For the first time in his life, 17-year-old Alastair Mendoza felt comfortable swimming in public, an experience he often struggled with as a trans youth. At Color Splash Out, a four-day summer camp in Texas open to queer and trans youth, Mendoza kayaked and swam freely, saying, “There was less fear of judgment and anxiety knowing that you were safe around these people.”

Color Splash Out was founded by Yadi Martínez-Reyna, a nonbinary minister, who transformed the camp from an inclusive religious practice into a secular, non-denominational space. Martínez-Reyna said, “I wanted them to come and be themselves and have fun like you would at a regular summer camp, without the barriers of misgendering or feeling embarrassed or ashamed. It’s about creating this space for self-esteem, self-reliance and self-empowerment, things they can take with them.”

Thirteen-year-old Nix Pasivan from Santa Rosa in the Rio Grande Valley highlighted the scarcity of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, stating, “There are not a lot of safe spaces.” After the camp, Pasivan reflected, “What I have to deal with felt a lot lighter, because now I understand more about it.”

Velvet, another camper, shared that after their parent Garza ended a 20-year marriage with Velvet’s father and came out as a lesbian, it set a strong example of bravery for Velvet and their older sister, who also identifies as a lesbian. Velvet quoted Garza saying, “If I’m not brave enough, how are they going to feel safe?”

Camp director Adora Ysaguirre expressed admiration for the campers’ confidence, recalling her first time at camp post-transition: “I remember being intimidated by the confidence these kids had. [Their confidence] is something I still pull from.”

The camp stands out especially in Texas, a state that approved seven anti-trans bills last year, by providing a safe, affirming environment where LGBTQ+ youth can play, create, and connect without judgment.

Sources