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Camp Trans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Camp Trans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Camp Trans is an annual demonstration and event held outside the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival by trans
women and their allies to protest the Festival's policy of excluding trans women from attending.
Contents
1 Background
2 History
3 Events of 2006
4 2006 press release controversy and resulting organizational changes
5 Allegations of Violence and Vandalism During 2010 Festivals
6 As of 2012
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
Background
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival has its roots in lesbian-feminist and lesbian-separatist analysis of patriarchy, and
is intended to provide a week-long safe space for attendees to enjoy music created exclusively by women, immerse
themselves in woman's culture and celebrate their womanhood in a safe environment without domination,
oppression or interference by men. Its primary organizers adhere to a belief that a defining quality of womanhood
comes from being born and raised in a female body.[1]
History
Camp Trans was sparked by a 1991 incident in which a woman named Nancy Burkholder was ejected from the
festival after another woman asked her whether she was trans and she refused to answer[2] The festival has
maintained a women-born-women policy since its inception, as evidenced by posters from the first festival in
1975[citation needed]. Each year afterwards a group of women, both trans and cis, protested the exclusion of trans
women from the event. Initially these protests were small and sometimes carried on inside of the camp.[3]
A more organized group of trans women and their allies began camping and holding demonstrations outside the
gate. After a five-year hiatus, Camp Trans returned in 1999, led by transgender activists Riki Ann Wilchins and
Leslie Feinberg, as well as many members of the Boston and Chicago Lesbian Avengers[4] The events of this year
drew attention and controversy, culminating in tensions as a small group of transgender activists were admitted into
the festival to exchange dialogue with organizers and to negotiate a short-lived compromise allowing only postoperative trans women on the festival land.[5]
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In the early 1980s and in 1999, a stealth transgender musician who had transitioned 10 years earlier did perform in
MWMF, and during 1999's Camp Trans event, a number of trans women purchased tickets and were admitted to
MWMF.[6][7] A similar claim of victory was published by Camp Trans that year.[8][9]
Events of 2006
By 2005, activists at Camp Trans and MWMF had become frustrated with the boycott effort and felt that a
combined effort of external and internal activism on the grounds of MWMF might be more effective in securing
inclusion.[10][11]
In 2006, a trans woman organizer of Camp Trans named Lorrraine Donaldson was sold a ticket to the 31st annual
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.[12][13] On Tuesday, August 8, 2006, Donaldson approached the workers at the
front gate of the festival and asked if she could purchase a ticket. She was instructed to read an outdated handout
that was printed by the festival office in 2000 following the controversial events surrounding the Michigan 8
protest.[14] This paper indicated that the festival was still enforcing a policy of exclusion for transsexual women.
When Donaldson pointed out that the document was outdated and asked for a current version from the workers,
they told her that none was available. Donaldson requested that the workers seek up-to-date policy information in
writing from the office and informed them that she would return the next morning. That same day, the newly
organized Yellow Armbands pro-inclusion support group held their first meeting at the Watermelon Tree in the
common dining area of the festival.
On the morning of Wednesday, August 9, Donaldson again approached the box office workers near the front gate
and asked to purchase a ticket.[15] She was met at the gate by three members of the Yellow Armbands and one
organizer of Camp Trans, all of whom witnessed Donaldson disclosing her trans status to the box office manager,
before being sold a ticket and given an orange wristband that designated her as a "festie". Donaldson attended the
festival for the remainder of the week and participated at a trans inclusion workshop that was presented by trans
woman Emilia Lombardi, who was also an organizer with Camp Trans and who was sold a ticket to the festival on
Friday, August 11, as well. The workshop was listed as part of the official festival program and both Donaldson
and Lombardi were open about being trans women at the workshop that was attended by over 50 people.[16]
Donaldson and Lombardi also continued to join the Yellow Armbands mealtime gatherings, where they were met
with support from festies and workers. The conclusion of the 2006 festivals in Hart, Michigan was marked with
noted optimism and collaborative spirit between Camp Trans constituents and their pro-inclusion supporters at
MWMF, as was noted immediately by members of the community and media.[17] A camper also captured the
good news as it was presented onstage by a Camp Trans committee member and later posted it on YouTube.[18]
2006 press release controversy and resulting organizational changes
Following the 2006 festival, a small group of Camp Trans organizers issued a press release that stated that the
MWMF had "ended its policy of exclusion." [19] A disagreement ensued within the Camp Trans and Yellow
Armbands organizations over whether or not this press release was ethical due to issues of transparency and
consent.[20][21][22]
Camp Trans argued that the press release was a deliberate and necessary tactic designed to bait Vogel into
responding with a transphobic press release which would make the parameters of the "wbw-policy" officially
known. Supporters of this tactic felt that because Vogel hadn't given the Camp Trans organization permission to
republish the letter, nor was the policy (or what Vogel referred to as an "intention") available in writing on the
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MichFest website or elsewhere, that this was the only way that Camp Trans could ostensibly prove that the policy
actually existed. Others felt that the motivation behind the press release was nebulous and not supportive or
inclusive of Donaldson or others who were involved in the positive developments that occurred in the summer of
2006. They also believed that the press release caused unnecessary conflict between inclusion activists and the
festival office and they preferred to focus on the larger community who were clearly supportive of trans women
attending in 2006. Regardless, Vogel did in fact issue a response where she stated again that the festival is intended
for women-born-women, and that they hope and expect trans women to respect that intention.[23] Following the
press release fallout, Donaldson resigned from Camp Trans and joined the Yellow Armbands as an
organizer.[24][25]
In 2007, the Yellow Armbands blog was frozen by an organizer who resigned from the activism due to lingering
issues regarding lack of transparency in the inclusion movement.[26][27] Other activists also resigned over concerns
that Camp Trans was privileging the voices of trans men over trans women in their organization. The remaining
inclusion activists at Yellow Armbands created a new online community and blog and renamed their organization
Fest For All Womyn.[28]
Donaldson returned to MWMF in 2007 with the newly renamed Fest For All Womyn/Yellow Armbands and
camped in The Twilight Zone area of the festival along with other trans women and female assigned at birth
inclusion supporters.[29][30]
2007 was also a landmark year for Camp Trans, because for the first time in their 16-year history, they held
elections for their organizational positions.[31][32] Camp Trans organizers celebrated this as a positive step in the
right direction when the majority of elected positions were filled by trans women.
