Summer Camp 2016: Unique And ‘Transformative’ Camp Is A Safe Haven For Transgender Children

A unique summer camp in the United States is catering to transgender children and encouraging them to come out of their shells. Camp You Are You doesn't just involve transgender kids; it also encourages the children's parents to participate in its activities.

Camp You Are You caters to transgender kids with ages between 5 and 12, BuzzFeed reported. Some of the kids have already come out to their communities and have attained full transition to the gender they most identify with. Others, however, have not and are still secretive about their sexual orientations.

The annual "transformative" summer camp offers a four-day experience that includes gender-neutral activities like swimming, workshops for parents, obstacle courses and campfires at night, People listed. Kids and parents alike look forward to the camp's last night, where a main event called "Free to be Me" takes place.

"Free to be Me" is a fashion show that allows transgender children to dress up in the gender they identify with. Some kids describe the fashion show's atmosphere as "magical" and "electric," People reported.

TV Show Based On Camp You Are You

Camp You Are You has become so popular that TLC is making a documentary based on it. "Transgender Kids Camp" airs on June 1 at 9/8CT on TLC.

Director Nicholas Sweeney said he first knew of Camp You Are You when he saw a photo series by Lindsay Morris, who has been taking pictures and documenting the camp for so long now that families involved in it have come forward to share their stories and inspire others with a similar situation. Sweeney attended the camp's four-day schedule, and he got to talk to families during the whole experience, BuzzFeed reported.

Sabrina, who has a 13-year-old transgender daughter named Ryan, spearheaded Camp You Are You after she attended a similar program. According to Sabrina, she is hopeful that TLC's documentary will raise awareness on the issues that transgender children face. She is also hoping that it will convince the society to accept transgender kids.

Anti-LGBT Issues Affect Trans Kids The Most

Despite the efforts made by Camp You Are You and similar organizations to benefit transgender people, the group still suffers from a lack of tolerance in the community. In North Carolina, for instance, a bill called HB2 was signed into law that requires people to use bathrooms that correspond to the sex indicated on their birth certificates.

One to 1.5 percent of the U.S. population is transgender. According to the Huffington Post, the recent issues surrounding the transgender community inspire bigotry, fear and misunderstanding among non-transgender kids. When this happens, bullying and discrimination against transgender children are just a stone's throw away.