-226-2006

302-227-4117

Sea ‘n Stars Guest Suites, 44 Delaware Ave 302-226-2742

Summer

LEWES FOOD & DRINK

Visit the Beach Guide Directory on the CAMP Rehoboth website to find links to these area businesses in BOLD. The Guide includes: Food and Wine, Shopping, Lodging, and Services—all at camprehoboth.com.

REHOBOTH RETAIL SHOPS

Atlantic Jewelry, 313 South Boardwalk

New Wave Spas, 20660 Coastal Hwy

Stuart Kingston Gallery, 19470 Coastal Hwy

Unfinished Business, 18389 Olde Coach Rd.

ART GALLERIES | MUSEUMS

Biggs Museum of American Art, thebiggsmuseum.org

Gallery 50, 50 Wilmington Ave

Peninsula Gallery, 502 E Savannah Rd

Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Ln

Rehoboth Beach Museum, 511 Rehoboth Ave

REHOBOTH FOOD & DRINK

1776 Steakhouse, Midway Shopping Center

Aqua, 57 Baltimore Ave

Back Porch Café, 59 Rehoboth Ave

Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave

Café Azafrán, 18 Baltimore Ave

Chesapeake & Maine, 316 Rehoboth Ave

Coho’s Market & Grill, 305 Rehoboth Ave

Diego’s Bar Nightclub, 37298 Rehoboth Ave

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats 320 Rehoboth Ave

Dos Locos, 208 Rehoboth Ave

Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, 3 South First St

Go Fish, 24 Rehoboth Ave

Goolee’s Grille, 11 South 1st St

Just In Thyme, 38163 Robinsons Dr

Lori’s Café, 39 Baltimore Ave

Loves Liquors, LLC, 305c Rehoboth Ave

Lupo Italian Kitchen, 247 Rehoboth Ave

Purple Parrot Grill, 134 Rehoboth Ave

Rigby’s, 404 Rehoboth Ave

Shorebreak Lodge, 10 Wilmington Ave

The Pines, 56 Baltimore Avenue

302-226-0675

302-227-8484

302-227-2524

302-645-8700

302-227-2050

302-645-0551

302-227-8408

302-227-7310

302-645-9355

302-226-9001

302-227-3674

302-227-6515

302-227-8100

302-226-3600

302-227-2646

302-227-1023

302-226-2739

302-227-3353

302-527-1400

302-226-1044

302-227-7653

302-227-3100

302-226-3066

302-227-6966

302-226-2240

302-226-1139

302-227-6080

302-227-1007

302-567-2726

of God Lutheran, ELCA, 26089 Shoppes at Long Neck 302-947-1044

M.C.C. of Rehoboth, 19369 Plantation Rd

302-645-4945

Seaside Jewish Community, 18970 Holland Glade Rd 302-226-8977

St. George’s Episcopal, 20271 Beaver Dam Rd, Harbeson 302-227-7202

St. Peter’s Episcopal, 2nd & Market Sts, Lewes

Unitarian Universalist, 30486 Lewes-G’Town Hwy

Unity of Rehoboth, 98 Rudder Rd, Millsboro

Westminster Presbyterian, 301 King Charles Ave

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

AARP of Delaware (age 50+)

ACLU of DE—Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights Project

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus—Program of CAMP Rehoboth

302-645-8479

302-313-5838

302-945-5253

302-227-2109

866-227-7441

302-654-5326

302-227-5620

CAMP Rehoboth—LGBTQ Community Service Org 302-227-5620

CAMP Rehoboth Families—LGBTQ parents connect 302-227-5620

Cape Henlopen Senior Center—Rehoboth (age 50+) 302-227-2055

CHEER Centers of Sussex County (age 50+) 302-515-3040

Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center 800-223-9074

Delaware Human Relations Commission

Housing & public accommodation 877-544-8626

Delaware Information Line 2-1-1Delaware Pride—Community events, annual Pride Festival 302-265-3020

Lewes Senior Activity Center (age 50+)

302-645-9293

Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth 302-645-7449

PFLAG-Rehoboth—3rd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes

Social Security Administration—Georgetown office 800-772-1213

COUNSELING/THERAPY/LIFE COACH

Jewish Family Services .......................................................

Kevin J. Bliss, Personal/Professional Coaching

Nancy Commisso, LCSW, Therapeutic Services

Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting, Lewes

ELECTRICIANS

Silver Electric

FINANCIAL SERVICES

County Bank, 19927 Shuttle Rd

Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley

FLORISTS

Windsor’s Florist, 20326 Coastal Hwy

FUNERAL SERVICES

Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium

HAIR SALONS/TATTOO & PIERCING

Beach Cuts, 214 Rehoboth Ave

Gregory Meyers Hair Studio, 20245 Bay Vista Rd & Rt 1

Stephan & Co Salon & Spa, 19266 Coastal Hwy

HEALTH-RELATED

AIDS Delaware – Kent & Sussex Counties

AIDS Delaware – New Castle County

AIDS Hotline – Delaware statewide

Brandywine Urology Consultants

Beebe Healthcare, 26744 J.J. Williams Hwy

CAMPsafe AIDS education & prevention program of CAMP Rehoboth

Christiana Care HIV Wellness Clinic

Christiana Care LGBTQ+ Health Initiatives

Delaware HIV Consortium - Statewide

Delaware Hospice

Delaware Total Foot & Ankle Center

National Alliance on Mental Illness of DE (NAMI)

Rehoboth Beach Dental, 19643 Blue Bird Ln

Maplewood Dental Associates, 18912 J.J. Williams Hwy

INSURANCE

Eric Blondin, State Farm

Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm

LEGAL/ACCOUNTING/TRUST SERVICES

PWW Law LLC, 1519 Savannah Rd, Lewes

Steven Falcone CPA, Taxes & Planning

MASSAGE THERAPY/FITNESS

Midway Fitness & Racquetball, Midway Center

One Spirit Massage, 169 Rehoboth Ave

Reiki CENTRAL, thecentralfirm.com

PEST CONTROL

Activ Pest Solutions, 16803 New Rd, Lewes

PET RETAIL

Critter Beach, 156 Rehoboth Ave

302-478-9411

302-754-1954

703-598-2938

302-574-6954

302-227-1107

302-226-9800

302-644-6620

302-227-9481

302-645-9520

302-226-ROBB

302-727-5331

302-260-9478

302-226-3519

302-652-6776

800-422-0429

302-824-7039

302-645-3300

302-227-5620

302-933-3420

302-733-3113

302-654-5471

800-838-9800

302-297-8431

302-427-0787

302-226-7960

302-645-6671

302-645-7283

302-644-3276

302-628-4140

302-644-8634

302-645-0407

302-226-3552

302-408-0878

302-645-1502

302-226-2690

Pet Portraits by Monique 717-650-4626

PET SERVICES

Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, G’twn

302-856-6361

Humane Animal Partners (formerly Delaware Humane Association & Delaware SPCA) ......................................................... 302-200-7159

Little Landmines Pet Waste Removal. littlelandmines.com 302-521-3983

Parsell Pet Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes ........... 302-645-7445

REAL ESTATE

Allen Jarmon, NextHome Tomorrow Realty

Chris Beagle, Compass

Donna Whiteside, Berkshire Hathaway, 16712 Kings Hwy

302-745-5122

302-273-4998

302-381-4871

Hugh Fuller, Realtor 302-745-1866

John Black, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy 302-703-6987

Lana Warfield, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave 302-236-2430

Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, 16698 Kings Hwy 302-645-6664

Lingo Realty, 246 Rehoboth Ave 302-227-3883

McWilliams Ballard, Kevin McDuffie kmcduffie@mcwb.com

McWilliams Ballard, Justin Orr jorr@mcwb.com

Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Lingo Realty 302-227-3883

Sea Bova Associates, 20250 Coastal Hwy .......................... 302-227-1222

The Joe Maggio Group, 37169 Rehoboth Ave Ext., #11 ...... 302-226-3770

Troy Roberts, Mann & Sons, 414 Rehoboth Ave 302-228-7422

RETIREMENT LIVING/SENIOR CARE FACILITIES

Springpoint Choice, 17028 Cadbury Cir, Lewes 302-313-6658

The Lodge at Truitt Homestead, 36233 Farm Ln 302-232-6372

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

Accent On Travel, 37156 Rehoboth Ave 302-278-6100

CHEER Transportation (age 50+) 302-856-4909

Jolly Trolley Shuttle from Rehoboth Ave & Boardwalk 302-644-0400

Olivia Travel 800-631-6277 ext. 696

POPULAR LGBTQ BEACHES

Poodle Beach, south end of the Rehoboth Boardwalk Cape Henlopen State Park, Ocean Dr north to Cape Henlopen State Park. Daily parking rate in effect March-November.

A DAY TO CELEBRATE

Bless the Queer Youth of Faith!

June 30 is the 5th Annual Queer Youth of Faith Day. The national organization Beloved Arise amplifies this Day, which is “dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ+ youth from all faith backgrounds.” Cool! And: wow!

I would have been amazed by such an event being celebrated when I was a youth.

Growing up in the 80s mostly, I didn’t experience clearly structured, explicit support for exploring questions of sexuality or having conversations about it. I do remember what it was like to be wrestling with my sexual orientation. With great trepidation, I discreetly shared with my two best friends over my 13th birthday weekend that “when I grow up, I’m going to be bisexual.” My sexual orientation was just one aspect of my identity, one that would go in-andout of focus for me over the years.

