By Morgan Miles, Staff Writer

Last weekend, Xavier’s LGBTQ+ Alliance hosted its annual Camp Queer, engaging with the theme “Pieces of the Picture.”

The LGBTQ+ Alliance began hosting Camp Queer in 2019 to build community and to provide queer students a momentary retreat in a safe, LGBTQ+ space.

Tied to the Jesuit value of cura personalis, Camp Queer’s purpose was built on the foundation of caring for the whole person.

The camp is a space where queer students can come together to discuss issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community or relate and share their lived queer experiences.

This year’s Camp Queer attendees stayed in an Airbnb less than a mile away from campus.

The LGBTQ+ Alliance chooses to stay in an Airbnb because of the comfortability it provides, promoting community-building and forming tight-knit connections.

Typically, about 15 students attend, including the executive board free of cost.

LGBTQ+ Alliance President Leo Fowler described the 2024 theme, “Pieces of the Picture,” as the exploration of what it means to be queer and how it is only a portion of who an individual is.

“(The theme) emphasizes that our queer identities interact with our other identities in unique ways that makes each of us who we are,” Fowler said.

Integrating the theme into camp sessions, each member of the executive board plans a workshop that engages with the theme. 

Fowler shared that the workshop he led involved creating tissue paper collages, mimicking the appearance of stained glass. The craft was used to spark reflection and allow attendees to translate their thoughts into a tangible, artistic form.

Other events and activities at Camp Queer included service work, crafts, readings and discussions, as well as community meals and games.

“My favorite part of Camp Queer is the discussions,” Fowler said. “I love being in a space where we can have academic conversations about things like queer theory, discrimination and lived experiences… I don’t often get a space to engage in the same kind of intellectual conversation and debate surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and issues we face.”

Typically, Camp Queer attendees volunteer at Transform Cincinnati which provides gender-affirming clothing for transgender and gender non-conforming youth until the age of 25. However, due to inclement weather, the students were unable to safely do so.

Several speakers talked to the students. Father Torres-Botello, S.J., who joined Bellarmine Chapel last fall, led a reflection the first night. Fowler felt that it was very powerful to connect Bellarmine Chapel to a population historically excluded and ostracized from the church.

“(The connection to Bellarmine) helps remind me especially that there is a place for me at Xavier, and I can explore both my queer and religious identity here,” Fowler said.

Last year, the LGBTQ+ Alliance’s assessment of last year’s Camp Queer attendees provided statistics showing that before and after Camp Queer, attendees’ reported a 27% increase in their sense of belonging. 

This year, 86% of participants reported that they “strongly agree” that they have a greater understanding of their identities after attending. 

Additionally, 100% of attendees reported that they believe Camp Queer is a valuable experience for LGBTQ+ students at Xavier.

Students interested in attending should look for announcements detailing dates of the retreat and application deadlines near the beginning of the 2025 spring semester as Camp Queer takes place annually every spring. 

This information is communicated at LGBTQ+ Alliance’s general body meetings and through their email communications.