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trans2010-07-03 03:38 pm
dashingdeviant.livejournal.com) wrote in trans2010-07-03 03:38 pm
It's That Time of Year...
...when trans* people and people in solidarity with them are getting ready for Camp Trans!
Hi, I'm gayge, and I'm a longtime Camp Trans camper and organizer. I've been attending Camp since 2006, and have helped make Camp happen between summers since after that Camp Trans. I thought it would be good to a) let people know about Camp Trans, the current stance of Camp Trans, the current policies of Michigan Womyn's Music Festival b) give some basic info about Camp Trans c) provide a space for people to ask questions about Camp Trans.
The space for information about Camp Trans, announcements, contact information, and the forums: the Camp Trans website
And now for the questions I frequently see asked, and my answers.
Sounds great, so, what's the deal with Camp Trans and Michfest anyway?
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival is the largest womyn's music festival in the world, and it maintains a trans misogynistic policy of exclusion of trans womyn, and an overall transphobic stance of all trans people "really" being the sex they were coercively assigned at birth.
In 1991, Michfest kicked Nancy Burkholder out for disclosing her trans status. In 1992, womyn at Fest had an educational table, and in 1993, Nancy Burkholder and other trans womyn tried to go back to Fest, were kicked out again, and did educational work in the clearing across the road. In 1994, Camp Trans was born, and occurred again in 1999, and again in years after that. There have been several large organizational shifts, and Camp is also a space that recreates itself every year. More on Camp Trans history
In 2006, Lorraine, an out trans womon, was eventually sold a ticket to Fest. In the press releases from both sides that followed, Fest stated that they were continuing their "Womon-born-Womon" policy, and that trans womyn who attended fest were thus "violating womyn's space". So, the status quo is an official "trans womyn are not welcome, but we will not kick them out"; the culture of Fest is definitely divided between strong supporters of trans womyn inclusion, strong supporters of the policy, and the majority of Festies, who have a diversity of opinions, but are don't have an intense, strong opinion either way. Every year, we're seeing more and more of the majority of Festies being more supportive of inclusion, likely thanks to a combination of Camp Trans' educational efforts and trans womyn openly attending fest.
We continue to do outreach to Festies, provide a safer space for trans womyn who attend Fest and want to head down the road for a trans-centric space, and provide a trans-centric space that allows, for many of us, the only time in our lives we are in a majority trans space, that incorporates workshops, skill-shares, and trainings on a variety of issues, three nights of performances, parties, and a whole lot of fun. More on what we do.
I thought Camp Trans was a trans-only/trans womyn only space?
No! While the majority of Camp Trans attendees are trans, and a large number of trans womyn attend camp trans, and are heavily involved in organizing, we welcome all people who support trans womyn inclusion at Michfest, a world without transphobia (and without all other forms of oppression), and support trans people in creating a space that centers them.
Sounds great, how much does Camp Trans cost?
While Camp Trans certainly costs money to make happen, we only ask that people donate whatever they are able, the majority of donations are anonymous, and we encourage all to attend, regardless of financial means. We have fundraising efforts throughout the year to make Camp Trans happen, along with two vegan meals a day for all attendees, without expecting people to contribute any set amount.
Sounds great, when is Camp Trans?
Camp Trans runs from August 1st through 7th. Setup, which we encourage all who are able to to make it to, is July 31st, and tear down, which we encourage all who can stay to help with to stay for, is August 8th. While the whole week is great, and we'd love to see you the entire time, Monday is when we walk the line of cars waiting to get into Michfest, and our parties and performances build through out the week - with a party Wednesday night, performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and a rally on Saturday.
Sounds great, how do I get to Camp Trans?
Camp Trans occurs near Hart, MI, please email camptrans2010 at gmail dot com for specific instructions. I would encourage you to check the rideboard for other people who are coming from your area or passing through, both to save money on gas, have a better roadtrip, and also for environmental reasons. The closest airport is Grand Rapids, and please email in advance so we can have someone pick you up. The closest Greyhound station is in Muskegon, MI, so, again, please email us with your travel plans in advance, so we can arrange to have someone pick you up.
Sounds great, I'd like to help with Camp Trans!
And we're excited about you attending and helping! We ask that all attendees do one workshift a day (such as welcoming new arrivals, helping with food prep, or helping with food cleanup). If you're interested in doing a workshop, please see the call for workshops on the Camp Trans website - and don't worry if you don't have a proposal ready by the deadline, each year, many workshops are put together at Camp, and that's something we not only facilitate, but welcome. If there's any other way you'd like to help between now and Camp, inquire on the forums!
What was that website again?
The Camp Trans website.
