At 14-years-old, Le’Laia Brito Diaz brims with creativity, from writing songs about her first crush, to perfecting skateboard tricks. But finding a summer camp that appreciates her talents and her queer identity didn’t go well the last time she tried a program in North Carolina.
“I never fit in anywhere so I just got a little bit bullied there and I just hope for it to not happen again,” said Le’Laia.
Now, with pandemic restrictions lifting, she’s grateful that camps for LGBT youth like Camp lightbulb are resuming in-person programming this year.
“To be welcomed, to not be different, to not feet different, i’m so looking forward to it. I can’t wait to meet everyone,” she said.
Camp Lightbulb offers weekend camps here in the city as well as a traditional sleepaway option in Massachusetts, but it all went virtual last year because of the pandemic. Counselor Josh Kelley says it was tough, but especially on kids.
“There are countless young people who are maybe out at school or with their friends at school but not at home, and that was all ripped away,” said Kelley, who says getting back to camp this year means restoring a vital lifeline.
“I was thinking a lot about what’s special about this summer and it’s that they deserve to return to these communities and to these spaces where they feel safe,” said Kelley.
Le’Laia and her mother agree.
“I don’t want her to be afraid, I want her to be a role model to others too that had been in this same situation so she has all my support” said Christie Diaz, Le’Laia’s mom.
The teenager is looking forward to the support at Camp Lightbulb and to making friends who get her.
“It’s like a really big space for you to express yourself. You can get your ukulele and say ‘guys I wrote this song, wanna hear it?’ and they’re gonna be like ‘yeah let’s hear it’.”
