2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

Reports on the equality riders sit-in at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary are below.

From the website of the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

What is the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride?Homophobia is globally pervasive, and no community or school escapes its reach. In 2006, during the inaugural Equality Ride, participants traveled to nineteen schools and engaged students, faculty, and administrators in conversation about the damaging effects of homophobic doctrine, the false notion that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities are sick and sinful. This year, the journey continues with fifty young adults going to thirty-two Christian colleges and universities. Two buses are taking the group on two distinct routes around the country in creative pursuit of social justice. In doing so, they are empowered to change countless lives. Love liberates the oppressed, redeems the lost, and resurrects the spirit.

Click here to learn how to support the Equality Riders or make a donation.

Homosexual Group to Protest Christian Colleges

Activists object to schools' moral codes.

by Wendy Cloyd, Focus on the Family, February 16, 2007

Gay-activist group Soulforce is organizing protests of Christian colleges because of their codes that forbid sexual immorality.

This is the second year in a row for the so-called "Equality Ride," and this year Soulforce plans to double its efforts. Two busloads of protesters, one for each half of the country, will target 32 Christian colleges and universities.

Brad Lau, vice president for student life at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., which is scheduled for an April 5 protest, said the activists disagree with the university's stand that God intends for sex to be in the context of marriage between one man and one woman. Continue.

More Gay Equality Riders Arrested

(Mankato, Minnesota) At this year's Equality Ride across the country to challenge colleges and schools which bar LGBT students begins to wind down, 10 riders were arrested Friday after they entered the Bethany Lutheran College campus in Mankato.

Young, Gay Christians, On a Bumpy Bus Ride

Even on American highways crowded with giant family cars, buses are still big enough to make a point. For his acid tour in 1964, Ken Kesey had his Merry Pranksters repaint a 1939 school bus in psychedelic colors with brooms. These days buses are plastic-wrapped with their messages, like giant Twinkies on a mission.

The one driving down Route 7 in Virginia yesterday was purplish on one side and orange sunset on the other. In huge letters it said "Social Justice for Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People." On the highway, fellow drivers either honked and waved or threw Coke cans. In Sioux City, Iowa, someone spray-painted the bus with "Fag, God doesn't love you."

Angel Collie, who always sits halfway back in the bus, keeps the route taped above his window, right over the plastic Jesus and souvenir napkin from Whataburger. (Angel prefers to be referred to as "he," although his mother sometimes forgets and reverts to "she," but "I'm patient," Angel says.) The 25 "equality riders" from a group called Soulforce have roughly followed certain routes of the Freedom Riders who battled Southern segregation in the 1960s. Continue.

Mississippi Blues

The Soulforce Equality Ride employs dialogue, courage and one strongly worded letter from the ACLU to overcome fear and prejudice in Clinton, Miss.

For LGBT students and their allies at Mississippi College, fear is a fact of life. The school has an official policy that bans “homosexual activities,” and the conservative atmosphere at the Southern Baptist school in Clinton, Miss. burdens most of its LGBT students with four years of fearful, closeted silence. The harmful impact of this environment isn’t limited to gay students, though. Straight allies, including faculty and students, are scared to voice support for their LGBT friends and peers because it would risk their standing with the administration.

On Thursday, March 22, the East bus of the Soulforce Equality Ride visited Mississippi College in hope of creating a dialogue about the harm that comes from antigay policies and teachings. Our visit marked the first time that a group with an affirming and loving view of LGBT people was heard at MC. The school’s administration made it clear to us that we were not welcome on their campus. Although the administrator I spoke with said that in general he believes in the importance of dialogue, it was clear that the school only liked the exchange of ideas if they could control the perspectives shared. Continue.

Soulforce activists jailed in Texas, threatened with citations in Mississippi

Two weeks into Equality Ride 2—in which 50 young gay and straight activists affiliated with Soulforce are touring the country in two buses with a mission to initiate dialogue at 32 Christian colleges that have policies silencing or excluding LGBT students—participants have been jailed in Waco, Texas, where Riders attempted to visit Baylor University, and have been threatened with citations at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.

Currently, five Equality Riders and one Baylor student are being held in McClennan County Jail in Waco. They were arrested Tuesday on criminal trespassing charges after writing messages of support for LGBT students in chalk on sidewalks on the Baylor campus. According to a Soulforce press release, bail has been set at $2,000 each. Continue.

Soulforce bus defaced and activists given citations

A group of young LGBT activists headed to Christian campuses nationwide on a mission to open a dialogue about antigay school policies encountered roadblocks during their first day on the tour. One of two buses from Soulforce Q’s Equality Ride was defaced Wednesday night in Sioux Center, Iowa, home of Dordt College. The group on the bus, headed toward campuses in the East, encountered a group of harassers Wednesday night who circled the Equality Riders’ hotel in their vehicles. Haven Herrin, young adult activism codirector for Soulforce, told The Advocate that some of the Riders saw the harassers mooning them from outside the hotel lobby. On Thursday morning the activists discovered their bus covered in antigay graffiti.

