{"id":125,"date":"2019-11-05T14:36:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T22:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csl.org\/teencamp\/?page_id=125"},"modified":"2024-08-21T10:48:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T18:48:45","slug":"inclusion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/csl.org\/teencamp\/about-us\/inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gender Inclusion\/LGBTQ Policies and Practices at Centers for Spiritual Living Youth Camps<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Centers for Spiritual Living (\u201cCSL\u201d) is wholeheartedly committed to adopting robust standards of inclusiveness, understanding, and equitable treatment of all staff and campers attending CSL Youth Camps, and to creating an atmosphere at camp where individuals and communities of diverse sexuality and gender identity and expression are safe, supported, respected, empowered and truly equal. CSL is inclusive and welcoming of all forms of diversity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

CSL prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. CSL Youth Camps do not discriminate against individuals (including youth campers, adult volunteers and staff members) on any of these bases.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This document was developed to provide guidance for youth campers, adult volunteers and staff members attending CSL Youth Camps, and for their parents where appropriate, as to how CSL implements its gender inclusion and LGBTQ policies and practices at camp and to answer frequently asked questions about them. As you read through the questions and answers, please keep in mind that the information is the same for all individuals, whether they are youth campers, adult volunteers or staff members.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

1. What are the differences between sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Sex <\/strong>is a medical term that refers to a combination of physiological attributes. These attributes include a person\u2019s sex and reproductive organs, chromosomes, gonads, hormones, and secondary sex characteristics. Generally, people are assigned male or female sex based upon their anatomical characteristics at birth. It will also be helpful to explain two other terms related to sex: sex assigned at birth <\/strong>and intersex<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Sex assigned at birth\u00a0<\/strong>refers to a person\u2019s sex designation as recorded on their birth certificate. Generally, a medical professional or guardian designates a newborn\u2019s sex either \u201cmale\u201d or \u201cfemale\u201d after examining the infant\u2019s genitalia.<\/p>\n

Intersex\u00a0<\/strong>is a term that refers to a person who has a combination of male and female physiological attributes. Sometimes people are designated intersex at birth after an examination of genitalia; other times, people are designated intersex later in life.<\/p>\n

Gender identity\u00a0<\/strong>refers to a person\u2019s internal sense of their own gender. Everyone has a gender identity. A person\u2019s gender identity may or may not match their sex assigned at birth. Some common gender identities include man, woman, gender neutral, gender fluid, transgender man, transgender woman, and gender non-binary. But people may have other gender identities as well. It will also be helpful to explain two other terms related to gender identity:\u00a0transgender\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0gender transition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Transgender\u00a0<\/strong>is a term that refers to a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. A\u00a0transgender male\u00a0<\/strong>refers to a (delete extra space) person who identifies as male but was assigned female sex at birth. A\u00a0transgender female\u00a0<\/strong>refers to a person who identifies as female but was assigned male sex at birth.<\/p>\n

Gender transition\u00a0<\/strong>refers to a process in which a person asserts the sex that corresponds to their gender identity rather than their sex assigned at birth. A person in gender transition may (or may not) undergo gender transition surgery, alter their dress\/grooming habits, change their name, or use pronouns that are consistent with their gender identity. A person may begin gender transition at any point in their life, and gender transition may happen over a short or extended duration of time.<\/p>\n

Gender expression\u00a0<\/strong>refers to how a person presents their gender to others. This can include how a person dresses, styles their hair, speaks, and many other factors.<\/p>\n

Sexual orientation\u00a0<\/strong>refers to who a person is attracted to. A person who is a\u00a0lesbian\u00a0<\/strong>is a woman who is attracted to women. A person who is\u00a0gay<\/strong>\u00a0is a man who is attracted to men. A person who is\u00a0bisexual\u00a0<\/strong>is a person who is attracted to others of the person\u2019s own gender, and genders different than their own. A person who is\u00a0pansexual\u00a0<\/strong>is a person who is attracted to others regardless of sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. A person who is\u00a0asexual\u00a0<\/strong>is a person who experiences no or little sexual attraction. Although often confused, gender identity and sexual orientation are two distinct and separate aspects of a person\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

2. How do CSL Youth Camps help ensure that campers who identify as transgender and intersex feel comfortable at camp?<\/strong><\/p>\n

CSL Youth Camps present welcoming programs where youth who identify as transgender and intersex feel safe to participate. These are some of the ways that CSL Youth Camps help ensure a great experience for youth who identify as transgender or intersex:<\/p>\n