2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

Here are some final links related to the Equality Ride:

Mississippi Blues - Stephen Krebs

Campus Crusade - Stephen Krebs

Equality Riders with our student hosts from Calvin College

I was arrested today at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI for walking onto the campus to talk about the school's policy that bans openly gay students. Matt Comer (another Equality Rider) and I also brought a new "cornerstone" for the school that referenced a verse from the bible about love and hospitality (Romans 12: 9-16). We spent about 5 hours in jail and were charged with trespassing. Jail wasn't too bad - and, I was actually able to talk to a bunch of prisoners about gay rights! (They were all pretty supportive when I explained what the Equality Ride is). Sometimes you find supporters in usual places! Check out the local news coverage of our visit and the arrest:


http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6410291

Cedarville University in Ohio also welcomed us onto their campus for a full day of activities. I had two great student hosts named Steve and Jordan. We were able to talk to a lot of students and also had breakfast with Chad Thompson, an "ex-gay" author who gave a presentation at the school the day before we were there. Ex-gay therapy is universally condemned as dangerous and harmful by all the major mental health and medical organizations. It was interesting to sit down with Chad and talk to him about things. I read his book on the bus between Massachusetts and Ohio and brought up some of the parts that I found troublesome. He was an interesting and friendly guy...although I think the message that he is spreading (that you can change your sexual orientation through faith in Christ) can be extremely harmful.

Gordon College in Wyndham, Massachusetts invited us onto their campus for two days of activities. On Sunday, April 15 we met faculty and student leaders for a dinner that was followed by a panel discussion in the Gordon Chapel. On Monday, April 16 we spent the morning in the student union talking with students. Although it's located in Massachusetts, the school still takes a conservative stance on many issues, including homosexuality. The visit was encouraging though and one administrator mentioned to me that he believed that it won't be long before the church will move towards embracing monogamous committed gay couples.  We're getting there!



Equality Riders have dinner with student leaders and members of the Gordon administration



A panel discussion was held in the Gordon chapel and was well attended by students

After visiting Messiah College in Grantham, PA we headed to NYC for a fundraiser at the G Lounge on Saturday, April 14. The fundraiser was well attended and the city of New York officially proclaimed the day, "Equality Ride Day".

The administration at Messiah College in Grantham, PA welcomed us onto their campus. We had a great day of conversations with students and faculty that included a breakfast with the President and student government leaders, a panel discussion that was well attended and classroom visits.  "Repent America" was also on Messiah's campus while we were there. They held anti-gay sign and brought a message of hate.  Their presence helped create a very clear contrast between our message of love and affirmation and their message of hate and condemnation. At the end of the day we joined students and openly gay alumni for dinner at a students' home.





Equality Riders arrive at Messiah's campus





The day after our visit to Messiah's campus, we visited a Metropolitan Community Church in central PA for a breakfast before we headed to NYC.

 

Equality Riders and community members prepare to walk to the Patrick Henry campus



Equality Riders stand on the edge of the Patrick Henry campus. There were over 100 police officers "guarding" the Patrick Henry campus.


An article from the Washington Post: 

"Young, Gay Christians, on a Bumpy Bus Ride"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/12/AR2007041202438_pf.html

Tomorrow we have to be on the bus by 7am. We have a 45 minute drive from Winchester, VA to Loudon County where we are having breakfast with a supportive family. We will then visit the campus of Patrick Henry College. PHC has gained a lot of attention for their quick rise in the educational world because of their focus on training young Christian political leaders. Check out this interesting article from the New Yorker:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/06/27/050627fa_fact

Most of the students are Evangelical Christians and home schooled.  Faculty members that don't subscribe to the creationist worldview (that the earth is 6,000 years old) are fired. It is an extremely conservative place, but what is most scary is that its goal is to place graduates in influential government roles, and so far they have been successful. There are more PHC interns in the White House than from any other school.  Since PHC is a conservative Christian school, it isn't surprising that the school has a policy that discriminates against gay people. The Equality Riders are not being allowed on campus and the administration sent letters to all the students parents warning them against talking with us. 

In a showing of Christian hospitality towards PHC, we will be delivering invitations to students welcoming them to come to an off campus dinner. We want to invite any PHC student or staff member who is interested in talking with us to this dinner and are hopeful that some will attend. Supportive community members are also invited!

On Tuesday April 10, Equality Riders visited the campus of Montreat College near Asheville, NC. We were allowed on campus and had a great day of dialogue that included meals with students and presentations.