Bluegrass Pride Makes Space For All
- Kara Martinez Bachman
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
For some people, finding true friends and gaining acceptance is just a little bit harder. According to Bluegrass Pride Vice Chair of the Board Scott Justus, the perennial issue of “fitting in” is even harder for those who identify as LGBTQ+. Bluegrass is known for its ability to bridge social, cultural and demographic divides, but to Justus and the other board members of Bluegrass Pride, people of more diverse backgrounds and identities need a separate place where they can take a deep breath and truly relax.
To that end, the nonprofit Bluegrass Pride is offering its first ever camp for people who have never had a camp to call their own.
“Being able to provide space for our queer and BIPOC community is what we’re all about,” Justus explained.
He uses his own past as a way to explain why there needs to be a special place for those who might feel a little different within the bluegrass world. He said when he once attended a bluegrass camp, he “felt very isolated and alone in that sphere.” While he and the other campers all shared a love for the music, he said he never felt he could truly be himself. He said creating spaces for performers to relax helps them to connect to fellow musicians and enjoy music while at their genuine best. He said the same holds true for the people leading camp sessions: “The instructors get to be themselves as well.”
The Bluegrass Pride summer camp will include instructors who Justus said are “queer or queer allied.” The instructor roster includes bluegrass talents such as Melody Walker and CJ Lewandowski.
The inaugural camp takes place June 21 through 26 in downtown Astoria, Oregon. Complete details and registration information can be found at Bluegrasspride.net.
Justus said the nonprofit started around 2018. Since then, it has focused on providing education, resources, and materials for the bluegrass community. A main goal is to expand the number of Pride jams held around the country. There are a half dozen or so formed already, he said, including the main jam in Nashville. It’s called the 1st Sundays Pickin’ Party and is held at Canvas and led by Melody Walker. Just as it is with the kids’ camp, he said the jams are open to persons who are “queer or queer allies.” Adults – as well as children who are accompanied by an adult – are welcome to register.
He said a jam is where he was first introduced to the organization to which he’d eventually devote time as a member of the board of directors.
“There was a Bluegrass Pride-led jam,” he said. “So I felt comfortable to be myself in that space.”
He joined the board because he felt his skillset would be useful. He said he had lived in the San Francisco Bay area prior and had done nonprofit development for the legendary west coast roots music venue, Freight and Salvage.
Justus said most of the funding for Bluegrass Pride comes from individual donors, but there are various sources of revenue. Support for the first year of camp has come from notable donors, grants, registration, and a list of media sponsors that includes Oregon Public Broadcasting. He said most of the bluegrass organizations on the west coast have shown support by helping spread the word about what Bluegrass Pride is all about.
“The response has just been great,” Justus said.
He added that the need for the new summer camp is best illustrated in the lyrics to a bluegrass tune by Taylor Shuck. It’s called “Closet in Kentucky” and describes the sense of alienation that Justus hopes the new summer camp aims to help ameliorate.
“It really resonates with feeling trapped,” he said, “and surrounded by people you don’t resonate with.” He’s glad to be a part of something that he believes helps people to feel included, and truly “opens doors, opens minds, and opens hearts.”