There's myself and several other longterm Camp Trans campers in this community, so this would be an excellent space to ask questions about Camp Trans.
Hi, I'm gayge, and I'm a longtime Camp Trans camper and organizer. I've been attending Camp since 2006, and have helped make Camp happen between summers since after that Camp Trans. I thought it would be good to a) let people know about Camp Trans, the current stance of Camp Trans, the current policies of Michigan Womyn's Music Festival b) give some basic info about Camp Trans c) provide a space for people to ask questions about Camp Trans.
The space for information about Camp Trans, announcements, contact information, and the forums: the Camp Trans website
And now for the questions I frequently see asked, and my answers.
Sounds great, so, what's the deal with Camp Trans and Michfest anyway?
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival is the largest womyn's music festival in the world, and it maintains a trans misogynistic policy of exclusion of trans womyn, and an overall transphobic stance of all trans people "really" being the sex they were coercively assigned at birth.
In 1991, Michfest kicked Nancy Burkholder out for disclosing her trans status. In 1992, womyn at Fest had an educational table, and in 1993, Nancy Burkholder and other trans womyn tried to go back to Fest, were kicked out again, and did educational work in the clearing across the road. In 1994, Camp Trans was born, and occurred again in 1999, and again in years after that. There have been several large organizational shifts, and Camp is also a space that recreates itself every year. More on Camp Trans history
In 2006, Lorraine, an out trans womon, was eventually sold a ticket to Fest. In the press releases from both sides that followed, Fest stated that they were continuing their "Womon-born-Womon" policy, and that trans womyn who attended fest were thus "violating womyn's space". So, the status quo is an official "trans womyn are not welcome, but we will not kick them out"; the culture of Fest is definitely divided between strong supporters of trans womyn inclusion, strong supporters of the policy, and the majority of Festies, who have a diversity of opinions, but are don't have an intense, strong opinion either way. Every year, we're seeing more and more of the majority of Festies being more supportive of inclusion, likely thanks to a combination of Camp Trans' educational efforts and trans womyn openly attending fest.
We continue to do outreach to Festies, provide a safer space for trans womyn who attend Fest and want to head down the road for a trans-centric space, and provide a trans-centric space that allows, for many of us, the only time in our lives we are in a majority trans space, that incorporates workshops, skill-shares, and trainings on a variety of issues, three nights of performances, parties, and a whole lot of fun. More on what we do.
I thought Camp Trans was a trans-only/trans womyn only space?
No! While the majority of Camp Trans attendees are trans, and a large number of trans womyn attend camp trans, and are heavily involved in organizing, we welcome all people who support trans womyn inclusion at Michfest, a world without transphobia (and without all other forms of oppression), and support trans people in creating a space that centers them.
Sounds great, how much does Camp Trans cost?
While Camp Trans certainly costs money to make happen, we only ask that people donate whatever they are able, the majority of donations are anonymous, and we encourage all to attend, regardless of financial means. We have fundraising efforts throughout the year to make Camp Trans happen, along with two vegan meals a day for all attendees, without expecting people to contribute any set amount.
Sounds great, when is Camp Trans?
Camp Trans runs from August 1st through 7th. Setup, which we encourage all who are able to to make it to, is July 31st, and tear down, which we encourage all who can stay to help with to stay for, is August 8th. While the whole week is great, and we'd love to see you the entire time, Monday is when we walk the line of cars waiting to get into Michfest, and our parties and performances build through out the week - with a party Wednesday night, performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and a rally on Saturday.
Sounds great, how do I get to Camp Trans?
Camp Trans occurs near Hart, MI, please email camptrans2010 at gmail dot com for specific instructions. I would encourage you to check the rideboard for other people who are coming from your area or passing through, both to save money on gas, have a better roadtrip, and also for environmental reasons. The closest airport is Grand Rapids, and please email in advance so we can have someone pick you up. The closest Greyhound station is in Muskegon, MI, so, again, please email us with your travel plans in advance, so we can arrange to have someone pick you up.
Sounds great, I'd like to help with Camp Trans!
And we're excited about you attending and helping! We ask that all attendees do one workshift a day (such as welcoming new arrivals, helping with food prep, or helping with food cleanup). If you're interested in doing a workshop, please see the call for workshops on the Camp Trans website - and don't worry if you don't have a proposal ready by the deadline, each year, many workshops are put together at Camp, and that's something we not only facilitate, but welcome. If there's any other way you'd like to help between now and Camp, inquire on the forums!
What was that website again?
The Camp Trans website.
There's myself and several other longterm Camp Trans campers in this community, so this would be an excellent space to ask questions about Camp Trans.