I first fell in love with another woman when I was 14—and she was 17. Headover-heels, I was. I went out of my way to go to all her softball and basketball games, argued with her about her plan to go to West Point Military Academy, and daydreamed about when we would next skip school together. When another friend observed to her that it seemed like maybe she was a lesbian, she suddenly stopped speaking to me—and I spent that whole summer listening to Tracy Chapman’s “Be Careful of My Heart” on repeat.

Years later, that long-lost love and I went out to brunch in our hometown and she told me she was gay, like it was the most obvious fact in the universe. I mean, it kind of was, but....

Through all those years and twistand-turns, I had a faith community that did clearly let me know that I was loved, no matter what; that I could and should become more-and-more myself, no matter what; and that there was a love holding me and waiting for me to shine. I was raised within the radical acceptance of difference that is Unitarian Universalism, and I am deeply

grateful for all those mentors, models, ministers, teachers, equally awkward peers, and caring human beings along my way. My life has been saved multiple times over by people who were willing to speak up and say, “You matter to me. I care that you are here.”

Thirty-five years later, I wish I could say that I feel confident that my own two children will experience the same acceptance and encouragement that

We here in Sussex County need to get this message of radical acceptance out to each and every one of our local youth.

I did. But Sussex County is a different world than Portland, Oregon, even though I suppose it should be three decades “further along.” Our country feels more polarized to me than it did then; many people seem more reactionary, and so I imagine that growing up in a family or community that is blatantly homophobic or transphobic could feel even worse than it would have in the 80s.

All speculation aside, I want to be a part of creating more explicitly positive and accepting environments for my children and all their peers. Every child, everywhere, should have the chance to explore what feels right and true to them and in what ways they want to give of their heart, time, and spirit.

I was thrilled this spring to learn that there’s been a Queer Youth of Faith Day going on annually for some years now. We here in Sussex County need to get this message of radical acceptance out to each and every one of our local youth. We each have our own contexts through which we can reach out.

After many, many months of planning

BY HEATHER RION STARR

and preparation, the local Unitarian Universalist congregation that I now serve as minister will be offering, this fall, the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education curriculum for seventh-toninth graders. (You can read a whole lot more about OWL here: uua.org/re/owl.)

The OWL program helps youth clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.

Maybe you know someone in Sussex County who needs to know about this program—parents, families, and youth?—for whom this program might be a lifesaving, transformative, or critical opportunity to connect with Sussex County peers in an inclusive, affirming, well-facilitated, and well-supported space?

And in what other ways might you engage with Queer Youth of Faith Day this year? How might we all be moved to create more space in our hearts, minds, and community spaces that explicitly conveys that all the tender parts of who a youth might be exploring becoming are welcome?

Queer Youth of Faith Day is the very last day of this month full of LGBTQ+ Pride, reminding us all that the celebration—and the struggle, the learning, the need for greater understanding, and continual advocacy—continues beyond June. We all need to be a part of creating a more compassionate, welcoming world. ▼

Rev. Heather Rion Starr is minister for the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (uussd.org). Delaware is her 10th state of residence and she has no plans to add to her license plate collection anytime soon. She and her family live in Milton. Email her at Minister@uussd.org.

HEAR, HEAR!

Live to Tell

The energy in the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was frenetic. I was standing on my tiptoes, as I often do while waiting for something to happen. I was surrounded by 20,999 other individuals who seemed to be on their tiptoes, too. We were all there to celebrate an artist who once famously stated, “The most controversial thing I’ve ever done was stick around.” As the lights dimmed and the music started, we all let out a collective roar. To think this night might not have happened wasn’t lost on anyone. It turns out, it wasn’t lost on Madonna, either.

Last summer, when news broke that the Queen of Pop had been admitted to a New York City hospital with a life-threatening infection, it was shocking. Soon after, her Celebration Tour, which was still in rehearsals, was put on hold. Reality has a way of providing a reminder of how human one can be—even Madonna.

In retrospect, her human side, however veiled it might be, made her accessible. In the 80s, she wasn’t exactly the girl next door, but she was familiar. She was cool, and chaotic, with stacked bracelets, lace gloves, and bustiers. Her early songs were bubbly, with undercurrents of brilliance. Look no further than “Live to Tell,” my favorite song, to see that her voice as a writer had more lived experience than one might assume. The span of singles from that decade, from “Borderline” to “Who’s That Girl,” are more than hits; they help define the era. Madonna’s humanity became clearer with Like a Prayer, her vaunted 1989 album, which reconciled her life, her family, her failed marriage to Sean Penn, and the complexity of the world around her.

In the 90s, Madonna challenged the world to be sex-positive, long before it was part of our vernacular. She made her position clear in “Justify My Love,” stating: “Poor is a man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another.” She would expand on this idea with her SEX book, and Erotica album. These years were especially rewarding to this young, queer

fan. I listened to “Deeper and Deeper” on repeat as I danced around my bedroom, eyes closed, imagining it was a dance floor. While I didn’t fully understand the messages, her music activated something within, allowing me to feel free, and accepted. She would end the decade as she had the 80s, with another exceptional album, Ray of Light.

This woman, who historically has been so disciplined and scripted live, was baring her soul for all of us.

The 00s, though, would impose an unavoidable aspect of the human experience: aging. While her career carried on with hits like “Music,” Don’t Tell Me,” and “Hung Up,” the spotlight on her age would become blinding. In 2015, when she was named “Billboard Woman of the Year,” she defiantly spoke to this in her acceptance speech: “Be what men want you to be…be what women feel comfortable with…[and] do not age. Because to age is a sin.” As a fan, it was brutal watching her struggle to retain a place of relevance in the ever-changing landscape of pop music.

BY CHRISTOPHER MOORE

When she announced her Celebration Tour in 2023, there was some hope. After years of refusing to become a jukebox artist, she relented. She had dabbled with hits in the past. But never had she been so focused on looking back.

Following her hospitalization, Madonna would eventually share how close she had come to dying, and how she was committed to her health and family above all else. I can only speak for myself: this experience re-centered my focus on why I loved her in the first place. She was human after all, and she deserved peace and rest.

Fortunately, the tour resumed. The Philly show was a non-stop party, with hits, stories, sing-alongs, and moments so human I had to make sure I was actually at a Madonna concert. This woman, who historically had been so disciplined and scripted live, was baring her soul for all of us. It was clear what happened last summer had caused a seismic shift in her life. She was ready to celebrate.

As a fan of a certain age, this tour was a reminder of how important Madonna is. As we all sang the words to “Express Yourself” on that January night, her impact on the world was vividly clear. All the years leading up to this tour served as chapters in a story. The girl from Michigan, with $10 in her pocket, who made it big in New York City. The artist who repeatedly reset the bar for music videos and live performance. The writer whose songs are played in movie trailers, gay bars, grocery stores, airports, and sporting events across the world. The feminist who challenged thoughts on religion, sex, motherhood, and aging. And the entertainer who taught generations to embrace life and dance.

On that night in Philadelphia, it was an incredible tale—one that only a human like Madonna could live to tell. ▼

Christopher Moore is Interim Executive Director of AIDS Delaware. He loves NPR, naughty jokes, and a man who lives in Toronto. Email him at moore.cc@gmail.com.

Deep Inside Hollywood

Gregg Araki to Direct Olivia Wilde in I Want Your Sex

Don’t let the title confuse you. It’s not a George Michael biopic. Instead, New Queer Cinema icon Gregg Araki (The Living End, Mysterious Skin) has something on-brand up his sleeve: Olivia Wilde as a sexual Svengali. I Want Your Sex, co-written by Araki and Karley Sciortino (Slutever, Now Apocalypse) follows provocative artist Erika (Wilde) and her protégé, a young man named Elliot, as she turns him into her sexual muse. What follows, as per the official plot synopsis, is a complicated world of limit-smashing domination, desire, obsession, and murder. In other words, the ’90s erotic thriller is back and we couldn’t be happier for the genre to trend all over again. Besides Wilde, the film has yet to lock down a complete cast, but it’s a certainty that sexy roster will show up when shooting begins this summer in Los Angeles. ▼

Romeo San Vicente is ready for all indecent proposals.

BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE

Finding Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

Elizabeth Taylor lived the word “ally.” Along with other towering 20th-century women like Judy Garland, Taylor was a friend to the LGBTQ+ community, and in the 1980s she became a fierce advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. She’s also one of the most well-documented actresses who ever lived, so you might think there’s nothing left to learn. But Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, from documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein (Hillary, American Teen) dives deeply into Taylor’s personal archives and over 70 hours of previously unheard audio interviews, turning her into the film’s guide and narrator as she talks about her career, her marriages, and everything else. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film will drop on HBO and Max in August. ▼

A Supremes All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, from queer writer-director Tina Mabry, is not a film about the legendary girl group, Motown, or Diana Ross. Instead, the upcoming Hulu/ Searchlight Pictures project—based on Edward Kelsey Moore’s novel of the same name, with a script co-written by Cee Marcellus—centers the joy of women’s friendships. Starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, and Uzo Aduba, it’s the story of three lifelong friends who call themselves “The Supremes,” and who find their relationships tested and life directions examined (presumably at the titular diner). There are some men on the menu, too, with co-stars Mekhi Phifer, Julian McMahon, Russell Hornsby, and Vondie Curtis-Hall adding support, but the main course here is going to be the surprising twists and turns of women’s lives. Look for it on Hulu to wind up summer on August 23. ▼

Ellen and Einbinder Prep Stand-up Specials

Twoqueer comedians, two specials, the first for one, the stated last for the other. Ellen DeGeneres, after the end of her daytime talk show, and following up her 2018 Netflix stand-up special, Relatable, will return to the streaming platform sometime later this year with an as-yet-unnamed special that she says will be her last. She’s a lesbian media pioneer and a comedy legend, so it’s queer law that we watch. And to bait us more, she says she’ll talk about “it”—the controversy over an allegedly toxic workplace culture on her show—and everything else. Not to be missed. Meanwhile, Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go, the first-ever stand-up special from the career-ascendant bisexual Hacks star, recorded last month in Los Angeles, is taking its first bow at June’s Tribeca Film Festival before streaming on Max later this year. Call it passing the queer torch. We can’t wait. ▼

Celebrity Profile

Jackie Beat is Back in Session

For Season 2 of Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist

Beat is known for combining her razor-sharp wit with her brilliant comedic timing, but who knew she also could dole out some pretty sage advice as well? When Season 2 of Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist kicked off recently on OUTtv, we saw Jackie distributing some of her "professional" advice to everyone from Bridget Everett and Murray Hill to Michelle Visage to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry! I had an extensive session with Jackie myself recently, and we chatted about the Season 2 of Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist, her favorite collaborations throughout her career, and she gave me a little peek behind the brilliance of her comedic writing.