Allegations of Violence and Vandalism During 2010 Festivals
According to an online news site, Anarchist News, there were several incidents of violence and vandalism during
the 2010 festivals.[33] A printed version of the statements found at Anarchist News, as well as further details
regarding the incidents was first published by Pink and Black Attack in early September 2010.[34] A confrontation
ensued between attendees of Camp Trans and a tow-truck driver near the gates of MichFest during a reading of
the history of Camp Trans.[35]
In the Pink and Black #6 zine issue, the publishers included the following description of the vandalism left at one of
the Michigan kitchens:
"August 7. Hart , MI: Vandalism at Michfest This year at MichFest, the words “Real Womyn Have Cocks”
were painted on the MichFest kitchen and other damage was allegedly done to MichFest property. A flyer was
distributed with the following text: 'Second-Wave ‘Feminists’, A hot load from my monstrous tranny-cock
embodies womanhood more than the pieces of menstral (sic) art your transphobic cunts could ever hope to create.
Love, Womyn-born-Monsters"
Despite these unofficial statements, neither the MichFest office nor the Camp Trans organization has confirmed the
veracity of these accounts, nor whether the vandalism occurred at the worker or main kitchen. Although workshops
were allegedly held to resolve the matter, no one has specified whether or not Lisa Vogel made an official response.
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A thread from the MichFest bulletin board created on August 9, 2011 contains statements from numerous long time
MichFest attendees and workers, who confirmed that trans women attended the festival in 2011.[36] There has
been no comment from Camp Trans in regards to their attendance or participation in the 2011 festival.
As of 2012
Camp Trans doesn't exist.[citation needed] There have been groups created "on the land" like Trans Women Belong
Here (http://transwomenbelonghere.blogspot.com/), for support, care, and acquiring a "safe space" within
MichFest.
See also
Transphobia
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
List of transgender-related topics
Lesbian Avengers
Sexism
References
1. ^ From MWMF Festival Program (Lisa Vogel, August 2005) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57431453/FestivalProgram-MWMF-Mission-Statement-Timeline-August-2005)
2. ^ "Trouble in Utopia" (http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-09-12/columns/trouble-in-utopia/). The Village Voice. 12
September 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
3. ^ To: Women Concerned About Transsexual Oppression (April 28, 1993)
(http://groups.google.com/group/soc.motss/msg/4d6c5aa745d61e87?output=gplain)
4. ^ "Camp Trans History" (http://www.camp-trans.org/pages/ct-history.html). Camp Trans. Retrieved 10 January
2009.
