Apparently more...

... is going on in Alberta than provincial politics.  It looks like Camp Fyrefly  will be back for another year!  Because the provincial government refuses to grant funding to this leadership camp for queer youth, community members have decided to step in and raise the funds for this uber-important and empowering summer camp.  At a fundraiser last week, the Edmonton queer community raised the $25,000 needed to fund the camp.  Its popularity and success shouldn't really surprise anyone though.  Last summer, Out Traveller named Edmonton  as one of its top five gay-friendly destinations in Canada.  Now, if we could only work on getting another queer bar …

Comments

[eh]

Hey LV, nice post! What is the official provincial government rationale for this lack of funding?

[LV]

I haven't been able to find much information on why the government has refused to grant funding to Camp Fyrefly. Unfortunately, MSM only uses Camp Fyrefly as fodder for "feel-good" pieces that extoll the virtues of this space that allows queer youth to feel 'at home'. Unfortunately, lack of critical analysis on the part of the MSM obscures the REAL question: why there is a need for Camp Fyrefly in the first place (societal homo-and trans- phobia, increased risk of suicide for glbtq youth, physical and emotional violence etc)?

[LV]

I haven't been able to find much information on why the government has refused to grant funding to Camp Fyrefly. Unfortunately, MSM only uses Camp Fyrefly as fodder for "feel-good" pieces that extoll the virtues of this space that allows queer youth to feel 'at home'. Unfortunately, lack of critical analysis on the part of the MSM obscures the REAL questions: why there is a need for Camp Fyrefly in the first place? Why don't glbtq youth feel at home in their schools and with their families? Obviously, some sort of analysis into societal homo-and trans- phobia, the increased risk of suicide for glbtq youth and the intense physical and emotional violence that glbtq youth face is sorely needed.

[Tam]

Well it took a long ass time, but the Alberta government has finally put some funding forward for Camp fYrefly!