My second week in D.C. was one of the most tiring yet empowering weeks I have had in awhile. Despite the week flying by, every single day was packed with over eight hours of lectures, discussions, and site-seeing. We visited the Supreme Court, Capitol Hill, and met with Congressmen that had once been in our own shoes. While each of these visits were memorable, my personal favorite was the LGBT+ panel on Wednesday night. After being served Mediterranean food and making the usual introductions, Caminos participated in a two hour long session with four queer Latinx men. They described their experiences growing up in a community that emphasizes ideas such as masculinity and religion, as well as offered advice to everyone in the room, whether an ally or queer themselves. Sitting in a room that was so respectful and attentive overwhelmed me with emotion. Coming from Nashville, despite the growing population of Latinx, I had never been able to experience an atmosphere so welcoming until then. I also had never gotten the chance to talk so personally to other Latinx that identify as queer, and who understood that specific intersectionality so well.
This week with Caminos only solidified my love for the program and the people who run it. While I participate (and lead) in some Latinx clubs/organizations (both in my school and in the larger community), Caminos is unique in which the teachers both respect and sincerely value the input of their students. Earlier in this program students asked to specifically talk about both gender and sexuality. While both needs were met, the manner in which the ladder was met was so genuine, as they were able to add that panel to the syllabus so last minute. I am excited for my final week in D.C. but also scared, as I do not believe I will be as challenged and understood as I was with Caminos anytime soon.
