Jewish LGBTQ group hosts talk on sex, summer camp

Canoeing and playing capture the flag aren’t the only things that happen at summer camp ... or so it appears for the members of J-Bagel.

J-Bagel, a student organization that serves “members of the Jewish and/or LGBTQAI community at Penn,” according to its Facebook page, met at Hillel Tuesday night for an event entitled “Sexual Awakenings at Summer Camp.” The discussion centered around sexual discovery at summer camp and in other areas of life.

J-Bagel co-chair and College senior Eliana Yankelev hoped for a fun, open conversation that would be inclusive of the myriad of experiences, acknowledging that sexual discovery can be emotional and unique to each person.

In an interview before the event, she said that she hoped to maintain a light-hearted tone throughout the event.

One participant spoke about her experiences at summer camp, both good and bad, including feeling pressured to engage in sexual behavior.

Other discussion members did not necessarily experience the same kind of pressure at camp. In fact, many in the room did not go to overnight camps at all.

The conversation then moved on to discussing when and how everyone learned about sex. The participants generally agreed that the sex education they received in school was insufficient.

Others in the room learned the most about sex and sexuality through other means: from friends, in books or on the internet.

The discussion came days after the Jewish Renaissance Project hosted their third annual “Let’s Talk About Sex Shabbat,” where Jewish students discussed sex and their faith at individual shabbats around campus.

Overall, J-Bagel’s goal for a lighthearted, open conversation was met. Participants in the discussion shared laughs and stories about growing up, learning about sex and the complications that come with both.

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