MICHAEL COOK: The new season of Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist is about to kick off on OUTtv. What can fans expect to see on this brand new season?

JACKIE BEAT: Me, looking gorgeous, giving terrible advice to my famous friends, and making everything about me! Doesn't that sound fun? And I really have some amazing special guests this season!

MC: You collaborated with some amazing performers this season, from longtime friends like Bianca Del Rio and Varla Jean Merman to comedic geniuses like Cecily Strong and Drew Droege. What was it like getting to collaborate with so many amazing performers up close? Anyone on your dream guest list for Dr. Jackie?

JB: It was great fun. I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many talented, hilarious people. The truth is, sometimes people can be very talented and really deliver, but they're egotistical or difficult to work with. This group knocked it out of the park and they were a breeze to work with. I find the most talented performers are usually the easiest to work

BY MICHAEL COOK

with because they know they're good and they don't have to convince people that they're a star by being demanding. That's what performers with imposter syndrome do. Wow, maybe I should actually become a psychotherapist!

MC: Sherry Vine is back as your annoying and perpetually confused assistant this season. The collaborations that the two of you have done since your days in New York City are legendary—I personally remember the original iteration of Lady Cops so very fondly! I also recall the days of Squeezebox; what are some of your best and most wild memories of that time with her?

JB: Oh my God, we have so much fun! Seriously, when we get together it's very Lucy and Ethel or Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous. The New York Times called us "the Laurel and Hardy of drag." Young people—google it! Sherry and I have a real chemistry that only comes from loving each other and performing together for over three decades. She's my sister.

MC: Let’s do a quick rapid fire of some of your most amazing collaborations; just offer me whatever comes to your mind about the person: Joan Rivers.

JB: The ultimate survivor! I remember

sitting right next to her, pitching jokes, when she was in her eighties and still at the top of her game! She'd have a hot pink streak in her hair and one electric blue fingernail, and I thought, "This is how she stays young at heart!" She taught me so much about writing jokes.

MC: Roseanne.

JB: The first time I went to her big, gorgeous house to write with her she was standing up in the kitchen eating Cool Ranch Doritos with Beluga caviar and I thought, "Oh, this is her in a nutshell: Trash with money!"

MC: Ross Mathews.

JB: We both adore dogs and love a good kaftan. We go way back.... I helped him write his two bestselling books and countless jokes for everything from his TV show, Hello Ross, to hosting the GLAAD Awards. I love him, but I do joke that him judging drag queens is like me offering people diet and exercise tips!

MC: Bea Arthur is your “spirit animal” and I feel my own special kinship to her. What is it about her that you gravitate towards? And what is it like getting to portray her during The Golden Girlz Live?

JB: She's just so dry. Those slow burns, the double takes, the side-eye....

Legendary! She's not only funny, but

Seriously, when we get together it's very Lucy and Ethel or Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous.

obviously supremely intelligent. She was an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and an animal rights activist. I always say that you have to give people what they think they remember so when I portray her on stage the voice is even gruffer and deeper than her voice really was. But it's a drag show so you have to exaggerate things.

MC: You’ve answered this question many times, but I am going to put a different spin on it. If they were to do a RuPaul’s Drag Race with queens that came up in New York City with you; who would be in the final top three with you?

JB: I would win. And the two runners-up would be Sherry Vine and Varla Jean Merman. And they would hate me for it. And I would love that.

MC: Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed

Psychotherapist has had some pretty interesting people in her chair. Who is someone Dr. Jackie would love to take as a patient?

JB: I almost got Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman to do a phone session with me for Season 2, but it didn't happen. We were texting and trying to make it happen and he said, "Jackie, you know I love you, but it's not a good time right now." And then, of course, we lost him. No one knew what he was going through. He was always so supportive and generous and loving. If we do a Season 3, I am going to call in every favor and pray and do voodoo rituals to try and get Dolly Parton to do an emergency phone session. How amazing would that be!? ▼

Follow Jackie Beat on Instagram: instagram.com/jackiebeat/?hl=en

Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist kicked off earlier this month on OUTtv with new episodes airing each week through June 20. Episode 1 will be free on OUTtv on the Roku Channel and on the Apple TV Channel in the US/Canada.

Michael Cook has been a part-time resident of Rehoboth Beach for over a decade. He is currently a contributor to Instinct Magazine, World of Wonder’s WOW Report, and South Florida Gay News.

Photo courtesy of OUTtv.

CAMPshots

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

It's Summertime!

Poodle Beach, Washington Blade Summer Kickoff, Big Love, Delaware Stonewall PAC Summer Event, RB Main Street's Runway 2024 and More!

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1 ) at Poodle Beach: Joe Matassino, John Hackett, Ken Geissler, Tim Murray, Tom Newton, Josh Bielec, Danny Piccaluga, Cheryl Lennon, Gene Goodman, Marvin Miller, Justin Lennon, Brian Barber, Robert Simpson, Joseph Mingari, Matthew Stensrud, Michael Cohen, Bill Pullen, Jake Castellan, Frank Cooper, John Bisch; 2) at Purple Parrot: Steve Fisher, Jeff Enck, Chris Beagle, Eric Engelhart.

OPPOSITE PAGE 3) at Rehoboth Beach Main Street’s Runway 2024: Dick Byrne, RB Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski, Rick Perry, Cliff Martell-Fantini, Jen Carrol, Tony Burns, Jamie Haldan, Carolyn DiFenderfer, JoJo Genevish, Vicki Vananzi; 4) at Diego’s: Shawn Evans, Andy Staton, Patrick Sparito, Damien Gray, Brian Gray, Kurt Hochstuhl, John Sweet, Richard Nacey, John Wallden, Matthew Reeder, David Wolfe, Michael McHugh.

More CAMPshots page 78

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

(Continued from page77)

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at DE Stonewall PAC Summer Fundraiser: Jennifer August, U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, DE Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, DE House Rep. Valerie Longhurst, DE State Senator Russ Huxtable, DE State Senator Trey Paradee, Dwayne Bensing, Peter Schott, DE Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, Mitch Crane, Carlos Prugue, Peter Pizzolongo, Marty Rendon, Jim Villarie, Max Dick, Leslie Sinclair, DE State Senator Sarah McBride, Debbie Woods, New Castle DE County Executive Matt Meyers, Johan Meyers.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 2 at Big Love 2024: Mark Switaj, Kevin Fletcher, Tony Zacchei, Pedro Escobar, Matthew Siletta, George Knod, Daniel Piotti, Tony Sowers, Mike DeFlavia, Jack Cohen, Ron Bowman, Matthew Sita, Christian Dingus, Michael Russo, Alonza Parker, Jason Fluke, Landon Russo, Mark Koppersmith, Kevin McDuffie, Gordon Aronowicc, Charlie Vandermark, Gianni Ballarin; 3) at Freddie’s Beach Bar: Tim Erdley, Chris O’Brien, Wayne Jones, Aloysious, Angel Davis, Sam Ferguson.

(More CAMPshots page 108

A Little Bird Told Me

This week has been a lot. A high-profile community project I’ve been putting a ton of time and effort into is reaching the point where it will either succeed or fail. Changes in the publishing industry have me wondering what the future holds, and where I should channel my energy when it comes to writing. We’re heading into an election season that threatens to be even stormier than the last. The dogs, both now 15, are changing in ways that remind me that they won’t be here forever. And my own aging-related issues, while not worrisome, are nonetheless both inconvenient and unwelcome.

All of which is to say, last night after supper I was feeling particularly tired. A week of seemingly endless meetings, vet visits, social obligations, looming deadlines, and the usual laundry list of daily chores had worn me out. So, I was not particularly excited about having to still water all the new plants that have gone into the gardens over the past couple of weeks.

There is no faucet in the back yard, which means filling a watering can from the tap in the garage and doing it by hand, one plant at a time. Facing more than 20 trips back and forth, I was not at all looking forward to it.

As I went from plant to plant, pouring water around their roots, I thought about the hours I’ve spent digging holes, moving dirt, adding new soil, mulching, weeding, and doing all the other things creating gardens requires. Not to mention the financial cost. It all felt exhausting. Also, never-ending. There will always be more weeds to pull, more grass to mow, more plants to tend.

