Soulforce

Soul Force sit-in at the Armed Forces Recruitment Center in Times Square

Soulforce is an interfaith US LGBT civil rights organization whose goal is the nonviolent abolition of religiously motivated and political oppression of lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender people in the United States .

Emergence

The organization was founded in 1998 by the evangelical Reverend and former college professor Mel White . The organization is primarily involved at the interface between LGBT rights and religion. Soulforce confronts certain religious organizations that openly reject or persecute homosexuality with what they believe to be the consequences of their teachings on homosexuality through educational work and nonviolent actions. Civil disobedience is an important approach to organizational work .

Soulforce is headquartered in Lynchburg , while Soulforce Q , the youth section of the organization, is based in Minneapolis . The organization has 23 sections in various cities and states in the United States.

Dissemination and Methods

The aim of the Soulforce, according to its own statements, is the elimination of homophobic ideas by combating the cause: according to the Soulforce, this is religious bigotry , especially the fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible that is widespread in some areas in America . This leads to fierce debates and arguments, which are often reported in the media, Soulforce is discussed in particular in blogs and the internal news of the various organizations and the criticized institutions.

The work of the Soulforce is based on actions of non-violent resistance, based on the ideals shaped by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King . This includes public relations, support campaigns for homosexual people in the various parishes, documentaries and campaigns such as the "Right To Marry Campaign: New York 2008" (campaign for the right to same-sex marriage)

The documentary film For The Bible Tells Me So, produced by Dan Karslake, questions the attitudes of the Christian churches to homosexuality and also mentions the Soulforce organization. The film is the Seattle International Film Festival with the Audience Award for Best Documentary , Audience Award for Best Documentary, excellent.

Equality ride

The Equality Ride, which is carried out by the Soulforce Q, is an essential medium for providing information on the topics of Soulforce. It is based on the Freedom Rides (Engl. Freedom = Freedom) of the 1960s in which drove civil rights activists in buses through the states with segregation and they visited to draw attention to the discrimination of African Americans. During the Equality Ride, various predominantly private Christian fundamentalist colleges and universities are visited in the manner of a tour, during which they accept discrimination against LGBT students or who in the past or their statues supported the discrimination of homosexuals. Important destinations of the tour are also the US military recruitment centers due to the don't ask, don't tell policy of the US military and the military academies , for example demonstrations also took place on the grounds of West Point . On site, the equal riders, the participants of the tour, discuss with students and professors, distribute telephone numbers and organize sit-ins. During the Equality Rides 2006 and 2007, the members were given access to the premises of the selected colleges and universities, where they were also allowed to carry out their actions. Only four colleges refused entry: Regent University , Liberty University , Oral Roberts University, and United States Military Academy . The Equality Ride has now resulted in over 1,000 arrests of activists.

During the Equality Ride 2007 a film crew accompanied the rides, director Dave O'Brien documented the work of the Equality Riders on their university visits. The documentation Equality U of Eyethink Pictures to appear in the course of 2008.

Stations of the Equality Ride 2006

The following colleges and universities were attended in 2006:

stop	date	University	place
1	March 10, 2006	Liberty University	Lynchburg
2	March 13, 2006	Regent University	Virginia Beach
3	March 16, 2006	Lee University	Cleveland
4th	March 18, 2006	Union University	Jackson
5	March 20, 2006	Oral Roberts University	Tulsa
6th	March 23, 2006	Oklahoma Baptist University	Shawnee
7th	March 27, 2006	Abilene Christian University	Abilene
8th	March 29, 2006	Texas A&M University	College station
9	March 31, 2006	CCCU Conference	Dallas
10	April 4, 2006	Biola University	La Mirada
11	April 4, 2006	California Baptist University	Riverside
12	April 5, 2006	Azusa Pacific University	Azusa
13	April 10, 2006	Brigham Young University	Provo
14th	April 13, 2006	Colorado Christian University	Lakewood
15th	April 14, 2006	United States Air Force Academy	Colorado Springs
16	April 17, 2006	North Central University	Minneapolis
17th	April 18, 2006	Bethel University	Arden Hills
18th	April 20, 2006	Wheaton College	Wheaton
19th	April 24, 2006	Eastern University	St. Davids
20th	April 26, 2006	US Military Academy	West Point

Stations of the Equality Ride 2007

In 2007, two buses were on tour from March 1st to April 30th and visited the following colleges and universities:

