[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        TRIBUTE TO STEVE ELKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
life of Steve Elkins, a civil rights pioneer, an advocate for our 
state's LGBTQ community, and a decades-long fighter for hope and 
inclusivity for all Delaware families.
   In 1991, Steve co-founded Create a More Positive Rehoboth, more 
commonly known as CAMP Rehoboth, to counteract anti-LGBTQ 
discrimination by bringing neighbors together and building bridges of 
compassion and understanding between people of all backgrounds. The 
non-profit, which began as a humble newsletter, evolved into a 
sprawling community center on Baltimore Avenue with numerous community 
programs, including screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, 
mental health counseling, and cultural sensitivity training for city 
and park police. For over 25 years, Steve and the CAMP Rehoboth family 
helped thousands by breaking down barriers and providing much-needed 
community support services to Delaware's LGBTQ community.
   Alongside his partner of 40 years, Murray Archibald, the pair 
pressed for marriage equality, supported HIV/AIDs research, and 
championed the right to live and love freely. On Steve's birthday, July 
2, 2009, he took part in history as then-Governor Jack Markell signed 
Senate Bill 121, which outlawed discrimination based on sexual 
orientation at the CAMP Rehoboth Center, a nod to the far-reaching 
impact of the center and Steve's life work. Steve and Murray were also 
an integral part of ushering in a new era of equality for the LGBTQ 
community as Delaware became the 11th state to legalize same-sex 
marriage in 2013.
   We are heartbroken by the loss of a devoted advocate and unwavering 
voice for inclusion, love, and respect. He fought an aggressive form of 
lymphoma with the same bravery he fought for the rights of so many in 
our great state. Steve will be remembered for his commitment to justice 
and equality for all, his decades of service and advocacy for 
Delaware's LGBTQ community, and the joy he brought to the lives of so 
many. Steve was a positive force for good, and the kind of friend who 
could put a smile on your face even in the darkest of times. I will 
remember him for his loving and uplifting spirit and will do my part to 
ensure his legacy lives on.

                          ____________________