The Soulforce Equality Ride is preparing for another trip across the country to speak about LGBT equality on college campuses in the spring of 2007.  The route is nearly set, the seats are almost full, and logistics are expanding to double the reach of the activists.

The first-ever Equality Ride took place this past March and April when 33 young queer and straight activists set out to become the first LGBT-affirming voices at 19 universities from California to New York.  These are not, however, the Berkelys and the Harvards of America.  Rather, the young riders went to the most conservative schools in the country – places like the Military Academy at West Point and Brigham Young University – that actually expel students for being gay. 

At most places, the riders were welcomed into forums and discussions presenting an entirely new perspective of LGBT equality.

Two buses will set out from Minneapolis, home of the Soulforce young adult leaders, on separate routes next March, one to the West and one to the East, to visit nearly forty schools.  Along with doubling the size of the Soulforce Equality Ride, diversity has also increased.  There is a broader spectrum of ethnic backgrounds, faith traditions, and sexual and gender expressions.  Due to a large number of eleventh hour applications, the final round of interviews is still taking place. Thus, candidates may still submit their materials for consideration, but time is running out.

The Soulforce Equality Ride was featured on the cover of the Advocate on May 9 of this year and had been covered several times on MTV, Logo.  The journey is just one of the campaigns headed up by young adults at Soulforce (www.soulforce.org) who create opportunities for others aged 18-28 to get involved in the youth-led portion of the social justice movement for LGBT people.  They are also responsible for the Right to Serve campaign (www.righttoserve.org) that took place this fall, challenging ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Campus Pride is a supporter of the Soulforce Equality Ride. Learn about and apply for the Equality Ride by visiting www.equalityride.com, or contact Co-Director Haven Herrin at haven@soulforce.org.