Then, as I trudged back to the garage for another can of water, I stopped. From the big catalpa tree that I hang feeders from came the unmistakable chatter call of a cowbird. It’s one of my favorite birdsongs, and never fails to delight. Looking up, I saw the cowbird a few branches above me. It warbled again, and suddenly I was struck by how beautiful everything

was—the tree, the song, the cowbird. It was dusk, which is a lovely time of day at any point in the year but is particularly wonderful in the summer. As day transitions into night, there’s a moment when everything seems to stand still, when the world holds its breath and waits, expectantly, for you to stop and take notice.

But sometimes, even if only for a few minutes, there are perfect moments.

And I did take notice. Standing under the catalpa, I looked around at the yard. At the edge of the patio, one of the dogs sat quietly. For a moment I thought about her fading eyesight, the worry that this might be our last summer with her. Then I stopped. Those worries could wait. She was there now, content, happy to be somewhere familiar and safe, happy to be loved. Like all dogs, she lives in the moment, not worrying about what might come next.

A breeze, cool and tinged with rain, stirred the catalpa leaves. Perfect weather for sleeping with the windows open. The grass, mowed just that afternoon, smelled

BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

fresh. Over by the beehives—recently reopened to activity after two summers of sitting unoccupied—fireflies floated in the gathering dark. Behind me, the windows of the house glowed gold with light.

This is all you’ve ever wanted.

The thought might have been spoken aloud. And it was true. Silencing all the worries and annoyances that had been fluttering around my head, I focused on what was true in that moment: I have a home. I have work that I love. I have a husband who I love. I have dogs who I love. I have enough.

There’s always room for more. There are always wishes, and needs, and bigger dreams. And there are always worries, and disappointments, and sadness that comes with loss. But sometimes, even if only for a few minutes, there are perfect moments. Last night, thanks to pausing to listen to the song of a cowbird, I had the good fortune to realize that I was experiencing one of them.

After a minute or two, the cowbird flew off. The dog wandered back inside. I filled the watering can one last time and gave a drink to the newest resident of the garden, an oakleaf hydrangea with the fantastically whimsical name “Gatsby Moon.” For a moment, I looked at it and wished it was already full-grown, that the whole garden I see in my head when I look around the yard was already planted and matured. I wished the fence behind it, which needs painting, didn’t look so shabby. I wished the yard was perfect.

Then I reminded myself that everything was already perfect the way it was. One day, it might be a different version of perfect. But the version I have now is exactly what it needs to be. What I need it to be. ▼

Michael Thomas Ford is a much-published Lambda Literary award-winning author. Visit Michael at michaelthomasford.com.

HIDDEN GEM IN SCHOOLVUE

By LESLIE SINCLAIR

SPOTLIGHT ON THE arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community

Pride Unbound

Onexhibit in the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery through June 27 is Pride Unbound, a revealing exhibition celebrating LGBTQ+ voices in art. If you haven’t already visited, we highly recommend experiencing this immersive exhibition dedicated to highlighting the diverse perspectives within the LGBTQ+ community.

Featuring a variety of mediums, 19 LGBTQ+ and queer artists share their talent and explore pertinent themes, inviting visitors to engage with the rich tapestry of queer identity, history, and experience. The artists delve into the complexities of queer identity, exploring self-discovery, acceptance, and empowerment, and reflecting the wide-ranging experiences within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. The exhibition also honors the historical struggles and triumphs of the community, paying homage to activists, milestones, and moments of resilience.

Among the notable pieces, Nikki Brooks’ Marsha honors Marsha P. Johnson and the lives of transgender individuals, emphasizing the collective power of change and allyship. Dan Bartasavich’s Police and Thieves reflects the ongoing cultural revolution, inspired by the music of The Clash. Victor Surbrook’s Self Portrait as a Bouguereau Angel merges Christian imagery with his trans identity, portraying his experience as holy and angelic. Logan Farro’s Soul Unveiled aims to reveal the artist’s soul, peeling back physical layers to expose the bright essence beneath.

Making the Cut

Exhibition: June 29-July 31 | Reception: July 12, 5:00-7:00 p.m

From June 29 to July 31, CAMP Rehoboth hosts the Delaware White-line Woodcut Guild with a reception on July 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This group of local artists has revived the white-line woodcut technique, a unique marriage of woodcarving and watercolors.

The artists who will share their exploration of this technique are Lisa Bain, Anne Barney, Michele Bartley, Robert Cumming, Debra Dircks, Fred Dylla, Bill Evaul, Jann Haynes Gilmore, Mark Harris, Arlene Matzkin, Lindley McGrew, Lorraine Quinn, Sherry Sherwood, Leslie Snowdon-Jones, and Lori Swift.

Come enjoy this unique art form at the Artists Reception. You will have a chance to meet the artists, learn about the history of white-line woodcuts, and see a demonstration of how these prints are made.

Both of these exhibitions can be viewed at the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stop by between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. to beat the meters!  ▼

IMAGES AT LEFT

Top: Self Portrait as a Bouguereau Angel by Victor Surbrook

Bottom: Soul Unveiled by Logan Farro

This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

BY JOE GFALLER

Summer Music & Cabaret Preview

Ihope that, like me, you are excited for the explosion of arts events coming to Rehoboth Beach this summer. It’ll be my first summer here, so even though I’ll be at quite a few Clear Space Theater performances (occupational hazard!), I am equally excited to check out some of what is in store as all of our entertainment venues light up with shows for the LGBTQIA+ community.

While this is by no means a comprehensive list, I hope you’ll save some of these dates to enjoy the best of our local and touring artists!

July 5 | Kim David Smith at the Top of the Pines

Broadway World calls him the “David Bowie of cabaret” and the New York Times labels him the “male Marlene Dietrich.” With costumes by Miodrag Guberinic (who has dressed both Lady Gaga and Madonna), he leaves mesmerizing performances in his wake from Australia to New York and back.

Also at the Pines this summer: singer/songwriter Stefano May (June 28), and Grammy Nominee Marty Thomas, seen in Big Gay Musical and Grace and Frankie (July 26).

July 8 & August 19 | Lady Bunny at Blue Moon

Yes, for her 11th year, THE Lady Bunny is back in Rehoboth Beach. From her early days as a go-go dancer with RuPaul to her appearances on screen in To

Wong Foo, Starrbooty, and Sex and the City, she has seen it all and done it all. Her shows are hilarious, never PG, and, in a word, iconic.

Also at Blue Moon this summer: drag queen Sherry Vine (June 24), Nate Buccieri at the keyboard (June 30-July 29), stand-up comic Sampson McCormick (August 26), and Autumn Schneider every Sunday at 9:00 p.m.

August 3 & 4 | Dreaming of Thunder Road at Clear Space

In between three blockbuster musicals and two children’s shows, this summer Clear Space is offering nearly a dozen cabarets. This one, starring Rachel Murdy and Bibi the Chihuahua, with Peter Szep on the keys, comes fresh from Don’t Tell Mama in NYC, in a queer trippy adventure that channels Bruce Springsteen and Roy Orbison.

Also at Clear Space this summer: Tony nominees Sarah Stiles & Liz Larson (fresh from developing the musical Transparent ) in Lady Friends (July 13 & 14), Rehoboth’s favorite “sit down” comic Fay Jacobs (July 21), and a concert reading of a new musical that reinvents the myth of Psyche through the lens of asexuality (August 23-25). Plus, the iconic LGBTQIA+ musical, The Prom.

August 19 & 20 | Edmund Bagnell in Concert at Diego’s Rehoboth Beach audiences know and love Edmund Bagnell’s charm and virtuosic talents on the violin as one

quarter of the ensemble Well Strung. As a solo artist, he is just as magnetic. Fresh from his summer tour that includes stops in Provincetown and Fire Island, he’s sure to fill Diego’s with great crowds and inspiring music.

Also at Diego’s this summer: Ada Vox (July 29), Joe Posa as Joan Rivers (August 11 & 12) and the always unforgettable Pamela Stanley every Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

And there’s plenty more to see outside of Rehoboth, too. Milton Theater brings cover bands for Bruno Mars (June 20), The Killers (June 28), Journey (August 10) and more— plus the always popular Magnolia Applebottom (August 16) and the musical Legally Blonde (starting July 20).

Just 30-40 minutes away, Freeman Stage brings a mix of great cover bands and major national artists, including Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. (July 19), comic Jerry Seinfeld (July 25), the band Kansas (July 31), rocker Grace Potter (August 7), and a double header to end the summer: Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls (August 27). ▼

Leslie Sinclair is a member of the Delaware State Arts Council and a passionate leader of CAMP Rehoboth’s visual arts programs.

Joe Gfaller is Managing Director of Clear Space Theatre.

arts+entertainment

BOOKED SOLID

Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family by Mark Daley ©2024, Atria Books, $28.99, 304 pages

The closet is full of miniature hangers.

The mattress bumpers match the drapes and the rug beneath the tiny bed. There’s a rocker for late-night fusses, a tall giraffe in the corner, and wind-up elephants march in a circle over the crib. Now you just need someone to occupy that space and in the new book, Safe, by Mark Daley, there’s more than one way to accomplish that dream.

Jason was a natural-born father.

Mark Daley knew that when they were dating, when he watched Jason with his nephew, with infants, and the look on Jason’s face when he had a child in his arms. As a gay man, Daley never thought much about having a family, but he knew Jason did—and so, shortly after their wedding, they began exploring surrogacy and foster-to-adopt.

Daley knew how important it was to get the latter right: his mother had a less-than-optimal childhood, and she protected her own children fiercely for it. When Daley came out to her, and to his father, he was instantly supported and that’s what he wanted to give: support and loving comfort to a child in a hard situation.

Or children, as it happened. Just weeks after completing

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

foster parenting classes and after telling the social worker they’d take siblings if there was a need, the prospective dads were offered two small brothers to foster.

