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.

Sticks and Stones Break Bones and Words Do Hurt

For some students, September is accompanied by the excitement of returning to campus, No. 2 pencils and binders in hand; nervous about college algebra and pre-World War II American History. For a certain percent of the population, however, there is another reason to be nervous: being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

“The climate for LGBT students varies from campus to campus,” said Ben Cartwright, coordinator of San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Pride Resource Office (PRO). “But I think, in general, there continues to be a kind of anti-gay undertones. Studies have shown that across the board hate crimes in all areas have risen, but I think the main problem is the undertones of hate, the ‘that’s so gay’ comments that go unaddressed by faculty, staff, or allies.”