CMA GLBT Society & Friends April, 2007 Accord Article
Dinora Mastrofrancesco
CMA GLBT Society & Friends Coordinator
Imagine you are a minority: a Pagan, and out there are the Christians. It’s dangerous. Across history, it has been life threatening even, to be what you are. You’ve learned to scan the area for “one of your own” when you enter a new place.
You deal with it everyday, the prejudices, the closed mindedness, and the misconceptions about what you really believe.
Imagine even what should be a safe haven; let’s say you are invited to help in a booth at a Theology Convention. Those people invited you, you should feel safe, but when you enter the convention area, you see the Christians. First thing you do is scan the area for your own kind. You go there, exhale, and then gather your thoughts before venturing out to explore the rest of the area.
Now remember what if feels like walking onto Spirit Haven each time. You can exhale. You feel safe. You know that this land is inviting and protecting. You know Spirit Haven is home and you are among your own kind here. Spirit Haven is your safe haven.
Now imagine you are another kind of minority: you are gay, and out there are the straight people. It’s dangerous. Across history, it has been life threatening even, to be what you are. You’ve learned to scan the area for “one of your own” when you enter a new place.
You deal with it everyday, the prejudices, the closed mindedness, and the misconceptions about what you really are.
Imagine even what should be a safe haven; let’s say you are invited to help out at a camping trip. Those people invited you, you should feel safe, but when you enter the camping area, you see the straight people. First thing you do is scan the area for your own kind. You go there, exhale, and then gather your thoughts before venturing out to explore the rest of the area.
But, what if that area were hard to locate? It’s not where your friends told you it was the last time they came here. Panic could set in, until you find your safe haven.
Can you imagine that? Anyone feeling uncomfortable at Spirit Haven?! Well until the very recent Designated Camping Area policy was voted in, Rainbow Camp, “home base” for the CMA GLBT Society & Friends was a movable object. We were moved around so often even we didn’t know how to locate our camp-site some festivals.
But no longer! Rainbow Camp is here! The moment the policy was voted in, our check was written and we were made official. We are in a good visible location to the main road. We are a welcoming camp-site. You don’t have to be gay to camp with us, to join in our rituals and meetings or to simply share a smile and a Mimosa with us.
So from now on, if you have a moment, come visit us, we are easy to find. Just walk down vendor’s row (coming from CMA 1 toward the showers) and look for the rainbows on the left and you’ve found us! You’ve found your safe haven for laughter, fun and yes, even MIMOSA’S!!!