It was love at first sight, but euphoria was somewhat tempered by courts, laws, and rules. Their social worker warned several times that reunification of the boys with their parents was “Plan A,” but Daley couldn’t imagine it. The parents seemed unreliable; they rarely kept appointments, and they didn’t seem to want to learn better parenting skills. The mother all but ignored the baby, and the child noticed.

So did Daley, but the courts held all the power, and predicting an outcome was impossible.

“All we had was the present,” he said. “If I didn’t stay in it, I was going to lose everything I had.”

So, was there a Happily-Ever-After?

Ah, you won’t find an answer to that question here. You’ll need to read Safe and wear your heart outside your chest for an hour or so to find out. Bring tissues.

Bring a sense of humor, too, because author and founder of One Iowa, Mark Daley, takes readers along on his journey to being someone’s Daddy, and he does it with the sweetest open-minded open-heartedness. He’s also Mama Bear here, too, which is just what you want to see, although there can sometimes be a lot of tiresome over-drama and over-fretting in that.

And yet, this isn’t just a sweet, but angst-riddled, tale of family. If you’re looking to foster, here’s one man’s truth about the frustrations, the stratospheric highs, and the deep lows. Will your foster experiences be similar? Maybe, but reading this book about it is its own reward.

Safe soars and it dives. It plays with your emotions and it wallows in anxiety. If you’re a parent, though, you’ll hang on to every word. ▼

View Point

The Strange Allure of Toxic Pols

Trump’s Threat Proves America Is Unexceptional

Javier Milei, the new strongman in Argentina, brandishes a chainsaw at rallies to show his plans for the political elite. His own people call him “El Loco.” He won not despite his madness, but because of it.

He is but the latest in a series of tough-talking demagogues with destructive impulses to take power across the globe. America has proven to be no exception.

One question we would do well to ponder is why there is such hostility toward elites.

If you think class-based resentment— which inevitably mixes with racism, misogyny, religious bigotry, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia—is a good motivation for voting choices, please give us an example of such decisions leading to a happy result.

Hillary Clinton has her faults, including a tendency to be undiplomatically blunt. But if she had been elected in 2016, we would not now have a right-wing supermajority on the Supreme Court, and would not be in danger of losing our constitutional republic.

Incidentally, please name a male politician who has been defeated for being blunt. Another way of putting Hillary’s failure to be more diplomatic is that she is insufficiently demure. Her unapologetic assertion of her right to pursue a political career has been held against her purely due to sexism.

We are in grave danger if we refuse to confront our cornucopia of bigotries. Horrible people all too often gain power by appealing to people’s lowest impulses.

Can you think of a single uplifting sentiment that Donald Trump has ever expressed? He is all lies, grifting, and revenge. He thrives on others’ willful ignorance. How is it that a man born with a silver spoon in his mouth, who refuses to pay his contractors and hires

the very undocumented immigrants he demonizes, exemplifies business success? He holds up a Bible to display his religiosity while being unable to cite a single scriptural passage, and openly embodying the Seven Deadly Sins.

It is frankly obscene even to mention an aspiration for national greatness without first aspiring to national goodness.

In the end, however, we cannot blame Trump. His crudeness, dishonesty, and viciousness were on display from the moment he rode down the Trump Tower escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy.

This is on us.

It is frankly obscene even to mention an aspiration for national greatness without first aspiring to national goodness.

The fake Christians who are determined to turn America into a Christo-fascist theocracy show no more familiarity or respect for the Gospel than Trump. If you try to tell the “Diapers Over Dems” crowd the parable of the Good Samaritan or invoke the call in Matthew Chapter 25 to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger, they will curse you or give you the finger. The closest equivalents to the arrogance and pride of Justice Samuel Alito in the New Testament are the Pharisees who despised Jesus.

There is one honest Christian in the presidential race who strives to help others. His name is Joe Biden. He supports abortion rights because

BY RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

he knows that women’s reproductive choices are none of his business. He would never say “It is God’s will” in response to a woman dying of sepsis in a hospital parking lot while the doctors and their attorneys discuss whether she is near enough to death to be given emergency abortion care.

In addition to all the other radical proposals from the far right, there is an effort to overturn the separation of church and state embodied in the First Amendment. If you think I overstate this, you are not paying attention. One example is Justice Alito, in his Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, citing a 17th century British jurist who convicted women of witchcraft.

It is tempting, in the face of the extremists, to laugh them off. I myself have practically been surviving on wisecracks to avoid losing my mind. For example, someone on X/Twitter recently wrote, “Mar-a-Lago is a whorehouse full of old broads who think they are still 25.” I replied, “Please resist your impulse to romanticize the place.”

I love the sorts of people who are dismissed as “old broads.” Plenty of successful movies are centered on older women reliving their youth. Such stories are far more appealing than the prospect of exploring the fevered brain of our 45th president who wishes to be our 47th.

I stress “our” because Trump is our collective responsibility. We must awaken and motivate our friends and family, especially young people who don’t know their history and take their freedoms for granted. We stand on the edge of an abyss. To quote Hillel: If not now, when? ▼

Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist at rrosendall@me.com.

The Sea Salt Table

Easy Chicken Tenders

While passing through Dewey recently, I saw what looked to be a 17-ish young man driving a 2024 Land Rover. We were on opposing sides of stop and go traffic. I instantly liked him because he nodded at our dog hanging out the back window. But rather than sitting in the driver’s seat, it was more like he was lounging in a La-Z-Boy.

It’s probably not a leap to think he was given the car with his driver’s license. Nor is it a stretch to think he was jaunting from the family’s oceanfront beach house. Because lemme tell you, he screamed swagger.

In all my years, I’ve never experienced being that cool. Certainly not in my teens. Not in my circumstances, nor how I held myself.

I mean really, one of my first cars was a Datson 210 junker. Its features included having once been powder blue, a driver’s seat wedged upright by an ash bucket, and the ability to see the road via a rusty hole in the floor (just to the right of the stick shift). Ever try to have swagger while cranking down your windows, one of which rolls half-way and falls the rest?

I’m not jealous of the Dewey guy. But I do wonder: if he experienced even one day of my barebones beach rides, would he switch with me? As a family, we had very little. And yet so much. My childhood wheels were awesome too, just in a different way.

When the Castelli’s arrived in Atlantic City for our annual vacay, folks probably couldn’t help but notice us, too. Think “Hollywood Hillbillies.”

Imagine a huge 70s Chrysler scraping the macadam under its own weight. It’s rocking with every bump until its overworked shocks lumber us back to equilibrium. The massive trunk is burgeoning with a week’s supply of fun in the sun for six.

There’s a silver cooler with mom’s fried chicken wrapped in waxed paper for our pee-in-the-woods rest stop. Or as my dad would say, “go pick blueberries.” There’s a plaid thermos of lemonade. And of course, extra motor oil. Our cars notoriously burned or leaked whatever they were fed.

On the roof is a rickety, roped, suc-

tion-cupped, duct-taped, wing-and-aprayered rack to which my dad strapped all our bikes. “Why rent in Jersey, when we have perfectly good Pennsylvania bikes?”

Inside, the nonnegotiable order of bench seating is dad driving, me in the front middle, mom on the right. The eldest is always behind dad, the second oldest behind mom. And my closest sibling behind me. Windows

These trips were some of the best times of my life.

are open. No one has headphones. No movies are playing on screens extending down from the ceiling.

These trips were some of the best times of my life. I could listen to my siblings for hours. As I was quite a bit younger, they were ahead of me in coolness and street smarts. Through them I learned the art of sarcasm. And plausible deniability. And which AM stations carried “Casey Casim’s Top 40” the furthest from home.

You’ll have to trust me, it was the best childhood fun. Except for maybe the million times I asked if we were almost there.

This month in honor of jalopy drivers everywhere, I’m sharing my recipe for chicken tenders. They’re tasty fresh out of the oven or served at room temperature. Enjoy them along the roadside on your way to our beautiful Delaware beaches!

Let’s get started, shall we?

BY ED CASTELLI

STEPS

 Line a large baking sheet with lightly oiled foil or parchment and preheat your oven to 400°.

 Combine the following and sprinkle on 3 pounds of chicken tenderloins:

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

Ž Lightly beat 2 large eggs in a shallow bowl. Spread 1½ cups of Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip chicken into the eggs, dredge in breadcrumbs, and arrange on your sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

 Meanwhile, cook the following for 5 minutes over medium low heat until the sugar dissolves:

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup lemon juice

• 1½ tsp garlic powder

Drizzle glaze over chicken and bake for 5 more minutes.

TIPS

• Tenderloins have a small, white, gristle-y thing on one corner. That is a connective tendon that you’re gonna want to cut off. It will neither cook down nor soften.

• The original recipe called for curry instead of garlic powder in the glaze. I found it too strong. If you’re a fan, give it a try.

• I tend to bake these a little longer for a crisper coating. I’ve also been known to toss Parmesan in with the breadcrumbs. ▼

Ed and his husband Jerry split their time between homes near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Bethany Beach. Ed builds websites to pay the bills but loves to cook, garden, hike, and dote on their dog Atticus.