Bus 1:

stop	date	University	place
1	March 8, 2007	Dordt College	Sioux Center
2	March 12, 2007	Central Bible College	Springfield
3	March 14, 2007	Oklahoma Baptist University	Shawnee
4th	March 19, 2007	Baylor University	Waco
5	March 22, 2007	Mississippi College	Clinton
6th	March 26, 2007	Union University	Jackson
7th	March 28, 2007	University of the Cumberlands	Williamsburg
8th	March 30, 2007	Samford University	Birmingham
9	April 2, 2007	Covenant College	Lookout Mountain
10	April 4, 2007	Bob Jones University	Greenville
11	April 10, 2007	Montreat College	Montreat
12	April 12, 2007	Patrick Henry College	Purcellville
13	April 13, 2007	Messiah College	Grantham
14th	April 16, 2007	Gordon College	Wenham
15th	April 19, 2007	Cedarville University	Cedarville
16	April 23, 2007	Cornerstone University	Grand Rapids
17th	April 24, 2007	Calvin College	Grand Rapids
18th	April 26, 2007	Bethany Lutheran College	Mankato

Bus 2:

stop	date	University	place
1	March 8, 2007	University of Notre Dame	Notre Dame
2	March 12, 2007	Wisconsin Lutheran College	Milwaukee
3	March 15, 2007	MidAmerica Nazarene University	Olathe
4th	March 21, 2007	Brigham Young University	Provo
5	March 26, 2007	Pepperdine University	Malibu
6th	April 1, 2007	Fresno Pacific University	Fresno
7th	April 5, 2007	George Fox University	Newberg
8th	April 11, 2007	Seattle Pacific University	Seattle
9	April 11, 2007	Northwest University	Kirkland
10	April 13, 2007	Northwest Nazarene University	Nampa
11	April 16, 2007	Brigham Young University-Idaho	Rexburg
12	April 19, 2007	Yellowstone Baptist College	Billings
13	April 23, 2007	Trinity Bible College	Ellendale
14th	April 25, 2007	Northwestern College	St. Paul
15th	April 26, 2007	Bethany Lutheran College	Mankato

Web links

• Official website (English)
• Website Soulforce Q Equality Ride (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Alicia Ebaugh: " Gay, lesbian group harassed in Sioux Center " published in the Sioux City Journal on March 9, 2007 (English)
2. ↑ Kendel Murrant: " Bus tour targets NNU policy " appeared in the Idaho Press-Tribune on April 13, 2007  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English)  
3. ↑ Website of the Convenant College: Reaction of the Convenant College to the announced visit of the Equality Rides ( Memento of the original of December 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English) 
4. ↑ cf. Press review of the Soulforce Equality Ride 2007 ( memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English) 
5. ↑ cf. Documentation of the " Right To Marry Campaign " 2007
6. ↑ uk.rottentomatoes.com accessed on February 16, 2008 (English)
7. ↑ Document collection of the Freedom Rides ( Memento of the original from October 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (engl.) 
8. ↑ Website of the film Equality U (English)
9. ↑ Equality U in the Internet Movie Database (English)
10. ↑ Soulforce 976 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
11. ↑ Soulforce 979 ( Memento of the original dated December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
12. ↑ Soulforce 942 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
13. ↑ Soulforce 980 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
14. ↑ Soulforce 940 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
15. ↑ Soulforce 956 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
16. ↑ Soulforce 987 ( Memento of the original dated December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
17. ↑ Soulforce 993 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
18. ↑ Soulforce 921 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
19. ↑ Soulforce 982 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
20. ↑ Soulforce 984 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
21. ↑ Soulforce 960 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
22. ↑ Soulforce 938 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
23. ↑ Soulforce 962 ( Memento of the original from March 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
24. ↑ Soulforce 990 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
25. ↑ Soulforce 920 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
26. ↑ Soulforce 985 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
27. ↑ Soulforce 997 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
28. ↑ Soulforce 988 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
29. ↑ Soulforce 995 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
30. ↑ Soulforce 939 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
31. ↑ Soulforce 936 ( Memento of the original dated February 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
32. ↑ Soulforce 969 ( Memento of the original dated December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
33. ↑ Soulforce 926 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
34. ↑ Soulforce 927 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
35. ↑ Soulforce 949 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
36. ↑ Soulforce 941 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
37. ↑ Soulforce 967 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
38. ↑ Soulforce 936 ( Memento of the original dated February 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
39. ↑ Soulforce 964 ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
40. ↑ Soulforce 975 ( Memento of the original dated December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
41. ↑ Soulforce 977 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
42. ↑ Soulforce 997 ( Memento of the original from January 3, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.