“The Riders were not sure whether the people were students or townspeople who defaced the bus,” Herrin said. Continue.

National Tour of Christian Colleges Faces Resistance at Mississippi College, BYU

Echoes of the Past as Mississippi Town Attempts to Restrict Constitutional Rights; ACLU Intervenes Mormons Bar Equality Riders on All Church Property

(Provo, UT and Clinton, MI) -- Two weeks ago, 50 young men and women boarded two buses and set out on a remarkable journey. Their mission: to initiate conversations about faith and sexuality at 32 Christian colleges with policies that silence or exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students. This week, the Riders face their toughest challenges yet as the westbound bus travels to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah and the eastbound bus travels to Mississippi College in Mississippi.

Thus far, the Riders have shared moments of reconciliation, prayer, and connection with conservative Christian students at colleges on two separate routes across the nation, but they have also faced harassment and intimidation. Their bus was defaced with anti-gay slurs in Sioux Center, Iowa and they were met by armed police on the rooftops at Central Bible College in Missouri. Continue

Five Arrested at Mississippi College

Members of Nationwide Journey of Gay and Straight Young Adult Leaders Challenge Anti-gay Policy

Five young adults were arrested today for walking onto the campus of Mississippi College to engage students in dialogue. These individuals, part of the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride, came to speak with students at the university about its discriminatory policy towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and the doctrine that sustains it.

Those arrested were Amy Scott, 22, from Azusa, CA; Katie Higgins, 24, from Charleston, SC; Vince Pancucci, 20, from Merced, CA; Kyle DeVries, 20, from Tallahassee, FL; and Michael Ide, 22, from Picayune, MS, who co-coordinated this visit at Mississippi College. Pancucci and Ide were arrested as they attempted to deliver a posterboard mosaic to the university's statue of Jesus. The posterboard contained pictures of Equality Riders and quoted Mark 9:37, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Continue

Police Harass Traveling Young Adults

Nonviolent Group is Threatened and Intimidated by Officers

As a traveling group of young adults attempted to recollect and depart Clinton, Mississippi, they were stopped three times by police vehicles within less than ten minutes. Their driver was subjected to threatening demands to "get out of town."

In response to this clear act of harassment, the Co-Directors of the tour wrote a letter to the Attorney General of Mississippi that voiced their concerns regarding this maltreatment and stated their intentions to return today.

The young adults are participants of the Soulforce Equality Ride, a 2-month journey to Christian schools to address the suffering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. As their goal is social justice and loving inclusion, they are committed to and trained in the principles of nonviolence as taught by Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Continue

Activists stage seminary sit-in

They protest Mohler's commentary on gays

A dozen gay-rights activists were charged with criminal trespass yesterday after holding a sit-in outside the office of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler to protest his recent comments about homosexuality.

Twenty-two people initially participated in the two-hour sit-in. Ten left when they were warned that they would be arrested if they stayed.

Police arrested the other 12 protesters without incident. They were being processed at Metro Corrections early yesterday evening. Continue.

Soulforce Members Arrested for Second Day at Baptist University

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) _ Police for a second day arrested members of a group protesting Oklahoma Baptist University’s policy toward gays. Six members of the group, Soulforce Equality Riders, were taken into custody last Thursday as they tried to take a tapestry with biblical references and song lyrics to the student union, said Soulforce spokesman Kyle DeVries. Five group members were arrested Wednesday when they tried to enter OBU’s Raley Chapel to attend services. Continue.

Gay Equality Riders Arrested Protesting Gay Gene Pastor

(Louisville, Kentucky) Twelve members of the Soulforce Equality Ride were arrested Monday after staging a sit-in at the office of Albert Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to protest his suggestion that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified.

Soulforce Equality riders are crisscrossing the nation on two buses, stopping at schools that bar openly gay students. They made a side trip Monday to the Sedimentary to protest against Mohler. Continue.

Gays Arrested At Ky. Seminary Sit-In

Members Of Gay Rights Group Arrested After Staging Sit-In At Baptist Seminary In Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Mar. 26, 2007 (AP) Members of a gay rights group were arrested Monday after staging a sit-in at a Baptist seminary whose president is drawing criticism for his comments on prenatal treatments that would influence a child's sexual orientation.

The group, Soulforce, attempted to meet with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's president, the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., an influential evangelical leader. Continue.