J. CONN SCOTT

Lee Industries - Hickory Chair - Chaddock - Century - Lillian August - Chelsea House

MT Company - Lexington - Modern History - Hickory Chair - Highland House - EJVictor

Summer Classics - Woodbridge - Baker

Rehoboth Beach, DE

302-227-1850

Selbyville, DE

302-436-8205

Q Puzzle Let It Die Here

June 12th

June 14th & 28th

June 18th

July 20

August 24th

Meditation with Rev. Janice, MCCRehoboth Church Sanctuary, 6pm

MCCR Folk Jam: MCC-Rehoboth Church Sanctuary, 6 pm

Coffee with the Pastor, 10 am - Noon

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 10 am - 2 pm

Annual Crab Feast: MCC-Rehoboth Church Sanctuary, TBD

Historical Headliners

Blues Woman: Ma Rainey

As a queer community, we’ve been wild with joy and we’ve experienced pain. We’ve been artists, activists, and outlaws. We’ve been arrested. And if you’re a queer person of color, especially a queer woman of color, chances are you’ve been at least some of these.

Gertrude Pridgett was certainly all of these. What is not certain is when and where she was born. Some sources, including county records, put the year as 1882, while other records list the date as 1886. Pridgett said she was born in Columbus, Georgia, while Alabama’s records claim she was born in that state’s Russell County.

What really matters, though, is that Gertrude Pridgett, southern-born daughter of Thomas and Ella Allen Pridgett, grew up to become one of greatest blues singers of all time, a woman whose recorded music has entered into the American cultural canon. The world came to know her as the Mother of the Blues, Ma Rainey.

She came by the name when she married musical performer Will “Pa” Rainey in 1904, taking the moniker Ma to match Will’s Pa. The couple performed vaudeville-type numbers with various Black musical groups touring the South. Ma later claimed that her introduction to blues music happened while touring in Missouri sometime around 1914. According to various sources, the story goes that she heard a young girl sing a song about the pain of a woman being left by her man. Ma asked the girl what kind of song that was, and the girl was said to answer, “the blues.”

We’ll never really know if this tale is apocryphal or true, but in any case, Ma Rainey’s introduction to blues music was a turning point for her career and a watershed moment for American music. She incorporated blues into her act with Pa Rainey, now billing themselves as Rainey and Rainey: Assassinators of the Blues.

In 1914 or perhaps 1915, and then in 1916, two things happened which had profound effects on Ma Rainey’s life, her music, and her career. In 1914 or 1915, Ma met and became involved with up-and-coming performer Bessie Smith. The relationship was evidently

Despite the danger of running afoul of the law again, she continued to have affairs with women and even wrote songs about it.

of a romantic nature, something neither woman ever denied. The second lifechanging event was in 1916, when Ma separated from Will “Pa” Rainey (he died in 1919), going on to perform and tour on her own.

She soon played to sellout crowds. Blues music was becoming increasingly popular, even beyond the confines of the South, and Ma Rainey and her deep-throated, gravelly voice rode the wave. The rising popularity of blues was

BY ANN APTAKER

simultaneous with the development of the recording industry. So-called Race music—catering to Black audiences but also popular with Whites—was a staple of recording companies large and small.

In 1923, Paramount, a major entertainment label, took notice of Ma’s sellout performances and signed her to a recording contract. Her records sold wildly across America and beyond. Over the next five years, Ma recorded over a hundred songs for Paramount. She toured major cities, performing for both Black and White audiences. She adopted an avant-garde persona, dressing in flamboyant gowns and dazzling jewels. She commanded enormous fees for her performances and recording sessions. Ma Rainey was a star.

She was also her own woman, writing songs she wanted to write, singing songs she wanted to sing, and engaging in passionate affairs with whomever she wanted, especially with women—relationships which were still illegal in America. Such liaisons were dangerous for women of the time, particularly so for Black women. In 1925 Ma was even arrested for hosting a lesbian party in her Harlem home.

Despite the danger of running afoul of the law again, she continued to have affairs with women and even wrote songs about it. Her lyrics often had a “hiding-in-plain-sight” quality about her sexuality. In 1928, for example, she recorded the tantalizing song “Prove It on Me Blues”:

“Went out last night with a crowd of my friends, they must’ve been women ‘cause I don’t like no men.

They say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me.

They sure got to prove it on me.”

Though Ma Rainey, now known as Mother of the Blues, made her name and fame as a classic blues artist, she possessed an unerring instinct for show

Continued on page 114

May the Fourth Be with You!

Cue the Firecrackers and Parades

King George was insane. Seriously.

In his younger days, he was something of a prodigy, and was educated by tutors, like most children of royalty were then. He could read and write in two languages by the time he was just eight years old; his studies included not just history and math, but astronomy, French, Latin, geography, music, and a host of other subjects that would someday make him a great ruler. That, sadly, would happen when his grandfather died in the fall of 1760 and George ascended to the British Throne. King George III was just 22 years old.

At that time, of course, England counted vast amounts of North America as being under its control and the colonists on this side of the pond weren’t happy about most of it, including unfair taxation and the lack of a seat in Parliament. If you remember that being taxation without representation, your middle-school history teacher would be proud, because it was. Anyhow, things might have gone on with the status quo for quite some time, were it not for a new group of even more acts passed by Parliament shortly after George was crowned—acts that included a whole bunch more taxes.

June of 1776 writing a document that would be given to King George III. He presented it to colleagues in Congress on July 2 and they tinkered with it for a couple days, finally dating and approving it on July 4. Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Sam Adams, John Hancock, and 52 others signed the Declaration of Independence in early August, shortly before one of an estimated 200 copies of the paperwork was given to the King.

A month before that, though, on the day they dated the Declaration, the Founding Fathers (a term coined by Warren Harding in 1916 when he was just a Senator) presumptively held a celebration, complete with fireworks. John Adams had marked the occasion with a letter to his wife, Abigail, telling her that the day would forever be marked by firecrackers, games, parades, and solemnity.

Despite the early revelry for what would someday be a loud, parade-holding, picnic-filled holiday, as Adams predicted, it would be years before the war was finally over and complete independence was achieved.

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Then, as now, nobody liked taxes.

Fighting broke out in April 1775 over the tax issue and George consulted with his ministers, who told him to hold the line. The colonies’ Second Continental Congress sent William Penn to ask politely for George to intervene in the whole mess, but the King pretty much ignored it. Ultimately, the whole kerfuffle became a bigger deal than just something between England and the colonies: before it was over, the Netherlands, France, and Spain had gotten involved in what America wanted.

Undaunted at Great Britain’s apparent snub, Thomas Jefferson spent two weeks in

Some say that it’s highly likely that George never even bothered to read the Declaration, and who could blame him? By then, he was pretty ill; many people even thought he’d gone “mad,” acting erratically, consumed by mental illness or some sort of mania. In 2005, laboratory results strongly suggested that he may have been poisoned by arsenic, possibly unintentionally. It’s a fact that in his time, arsenic was a common ingredient in cosmetics, wallpaper, and other everyday products. By 1811, King George III was confined to a room in Windsor Castle, completely insane. ▼

Terri Schlichenmeyer’s second book, The Book of Facts and Trivia: American History, came out early this year. A third is in the works.

FUN FACTS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY

★ Technically speaking, it’s illegal to wear the US Flag as clothing. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear red, white, and blue. You can’t wear a flag.

★ There have been 27 different versions of our country’s flag.

★ Massachusetts was the first state to make July 4 a holiday.

★ People born on July 4: Calvin Coolidge, Ann Landers and Abigail VanBuren, Malia Obama, Tom Cruise, Geraldo Rivera, and your humble trivia maven.

★ People who died on July 4: famously, Thomas Jefferson and James Adams both died on July 4, 1826. James Monroe, our fifth president, died July 4, 1831. Zachary Taylor, our 12th president, got sick at an Independence Day celebration and died five days later. Writers August Derleth and Georgette Heyer died on Independence Day, as did Count Basie, Eva Gabor, and Charles Kuralt.

★ Bristol, Rhode Island has held an annual Fourth of July Parade since 1785, making it the oldest Independence Day parade.

★ If you’re an average American, you’ll consume hot dogs on July 4. Add your name to the list: we eat about 150 million frankfurters every Independence Day.

★ July 4 wasn’t declared an official holiday until 1870, when Congress deemed it so.

Photo: Richard Dykes on Unsplash.

EARTH TO MARS Bruno Mars Experience June 20 - 8PM

QUAYSIDE

@NITE

OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 2024 MAY 16 - SEPT 19

THURSDAY’S ALL SUMMER FOOD TRUCKS EVERY WEEK!

Charitable Qualified

Distribution

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows individuals who are 70 ½ years old or older to donate up to $100,000 total to one or more to their charities directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking their required minimum distributions.

Contact our Development Manager, Laurie Thompson, at laurie@camprehoboth.com to learn more about making a QCD. EIN # 51-0331962

Donor

Requests a qualified charitable distribution from their IRA.

IRA Custodian

Sends that QCD to the charity that the donor chooses.

The donor gets a tax deduction while supporting a good cause!

The REAL DIRT

A Shifting Planet

In recent years, the United States has been experiencing changing plant zones, a sign of our global climate shifting. The Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, encompassing states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and parts of West Virginia, has long been known for its diverse plant life and distinct seasons. However, in recent years, gardeners and farmers, as well as scientists, have observed notable changes in the plant hardiness zone, a trend attributed to climate change.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a crucial tool indicating the average annual minimum winter temperatures across different regions. This map, which is periodically updated, helps in determining which plants are most likely to thrive at a specific location. The zones range from 1 (colder) to 13 (warmer), with each zone representing a 10°F difference in the average minimum winter temperature.

The Mid-Atlantic region traditionally spans USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. However, recent updates to the USDA map, reflecting data from the past few decades, show a northward shift in these zones. Areas that were once solidly within Zone 6 are now reclassified as Zone 7, and some parts of Zone 7 are edging into Zone 8.

