Soulforce
{{Short description|American social justice group}}
{{other uses}}
Soulforce is a U.S.-based social justice organization that works to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people. The organization's co-executive directors are Alba Onofrio and Yaz Mendez Nuñez.
History
It was founded in 1998 by Gary Nixon{{Cite web|title=Mel & Gary's Story|url=https://melwhite.org/mel-garys-story/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Rev. Dr. Mel White: Clergyman, Author, Activist|language=en-US}} and his husband Mel White,{{Cite web|title=Soulforce: Our Founders|url=https://www.soulforce.org/founders|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-03-01|archive-date=2021-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032551/https://www.soulforce.org/founders}} who was a ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, and others until he came out as a gay man.NPR: [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5522064 Steve Inskeep, "Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell," June 30, 2006], accessed February 29, 2012Charisma Now: [http://www.charismanow.com/index.php/component/content/article/332-news/13071-equality-ride-targets-christian-colleges Michelle Van Loon, "'Equality Ride' Targets Christian Colleges," May 31, 2006], accessed March 9, 2012 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006192857/http://charismanow.com/index.php/component/content/article/332-news/13071-equality-ride-targets-christian-colleges |date=October 6, 2014 }}
Programs
=Equality Ride=
{{Main|Equality Ride}}
Since 2006, Soulforce has supported a project called the Equality Ride. Led by young adults, it targets Christian colleges.{{cite web |url=http://www.soulforce.org/equalityride |title=The Equality Ride |access-date=2014-11-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202021338/http://www.soulforce.org/equalityride |archive-date=2007-02-02 }} In 2007 it was divided into two different trips (eastern and western), each leg visiting 15-20 different colleges. Other rides were launched in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
= GiveBackIX =
=Right to Serve Campaign=
In 2006 Soulforce organized the Right to Serve Campaign, the first nationally organized youth effort to bring attention to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of the United States Armed Forces. Youth in 30 cities across the country were recruited to organize events in which openly lesbian, gay and bisexual youth attempted to enlist in the United States Armed Forces while stating their sexual orientation. Headed by Jacob Reitan and Haven Herrin, it took place in 30 cities from late summer and fall of 2006.MTV News: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070513224221/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?name=news&id=1543154&vid=113324 "Equality Ride: The Right To Serve"], accessed March 9, 2012
In May, in Roseville, a suburb of Minneapolis, two men and a woman tried to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard. One application was rejected immediately and the others put on hold.Washington Post: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061000802.html "Testing the Policy on Gays," June 11, 2006], accessed March 9, 2012 On August 30, in Madison, Wisconsin, an Army recruiter turned away three men, one a college graduate and the others college students.New York Times: [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/us/14gay.html Lizette Alvarez, "Gay Groups Renew Drive Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'," September 14, 2006], accessed March 9, 2012 One of them said: "We're not here as a publicity stunt. I want to serve alongside my fellow Americans. That's why we're here."ABC News: [https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2379096&page=1#.T1p7SXlG12A Eric Hornig, "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ripe for Change?," August 31, 2006], accessed March 9, 2012 Two men turned away by recruiters in Chicago on September 12, 2006, returned the next day and staged a sit-in. A University of Maryland sophomore was turned away when she tried to enlist on September 26.CNN: [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0609/26/pzn.01.html "Paula Zahn Now," September 26, 200-6], accessed March 9, 2012 Other events, some including arrests, occurred in New York; Austin, Texas; and Greensboro, North Carolina.North Carolina Public Radio: [http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/661/510037/6124053/WUNC_6124053.mp3 WUNC and National Public Radio, Greensboro, NC (.mp3 audio news file)], accessed March 9, 2012 In New York City, the recruitment center was closed, but the Right to Serve protesters staged a seven-hour sit-in.
See also
{{Portal|LGBTQ|Christianity}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://soulforce.org/about/who-we-are/
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Soulforce (Organization)}}
Category:Nonviolence organizations based in the United States
Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in the United States