A Christian youth pastor has apologized for banning bikinis in favor of one-piece bathing suits at his youth summer camp.
Bryce Brewer now realizes it was wrong to put "the weight of purity" on girls while not holding their male counterparts responsible for being "gross."
The 42-year-old from Spokane Valley, Washington took to Facebook to share his very public apology, writing: "So I need to issue an apology (I am using some humor here too).
"I have been a youth pastor on and off for over 20 years, and I have issued the ridiculous ultimatum to my female students at summer camp 'ONE PIECE SWIMSUITS ONLY.' First of all I am sorry. "
Brewer then reeled off five reasons for his heartfelt apology:
- #1 I am sorry that I didn’t teach boys to control themselves
- #2 I am sorry I laid the weight of purity on a girls swimsuit while she was swimming, and not on the boys responsibility to not be gross
- #3 I am sorry to all the girls that frantically searched for an appropriate one piece so that some male youth pastor could deem them appropriate ... story here - I accompanied my fiancé and her daughter as we desperately looked for a cute one piece that would be appropriate for camp ... it was hard and it sucked
- #4 I am sorry that we have deemed a young women’s body as something that “needs to be covered” and let young men’s bodies be ok to be seen
- #5 I am sorry I ever let this be an item of discussion, usually lead by men, at any youth leader meeting ... this must have been awful for my female leaders and students to be part of.
Continuing his lengthy post, he reiterated his apology, stating once again that he is sorry for "subjugating" the female students by enforcing the restrictive dress code on them.
Brewer also expressed regret that because of the now-ousted ban on bikinis, some students were forced to buy a one-piece swimsuit before camp.
He added: "I am sorry if you felt sexualized by us telling you to cover up. I am sorry I didn’t teach boys to be men and laid that responsibility on young women."
The pastor concluded: "Female students - Wear a swimsuit that lets you have fun.
Male students - stop being disgusting and control yourself. Youth pastors (male especially) - stop being chauvinist and making female students feel bad for having breasts."
