When Brighton Coggins landed in Sitka on June 28, his name was Elizabeth.
Coggins was flying from Bethel to Baranof Island to attend the intensive two-week Sitka Fine Arts Camp. This was his first year, and he wasn't sure what to expect.
"When I got there, a counselor asked me if my nametag was right. I had never been out before I came to Sitka. But this was an arts camp. I was like, everyone is weird."
Over the next two weeks, in his vocal and writing classes, faculty switched to using male pronouns. Coggins received a new nametag, this one with the name Brighton. "It was awesome and validating," Coggins said. "This camp is like no other place I've ever been." It's also a place I've taught for several years.
Read the full story:
https://www.adn.com/we-alaskans/article/where-young-alaskans-artistic-dreams-come-true/2015/08/02/
