Country Christmas @ Camp Kinkora is in its third year and will again be an innovative project that will be realized through the invlovement of partnerships between all community organiztions working in the AIDS milieu. Mosaik is dedicated to enhancing the quality of lives of people living with HIV/AIDS through social and artisitc events, and Country Christmas @ Camp Kinkora remains to be an experience by all those involved: the volunteers and clients who will return, and the new ones coming aboard.
Gayle S. Rubin wrote in Thinking Sex: Notes from a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality that families play a crucial role in enforcing....conformity. Much social pressure is brought to bear to deny erotic dissidents the comforts and resources that families provide...many families respond by trying to reform, punish or exile...offending members. Many...migrants have been thrown out by their families, and many others are fleeing from the threat of institionalization. Any random collection of homosexuals, sex workers, or miscellaneous perverts can provide heart-stopping stories of rejection and mistreatment by horrified families. Christmas is the great family holiday...and consequently it is a time of considerable tension in (not only) the gay community, (but also in the AIDS community). Half the inhibitants go off to their families of origin (even thpough the experience may be stressful); (and) many of those who remain, cannot do so, and relive their anger and grief. (The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, Edited by Henry Abelove, Michele Aina and David M. Halperin. New York: Routledge, 1993) (Parentheses in the above quote are mine)
Over the past two years, Country Christmas @ Camp Kinkora has confirmed that people living with HIV/AIDS are still being ostracized by family and friends and the psychological effects were felt during the Christmas season. Last year, what Mosaik achieved was to offera relaxing week-end where people living with HIV/AIDS would feel a sense of communal spirit, a sense of belonging and living, and an opportunity to meet new friends that qould give them support when they came back to the city.
Mosaik would once again like to re-create this communal atmosphere for those infected with HIV/AIDS. From December 14th to 17th, 2000, we would rent Camp Kinkora to realize this project. Give, that among others, one of the duly constituted objectives of Mosaik is to promote the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, this particular project would once again enhance the lives of many for whom the holiday season represents yet another indication of their isolation from 'mainstream society'. Two years ago, we wrote in our proposal:
Whether this (wa)s due to the process of ostracization or from having a lost loved ones to the ravages of the virus, the participants nonetheless feel themselves alone at a time when others are seemingly sharing goood cheers. The existentialist entailing anguish can lead to serious depressive status and loss of motivation to continue their struggle.
Country Christmas @ Camp Kinkora brought the clients an experience in the magic of sharing. Although 'Christmas Dinners' may be offered by various agencies through the season, Country Christmas @ Camp Kinkora provided the additional benefits of truly sharing community over an extended period of time. Participants benefited from healthful outdoor activities and outings and choose to engage in a variety of seasonal diversions, thus creating their own communal family gathering, as well as increasing their support system.
Gregg Rowe,
Executive Director Mosaik