5. ^ Son of Camp Trans Press Release: Protest Called For Women's Music Festival Discriminatory Policy Still In
Effect (June 26, 1999)[1] (http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/queerlaw-edit/msg03071.html)
6. ^ A Handbook on Discussing The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival For Trans Activists and Allies (Koyama, Emi:
Portland: Confluere, 2003: 28-36)
(http://web.archive.org/web/20081002092021/http://www.confluere.com/store/pdf-zn/mich-handbook.pdf)
7. ^ Active link for Koyama 2003 handbook (http://intermargins.net/repression/deviant/transgender/trans_book/michhandbook.pdf)
8. ^ Son of Camp Trans Press Release: Protest Called For Women's Music Festival Discriminatory Policy Still In
Effect (June 26, 1999) [2] (http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/queerlaw-edit/msg03071.html)
9. ^ Camp Trans Needs Us! (August 26, 2006) (http://community.livejournal.com/wbw_is_bullshit/7865.html)
10. ^ Camp Trans Festival Program (August 2005) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57432037/Festival-Program-CampTrans-Information-August-2005)
11. ^ Camp Trans & Yellow Armbands Info. Sheet (August 2005) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57434110/CampTrans-Trans-Inclusion-Festival-Attendee-Info-Sheet-August-2005)
12. ^ Camp Trans Festival Program (August 2006) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/58594439/Festival-Program-CampTrans-August-2006)
13. ^ Is The Michigan Debate Over? (July 2007) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57420131/News-Is-the-MichiganDebate-Over-Curve-Magazine-07-2007)
14. ^ 'Michigan Eight' Evicted Over Festival's New 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (August 12, 2000) [3]
(http://eminism.org/michigan/20000812-camptrans.txt)
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15. ^ Curve Magazine – Is The Michigan Debate Over? (July 2007) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57420131/News-Isthe-Michigan-Debate-Over-Curve-Magazine-07-2007)
16. ^ From MWMF 2006 festival program (Lisa Vogel, August 2006) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57433853/FestivalProgram-MWMF-featuring-Trans-Inclusion-Discussion-August-2006)
17. ^ Dykes To Watch Out For (09-19-06) (http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/episode-495)
18. ^ Camp Trans - Saturday Night Video Speech (August 19, 2006) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=KtJ_syB5Gq4)
19. ^ Is The Michigan Debate Over? (July 2007) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57420131/News-Is-the-MichiganDebate-Over-Curve-Magazine-07-2007)
20. ^ Let's Everybody Take A Deep Breath (September 20, 2006)
(http://community.livejournal.com/camptrans/18945.html)
21. ^ Lorraine Donaldson and Lina Corvus Conversation (September 18, 2006)
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/57421336/Email-Lina-Corvus-Conversation-with-Lorraine-Donaldson-on-AOL-IMregarding-fall-out-from-2006-press-releases-09-18-06)
22. ^ Hard Questions (04-08-07) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57429484/Blog-Former-organizer-of-Camp-TransSean-admits-no-elections-occurred-at-Camp-Trans-prior-to-2007-04-08-07)
23. ^ MWMF Press Release: Michigan Womyn's Music Festival Sets The Record Straight (August 22, 2006)
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/57422924/Press-Release-Michigan-Womyn-s-Music-Festival-Sets-The-RecordStraight-08-22-06)
24. ^ Transitioning Organizational Roles (August 25, 2006) (http://community.livejournal.com/camptrans/17743.html)
25. ^ Message In A Bottle (To CT07 Organizers) (September 18, 2006)
(http://community.livejournal.com/camptrans/18668.html)
26. ^ Farewell (May 28, 2007) (http://community.livejournal.com/yellowarmbands/2007/05/28/)
27. ^ dandypants resignation dialog between Yellow Armbands organizers (May 27, 2007)
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/57424801/AOL-IM-Conversation-Dandypants-announces-her-resignation-from-theYellow-Armbands-05-27-07)
28. ^ Fest For All Womyn Community on LiveJournal (http://community.livejournal.com/festforallwomyn/profile)
29. ^ Is The Michigan Debate Over? (July 2007) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57420131/News-Is-the-MichiganDebate-Over-Curve-Magazine-07-2007)
30. ^ On Boycotts (July 23, 2007) (http://community.livejournal.com/festforallwomyn/2927.html#cutid1)
31. ^ Camp Trans 2007 Organization Update (April 16, 2007)
(http://community.livejournal.com/camptrans/20833.html)
32. ^ Hard Questions (04-08-07) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/57429484/Blog-Former-organizer-of-Camp-TransSean-admits-no-elections-occurred-at-Camp-Trans-prior-to-2007-04-08-07)
33. ^ [http://anarchistnews.org/?q=node/11968 Let The Trans Women Speak! Anarchist News Online (August 12,
2010)
34. ^ Pink and Black Attack #6 (September 2, 2010) (http://zinelibrary.info/pink-and-black-attack-6)
35. ^ Let Trans Women Speak: A Response to Camp Trans; Not Yr Sister Press (October 26, 2010)
(http://notyrcisterpress.tumblr.com/post/1408829853/let-trans-women-speak-a-response-to-camp-trans)
36. ^ Many Thanks to The Trans Women Belong Here Group (August 9, 2011)
(http://www.michfest.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7024)
External links
Official Camp Trans site (http://www.camp-trans.org/)
Detailed History of Camp Trans from 1991 to 2000 (http://eminism.org/michigan/faq-protest.html)
Trans Inclusion Archive of MWMF, Camp Trans and The Yellow Armbands (1991-2011)
(http://www.scribd.com/collections/3039294/)
Yellow Armbands Trans-Inclusion Activism Community Blog on Livejournal from 2004 to 2008
(http://community.livejournal.com/yellowarmbands)
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Camp_Trans&oldid=570181205"
Categories: Feminism and transgender topics LGBT history in the United States LGBT in Michigan
LGBT rights movement Michigan culture Protests in the United States Transgender events
Transgender in the United States Transgender rights
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