Soulforce Equality Bus Gets Ready to Ride

According to Soulforce Q, there are over 200 colleges and universities in the United States that have explicit policies that discriminate against GLBT students. Since 2006, Souforce Q, a division of Soulforce, has applied efforts to change this through a program called Equality Ride. Equality ride is a bus trip taken by a group of young adults (ages of 18 to 28) who are GLBT and straight. During the bus trip they visit some of the institutions with the hopes of improving GLBT policies and perceptions.

According to co-director Katie Higgins, “I would hope that we are able to stand on a campus and maybe for the first time be an affirming voice.” On previous Equality Rides, Higgins has heard from several students that she is the first open lesbian they have ever met. Higgins added, “Conversations are happening on these campuses that have never happened before. Our goal is to talk to our peers and try to find a way where … GLBT students can go to school without fear of retribution.”

The group has witnessed changes in perceptions and attitudes towards GLBT students. However, only a few schools have actually changed some of their anti-GLBT policies. One school in particular, Samford University, used to have specific written policies and condemnations of homosexuals, but after the groups visit, the policies have been changed and are the same for GLBT and straight students.

This year’s ride is taking 17 carefully chosen participants, to 15 schools throughout the South from Oct. 2 to Nov. 13. Details of the Equality Ride and it’s mission can be found here.