Jewish summer camp veterans are opening a camp for trans kids. It was filled within weeks.

Shira Berkowitz was building a career in Jewish camping when a camp told them not to return.

“It got around that I was that was queer, and that that wasn’t appropriate for me to be a program director for girls,” Berkowitz said. “And that was really harmful to my identity. I went back in the closet for a few years.”

Berkowitz’s career and personal identity recovered, and they went on to work at Camp Sabra, Missouri’s biggest Jewish overnight camp, which they described as far more accepting.

“But I was also very aware that there was almost no queer staff, except for myself and one or two other people,” Berkowitz said.

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