For instance, in Maryland, the central region, including Baltimore, has transitioned from Zone 6b to Zone 7a. Similarly, parts of Pennsylvania that were once Zone 5b are now considered Zone 6a. And in Delaware, the southern costal edges are now considered Zone 8a, where they were once Zone 7b. This shift means that plants that once struggled to survive the winter can now thrive.

The primary driver behind these changes is global climate change. The average global temperature has increased by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century. This warming trend is largely due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases, such as

carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, in the atmosphere.

In the Mid-Atlantic, the effects of this warming are evident. Winters have become milder, with fewer extreme cold events. The growing season has lengthened, and the first frost of the year tends

In Delaware, a few species of palms can now overwinter along the coastal areas; once, that was inconceivable.

to occur later in the fall, while the last frost happens earlier in the spring. These changes collectively push the plant hardiness zones northward.

The shifting plant hardiness zones have significant implications in the Mid-Atlantic. Gardeners now have the opportunity to experiment with a wider variety of plants, including those traditionally considered too tender for the region’s historical climate. For example, plants like figs, pomegranates, and certain varieties of camellias, which were previously challenging to grow in the Mid-Atlantic, are becoming more feasible. In Delaware, a few species of palms can now overwinter along the coastal areas; once, that was inconceivable.

Farmers, too, are adapting to these

BY ERIC W. WAHL

changes. Crops that prefer slightly warmer climates, such as certain grape varieties for winemaking, are now more viable in regions that were once too cold.

However, this also brings challenges. Warmer winters can lead to an increase in pests and diseases that were previously kept in check by cold temperatures. Additionally, the timing of planting and harvesting may need to be adjusted to align with the new growing seasons.

Beyond the garden and farm, the changing plant zones have broader ecological implications. Native plants and the wildlife that depend on them may face disruptions. For example, certain tree species may struggle to adapt to the warmer conditions, potentially altering forest compositions. Migratory birds and pollinators, whose life cycles are closely tied to the availability of specific plants, might also be affected.

In addition, invasive species, which thrive in warmer climates, could find Delaware increasingly hospitable, posing a threat to native biodiversity. This necessitates a proactive approach in managing ecosystems and protecting native species.

The shifting plant hardiness zones in the Mid-Atlantic, and more directly in Delaware, are a tangible sign of broader climate changes. For gardeners and farmers, these changes offer both opportunities and challenges. Adapting to the new norms involves not only embracing new plant varieties but also being vigilant about the accompanying risks, such as increased pests and diseases.

As these trends continue, our landscape will evolve, reflecting the ongoing impacts of a warming world. Through awareness and adaptive strategies, the region can navigate these changes while preserving its rich horticultural and ecological heritage.

Be safe, and let’s garden together! ▼

Eric W. Wahl is Landscape Architect at Pennoni Associates, and President of the Delaware Native Plant Society.

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

(Continued from page 79)

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Washington Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party at Blue Moon: Kevin Naff, DE State Senator Sarah McBride, Mark Purpura, Kathy Solano, Kim Leisey, Donna Shifflett, Kay Young, DE State Senator Russ Huxtable, RB Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski, Dan Truitt, Mark Queen, Joe Reberkenny, Matty Brown, Robb Mapou, Mike Zufall, Eric Engelhart, Chris Maloney, Mark Leonard, Michael White, Peter Schott, Lou Chibbaro.

OPPOSITE PAGE 2) at Eden Restaurant: Tom Newton, Bill Paveletz, John Hackett, Brian Smaul, Jeff Czarnecki, Mark Previti; 3) at Kiwi’s Tiki Hut: Lee White, Max Dick, Robert Gordon, Joe Santone, Jamée Middleton; 4) Rigby’s 15th Anniversary Celebration: Mike Davitt, Tom Johnson, Justin Nixon, Rick Cronan, Jon Worthington, Mark White, Paul Frene, Bob Mann, Greg Brown, Steve Hudskins, Lisa Hudskins, Bob Kaplan, Jeff Davis, John Glenstrup, John Black.

(More CAMPshots page 110)

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

(Continued from page 109)

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1 ) at The Pines: John Berdini, Justine Berdini, Scott Green, Paul Kuhns, Anne Michele Kuhns, Barbara Green; 2) at Back Porch Café: Domenic Mannello, Russ King, Beth Yochim, Deb Kennedy, Marvin Miller, Steve Jaskulsky, Bruce Bodie, Gino Cardinale, Andy Jaskulsky, Dan Kyle; 3) at Blue Moon: Chris Danek, Mark Kehoe, Chris Chase, Brent Finagin, Tim Ragan, Matty Allen, Ken Seltzer, Steve Cannon.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 4) at Blue Moon: Sue Seltzer, Ron Butt, Anthony Kale, Michael Solonski; 5) at Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra: Cheryl Hill, Jeffrey Birgel, Ron Bass, Sandra Pace, George Robbins, 6) at Peninsula Gallery: Dale Shelton, Laura Hickman; 7) at Rehoboth Art League: Nellie Garlow, Joan Flaherty, Charlie Garlow, Max Massiah; 8) at Aqua: Nathanael Wilson, Sondra Arkin, Mary Beth Ramsey, Matty Brown, Bonnie Quesenberry, Fay Jacobs, Joanne Locke, Shelly Steves, Chris Berg, Joe Sterner, Terry Kistler, David Briton, Andrew Bryan, Katie Avella, A.S. Hemphill, Brad Gregerson, Giovanni Elziny, Justin Lennon, Bruce Ruth, Carolyn Smith, Scott Silber, Ana Sanchez, Nick Beck. ▼

TALKING TRASH (and Recycling)

Recycle that Plastic!

While I do like fireworks, early July has another day of note: July 3 is International Plastic Bag Free Day.

International Plastic Bag Free Day looks for safer alternatives to demonstrate that a world without the use of so much plastic is possible. It wasn’t until 1979 that the US had plastic bags, all the rage in Europe.

In 1997 the Great Pacific Garbage Patch was discovered, and bags were identified as an ocean pollutant. While there were all sorts of other pollution there, what caught people’s attention was that plastic bags were found to be killing sea turtles and other marine life. Floating plastic bags look very similar to jellyfish, a food source for sea turtles.

Bangladesh became the first country in the world to implement a ban on thin plastic bags in 2002 after it was found that plastic bags played a key role in clogging drainage systems during heavy rains, causing disastrous flooding. Other countries quickly followed suit, such as South Africa, Rwanda, China, Australia, and Italy.

Delaware passed its first version of a plastic bag ban in 2019 and revised it in 2021 to fix loopholes in the original bill. Delaware stores must allow customers to use their own reusable bags or provide non-plastic bags free or for purchase. Carry-out is exempt from the plastic bag ban, which is why your dinner leftovers can still be in plastic

BY JEFFREY DANNIS

bags. (It doesn’t mean that you should take one, but you can.)

Most of us know that plastic film is no longer accepted in our recycling bins, but how many of us take the time and effort to bring our plastic film back to those boxes or containers at the grocery store? Many of the local grocery stores—Acme, Food Lion, Giant, Harris

Teeter, Redner’s, Safeway, and Weis— are Trex Recycling Partners. For a full list, see Trex.com/Recycling.

When I think about what we bring back to a plastic film recycling box, I know that I could do better. At a national level, only 9.1 percent of the plastic produced actually gets recycled. While much of the plastic that we put into

“

WHERE FLOWERS SPEAK A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE”

FLORIST SHOP • GREENHOUSES

20326 Coastal Highway • Rehoboth Beach, DE (Next to Arena’s Café) 302-227-9481

our curbside bins gets recycled, in our home, there is a lot of plastic that goes into the garbage.

I do not wishfully recycle (hoping that my items will get recycled) but I do not return as much plastic bag film as I could. We put the grocery bags and bread bags in, but we could put those plastic Amazon shipping bags, cereal bags, and salt pellet bags in as well. I am a work in progress, but so is the technology around plastics generation and disposal. As I become consistent, the list of what is appropriate for plastic film recycling will change too. All for the better—I hope.

But some things don’t go in our recycling bin or in the film boxes at the grocery store. The Southern Recycling Center in Georgetown does accept polystyrene (including Styrofoam). The Center also takes electronics (including flat screen TVs) and batteries for recycling during operating hours, and Household Hazardous Waste on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Recently I made a trip there, bringing my

stuff and some items from my neighbors. It was an easy errand.

And what is next? We have all seen the disheartening photos of wildlife entangled or strangled by these plastic

Maine and Canada have already banned plastic six-pack rings. Truly recyclable or compostable alternatives already exist and are being used widely.

six-pack rings. Plastic Free Delaware has set their sights on these and proposed SB263. Currently, six-pack rings may be used if they are “photodegradable, biodegradable, or recyclable.” But most of these rings are not recyclable. Photodegradable and biodegradable are not defined or certified.

Maine and Canada have already banned plastic six-pack rings. Truly recyclable or compostable alternatives already exist and are being used widely. SB263 would ban the use of plastic rings and wraps to hold beverage multipacks together. You can find the status of this bill and contact your legislators at legis.delaware.gov/.

Meanwhile, we all need to divert more plastic film and bags from our trash and find more ways to reduce, reuse, or recycle them.

I’m looking forward to the days when we don’t have the need for an International Plastic Bag Free Day or Plastic Six-Pack Ring Free Day on our calendars.▼

Jeffrey Dannis is an environmental engineer, nutrient consultant, and certified composter. He can be reached at FitnessEngineering.net or at Jeff.Dannis.FE@outlook.com.

