Camp Indigo for ‘trans kids’ bars ‘cis,’ gay teens from summer program

The summer camp called "Camp Indigo," which markets itself as "Trans Joy Every Day," is limited to transgender and non-binary youth between the ages of 5 and 17.

All campers and employees must be transgender or identify as non-binary, according to its website. The only way so-called "cis" kids can go, or kids who do not feel like they were born in the wrong body, is if their "trans" siblings want them there.

The locations of the camp include Akron, Ohio; Oakland, California; Austin, Texas; and Boulder, Colorado.

The description of the camp on its website reads: "Camp Indigo allows you to be a kid."

"Camp Indigo follows a structured model of learning and play. Kids (ages 5-11) are grouped by age and rotate into art, science, movement and play-based 'classes.' We're a social camp so campers can interact and connect across age groups at morning welcome, lunch-time, and during all-camp activities!"

"We run a 'campy camp' - which means that it's loud, silly, and sticky. We sing songs, play hard, and do all we can to create a community of joy. Do we talk about gender? Sometimes. But mostly we're a space for trans youth, where gender is part of us - not all of us."

The camp bars straight children, otherwise known as "cisgender," from attending. However, a cisgender child can attend the camp as long as they are the sibling of a transgender camper. This exception applies only in the under age 12 group.

The transgender campers must also approve the participation of a cisgender camper.

Camp Indigo also prohibits LGB+ youth from participating in the camp saying on its website, “Camp Indigo is a camp for trans and non-binary youth. We are not an ‘LGBTQ camp.’ So - though we love queer youth, this isn't the right space.”

Individuals have expressed concerns about the camp, specifically surrounding the potential for “grooming” behaviors.

“Sounds a little groomer-ish to me. Doesn’t it sound a little groomer-ish to y’all?” said one user while responding to a post about the camp from Libs of TikTok.

“This is despicable. Children can’t be trans and it’s child abuse to send them to a camp to try and force them to be trans. If we had a real DOJ they’d shut down this camp immediately and prosecute adults running it as well as parents who send their kids there. Unbelievable,” another user said.

“This is straight up discrimination at its finest. They want everything to be inclusive but they are doing the opposite here. This camp shouldn’t even exist. They should not be encouraging kids to partake in this mental illness,” said another.

“Ah yes. State-mandated grooming camps. Nice, I'm sure this isn't sinister at all, and the organizers all have wholesome intentions,” another added.