Jun 9, 2025
The Stephens Family YMCA in Champaign, Illinois, has drawn controversy with its announcement of “Camp Kaleidoscope,” a summer program designed for LGBTQ+ youth and children from LGBTQ+ families. Targeting kids as young as seven, the camp is promoted as a “safe space” where participants can express themselves freely while engaging in character-building activities. Scheduled in two sessions—one for grades 2–5 and another for grades 6–9—the camp will include outdoor exploration and indoor recreation, hosted at a private residential site. The YMCA is partnering with Uniting Pride of Champaign County, an advocacy group known for distributing gender-affirming items such as chest binders and tucking garments, as well as transgender-themed children’s literature, which has raised eyebrows among some parents and faith-based observers.
Critics argue that this partnership, and the camp’s focus on gender and sexual identity, contradicts the YMCA’s mission of upholding Christian values. According to Blaze Media, the organization's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies—such as permitting facility access based on self-identified gender—stand in contrast to its Christian-rooted mission of promoting a healthy spirit, mind, and body. The American Parents Coalition voiced strong concern, warning that prioritizing gender ideology over child well-being should alarm any parent. Executive Director Alleigh Marré stressed that summer camps should foster friendship and life skills, not ideological messaging. As of now, the Stephens Family YMCA has not commented publicly on the criticism.
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SOURCE: The Blaze