Sen. Carper listens to CAMP Rehoboth’s concerns

Taking advantage of a mid-June legislative break in recognition of Juneteenth, Sen. Tom Carper made his annual trip June 17 to CAMP Rehoboth. The meeting was a round-table discussion on a number of topics. For the most part, Carper was there to listen.

CAMP Rehoboth Board President Wes Combs said the organization was about to announce the name of a new interim executive director who will lead CAMP through a strategic planning process before hiring the new executive director. A few days after the meeting with Carper, CAMP announced Lisa Evans would be the interim executive director.

CAMP is also gearing up for the Sun Festival, said Combs.

Carper’s visit to CAMP was exactly one week before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. At the time, CAMP Board of Directors Vice President Leslie Ledogar said there was concern in the LBGTQ+ community about Roe v. Wade being overturned and what that would mean for the LBGTQ+ community.

It appears Ledogar had good reason to be concerned. As part of a concurring opinion, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas said now that the federal right to abortion had been revoked, national laws related to gay rights and contraception rights should be reconsidered.

During the meeting, Carper said he and his legislative associates were working on a way to try to codify some of the language from Roe v. Wade. “Let’s pray it won’t be needed,” he said.

Other issues discussed touched on the mental health of teenagers who are transitioning or identify as nonbinary. CAMP staff member Amber Lee said schools in Sussex County aren’t being held accountable, and it gets worse the farther away a person gets from the coast.

Ledogar also said violence against LBGTQ+ folks is increasing. There’s enough of a concern that CAMP has beefed up some of its security measures, but there are still vulnerabilities, she said.

It’s haunting, said Ledogar.