Soulforce Members Arrested for Second Day at Baptist University

Loving Us into Extinction

A Baptist leader says we're 'equally made in the image of God.' Yet he usurps God's authority when he advocates eliminating gays

I have fond memories of growing up in my Southern Baptist church in Lexington, Ky. My father was a deacon, my mother taught Sunday school for 14 years, and -- like all good Southern Baptists -- we attended services on Wednesday nights and twice on Sunday. Several of our church leaders graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in nearby Louisville.

As a result, I was horrified -- as all fair-minded Americans should be -- to read the recent comments of Albert Mohler, the current president of that seminary and a board member of Focus on the Family.

In his blog on March 2, Mohler explores the mounting body of scientific research suggesting that sexual orientation is shaped by biological factors. In doing so, he alludes to the Religious Right's slow and reluctant concession that sexual orientation is an innate human characteristic, not a behavioral choice. The argument that homosexuality is simply a behavioral issue is the foundation for the Religious Right's arguments against equal civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. Continue

A Special Message from the Executive Director of Soulforce, Jeff Lutes

It's been a powerful and challenging week for Soulforce and our young adult division (Soulforce Q).

Today, the East bus of the Equality Ride visited Albert Mohler, the current president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention's Council of Seminary Presidents, and board member of Focus on the Family.

In his March 2nd blog, Mohler acknowledged that a mounting body of scientific research suggests that sexual orientation is shaped by biological factors and is not a behavioral choice. However, he went on to say, "If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is developed, and if successful treatment to reverse sexual orientation to heterosexual is developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin." Later he adds, "We can and must insist that no scientific finding can change the basic sinfulness of all homosexual behavior."

Translation: Straight people have a "sexual orientation" ... LGBT people, even in utero, have a "sinful temptation." Continue

12 Arrested Demanding Apology For Comments About Gay Eugenics

Equality Riders Arrested for Sit-in Outside of Albert Mohler's Office at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Mohler Refuses to Respond

Louisville, KY, Monday March 26, 2007--Today, 12 young adults were arrested for conducting a sit-in outside of the office of Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). In light of recent inflammatory comments by Albert Mohler, leaders of the Equality Ride eastbound bus decided to reroute temporarily in order to demand an apology for his remarks. Earlier this year, Mohler encouraged the intentional prevention of homosexuality. In comments on his blog, Mohler wrote, "If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin."

Twenty-two Equality Riders sat in Norton Hall at SBTS awaiting a response from Mohler. After about 75 minutes, the Vice President of Communications listened to a statement read by Jarrett Lucas, Co-Director of the Equality Ride. Afterwards, the administrator informed the group that Mohler was unwilling to meet with them or speak with them via telephone. Continue

Soulforce protests at Southern Seminary

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Twelve members of Soulforce, a group of homosexual activists, were arrested during a two-hour sit-in outside the office of R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, March 26.

The surprise protest was in response to comments Mohler made in a March 2 weblog entry about the possibility of prenatal testing and treatment for homosexuality.

Soulforce is in the midst of a second nationwide Equality Ride, in which about 50 of its members split up on two buses to travel on an east route and a west route visiting more than 30 Christian colleges and universities in a two-month period. Continue.

The 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

From the website of the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

Homosexual Group to Protest Christian Colleges

Activists object to schools' moral codes.

More Gay Equality Riders Arrested

Young, Gay Christians, On a Bumpy Bus Ride

Mississippi Blues

The Soulforce Equality Ride employs dialogue, courage and one strongly worded letter from the ACLU to overcome fear and prejudice in Clinton, Miss.

Soulforce activists jailed in Texas, threatened with citations in Mississippi

Soulforce bus defaced and activists given citations

National Tour of Christian Colleges Faces Resistance at Mississippi College, BYU

Echoes of the Past as Mississippi Town Attempts to Restrict Constitutional Rights; ACLU Intervenes Mormons Bar Equality Riders on All Church Property

Five Arrested at Mississippi College

Members of Nationwide Journey of Gay and Straight Young Adult Leaders Challenge Anti-gay Policy

Police Harass Traveling Young Adults

Nonviolent Group is Threatened and Intimidated by Officers

Activists stage seminary sit-in

They protest Mohler's commentary on gays

Soulforce Members Arrested for Second Day at Baptist University

Gay Equality Riders Arrested Protesting Gay Gene Pastor

Gays Arrested At Ky. Seminary Sit-In

Members Of Gay Rights Group Arrested After Staging Sit-In At Baptist Seminary In Kentucky

Soulforce Members Arrested for Second Day at Baptist University

Loving Us into Extinction

A Baptist leader says we're 'equally made in the image of God.' Yet he usurps God's authority when he advocates eliminating gays

A Special Message from the Executive Director of Soulforce, Jeff Lutes

12 Arrested Demanding Apology For Comments About Gay Eugenics

Equality Riders Arrested for Sit-in Outside of Albert Mohler's Office at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Mohler Refuses to Respond

Soulforce protests at Southern Seminary