Historical Headliners

Continued from page 98

business in general. Her live performances and recordings also incorporated elements of comedy and theatrics. She wowed audiences with her voice, her humor, her ribaldry, and most of all her honesty about the realities of Black life in America.

She was also a sharp businesswoman. As her performing career waned, she returned to the South, settling in Georgia, where she owned and operated three theaters—one in Columbus and two in the town of Rome. All three were successful, enabling her to continue to live in the style to which she had become accustomed.

Ma Rainey died of a heart attack in 1939.

For her contributions to American music, Ma Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1983, followed in 1990 by induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Her 1924 hit song and now classic, “See See Rider Blues,” was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2004, the same year it was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Ma Rainey’s wild, plaintive, gravelly voice has been honored and imitated by singers and musicians to this day, but in the end there can only be one Mother of the Blues. ▼

Ann Aptaker is the author of short stories and the Lambda & three-time Goldie award winning Cantor Gold series. Her latest book, A Crime of Secrets, was released in July 2023.

Deborah Ann Bonneau

Deborah Ann Bonneau, born April 19, 1957, in Arlington, Virginia, passed away Friday, May 24, 2024. She was the beloved daughter of the late John Nicholson and Marie Doris Dulcie (Benoit) Bonneau.

Deborah dedicated many years of her career to private wealth management at Bank of America. Growing up in Northern Virginia, she later spent 25 amazing years with her life partner, Deborah Ann Fox. Together, they lived in Connecticut for 15 years before relocating to a community in Rehoboth Beach, where they were affectionally referred to as “The Debs.”

Deborah had a deep love for the outdoors. She enjoyed long walks with her partner, Deborah, and cherished her time at the beach. She was passionate about about maintaining a meticulous yard and petting her neighborhood canine friends. Deborah was a vibrant, fun-loving person who always wore a captivating, beautiful smile.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Deborah is survived by her partner, Deborah Ann Fox; her sister, Michelle Bonneau-Taylor (Derrick); and her brother, John Bonneau (Donya).

A celebration of Deborah’s life was held June 9. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org, or the American Heart Association, heart.org. ▼

“The cost of education has gotten to the point that people with means really ought to look at

Bob Martz, Wilmington, Bob Martz Scholarship Fund

DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay with donor Bob Martz

Fourth-Page-V CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION

(puzzle on page 94)

Don’t miss a thing. 11 issues of LETTERS from CAMP Rehoboth by first class mail.

THANK YOU Subscribe today.

PARTNER’S NAME ( IF APPLICABLE) STREET MAILING ADDRESS

STATE, ZIP

CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Opportunities

Send your check for $50 to CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. If you prefer to use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express call 302-227-5620. YOUR NAME

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES MEETING

Join CAMP Rehoboth’s next Volunteer Opportunities Meeting on July 11 at 6:00 p.m. Whether you’re new to volunteering at CAMP Rehoboth, looking for a refresher, or interested in getting involved with SUNFESTIVAL 2024, this meeting is a don’t-miss. Dinner is provided.

CROP: CAMP REHOBOTH OUTREACH PROGRAM

The CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) is constantly working to cultivate community and strengthen relationships and the connections between us all. Check the site for monthly volunteer opportunities. Sign up at camprehoboth.com/volunteers.

Your volunteer efforts benefit you and others.

— PLEASE VISIT — camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.

ACCESSIBILITY

Hope Vella

ADVOCACY TEAM

Daniel Bruner

David Garrett

Leslie Ledogar

Sherri McGee

ARTS TEAM

Logan Farro

Jane Knaus

Lois Powell

Leslie Sinclair

Patricia Stiles

Debbie Woods

CAMP REHOBOTH

ADMIN

Sherri McGee

CAMP REHOBOTH CHORUS

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Bill Fuchs

Dianna Johnston

Carolyn Laurenzo

Judy Olsen

Gloria Richards

Dave Scuccimarra

Travis Stevens

CAMP REHOBOTH

DATABASE

Sondra Arkin

CAMP REHOBOTH LIBRARY

Glenn Lash

CAMP REHOBOTH

MAINTENANCE

Carol Brice

Eric Korpon

CAMP REHOBOTH

THEATRE

Teri Seaton

Russell Stiles

CAMPCIERGES

Joe Benshetler

Barbara Breault

Ken Currier

Adam EmelFirestone

Jim Mease

Kim Nelson

Pamela Rule

Mitchell Shahade

Patricia Stiles

Russell Stiles

Joe Vescio

CAMPSAFE CONDOM STUFFING PARTY

Max Dick

Richard Dietz

Mark Eubanks

Richard Gamble

Claire Ippoliti

Paul Lindsey

Shawn McHugh

Marce McCollumMartin

Jim Mease

Barb Ralph

Doug Sellers

Dave Walker

CAMPSAFE HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING

Dick Hospital

E.J. Kenyon

Sharon Morgan

Joe Vescio

to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period: May 3 - 31, 2024

CAMPSHOTS PHOTO VOLUNTEERS

G Michael Beigay

Tony Burns

David Garrett

CROP AT BRANDYWINE SPCA

Rachel Summers

Joe Vescio

CROP AT FOOD BANK OF DE

Celeste Beaupre

Deb Carroll

Debbie Cooper

Karen DeSantis

Richard Dietz

Beverly Miller

Lorraine Stainish

Rachel Summers

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Jane Blue

Pat Catanzariti

Wes Combs

Mike DeFlavia

Amanda Mahony Albanese

LETTERS DISTRIBUTION TEAM

Glenn Lash

Jim Mease

LETTERS MAILING TEAM

Nancy Hewish

Grant Kingswell

Vicki Martina

Stephen Palmer

Linda Yingst

LETTERS PROOFING

Barb Ralph

PHILADELPHIA GAY

MEN’S CHORUS—

BROLO

Rick Buske

Mike DeFlavia

Madelyn Jablon

Marc Latiluppe

Shawn McHugh

Mark Shaw

Charles Vandergrift

Mark Vilandry

RAINBOW

THUMB CLUB

Chris Bowers

Carol Brice

Linda DeFeo

Richard Dietz

Patty DiModugno

Monica Fleishmann

Mitchell Shahade

Rachel Summers

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Madelyn Jablon

Marce McCollumMartin

Jim Mease

Kim Nelson

Rina Pellegrini

John Michael

Sophos

Joe Vescio

AD INDEX

$2,500 SELLER CREDIT

A SPEN MEADOWSRehoboth. 1986 2BR/2BA. 1,350sf. Updated kitchen. Screened porch. Privacy fencing. Community pool. 4 miles to beach. $137,000 (2059222) Lot Rent $752/mt.

HENLOPEN STATIONRehoboth Beach. 10 blocks to the boardwalk! 2BR/2BA 3rd-floor end unit w/balcony. Furnished. Updated interior. Community pool. $712/qtr dues. $525,000 (2061236)

ANGOLA BEACH -Lewes. Remodeled 1973 4BR/2BA. Water views from front deck. Shed. Marina/pool community is 10 miles to beach. $193,000 (2055630) Lot Rent $734/mt. includes water & sewer

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. 1979 3BR/1BA. 10’x20’ screened porch. Extra parking. Shed. Community pool. 4 miles to Rehoboth & Lewes beaches. $125,000 (2057862) Lot Rent $600/mt.

CAMELOT MEADOWSRehoboth. 1980 2BR/1.5BA with 4-season sunroom for 1,300 sq. ft. Storage shed. Community pool & just 3.5 miles to beach. $118,900 (2063384) Lot Rent $716/mt.

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. Remodeled 2005 3BR/2BA doublewide. Shed w/elec. Community pool. 4 miles to Rehoboth & Lewes beaches. $155,000 (2052192) Lot Rent $903/mt.

CAMELOT MEADOWS - Rehoboth. 2003 3BR/2BA Champion doublewide w/ screened porch. Furnished - Turn Key. Community pool. 4 miles to beach. $169,900 (2063618) Lot Rent $677/mt.

ANGOLA BEACH -Lewes. 2022 3BR/2BA. 1,680 sf. Oversized driveway. Deck. Shed w/elec. Community marina, pool. 10 miles to bch. $222,000 (2059320) Lot Rent $787/mt. includes water & sewer.

BEACH -Lewes. Remodeled 1985 3BR/2BA. Pretty kitchen w/SS & quartz counters. Shed. 10 miles to bch. Marina/pool. $163,000 (2061456) Lot Rent $699/mt. includes water & sewer.

SEA AIR -Rehoboth. 1982 3BR/2BA. Parking for 3 vehicles. Porch, patio, shed & outdoor shower. Community pool & 3 miles to beach. $149,900 (2050802) Lot Rent $644/mt includes water.

CAMELOT MEADOWSRehoboth. 2000 3BR/2BA doublewide is 1,680 sq. ft. Family room w/fireplace. Community pool & just 3.5 miles to beach. $200,000 (2051848) Lot Rent $693/mt.

ANGOLA BEACH -Lewes. Remodeled 1984 2BR/2BA. Fireplace. New deck. Shed. Community pools, marina. 10 miles to bch. $139,900 (2057312) Lot Rent $699/mt. includes water & sewer. 5/6/2024

Indoor & outdoor kitchens. Community pool & 3 miles to bch. $40,000 (2050802) Seasonal 4/15-11/15 $5,590 Rent for corner lot

CAMELOT MEADOWS - Rehoboth. 1977 14’x70’ 2BR/1BA w/3-season porch. Adorable. Furnished. Patio. Shed. Community pool. 4 miles to beach. $119,000 (2063606) Lot Rent $731/mt.

ANGOLA