You can purchase an autographed copy of Anything But Straight by sending a $35 check or money order to:
-------------------------
Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
At military and religious colleges around the nation, bans on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender enrollment force students into closets of fear and self-hate. These bans devalue the life of GLBT people and they slam the door on academic freedom.
The Equality Ride empowers young adults to challenge these college bans. Scheduled to take place in the spring of 2006, the Equality Ride will take 25-30 young adults on a seven-week bus tour to confront numerous religious and/or military colleges that ban the enrollment of GLBT students. At each stop along the journey the members of the Equality Ride will present a powerful case for GLBT equality.
Beginning March 5, 2006, the Soulforce Equality Ride will cross the nation, visiting 19 schools from New York to Los Angeles.
This is GREAT! Having been in college during the 70's and actively participating in anti-war protests, I'm clear that the only way to move our intransient government is to mobilize massive numbers of people to the streets to demand change. The Equality Ride seems to "get it" and I'm excited about the awareness that will follow!
posted by Anonymous, at
2/06/2006 10:40 AM
The Twinky Ride for Freedom sounds great...especially if I got to ride a bus with that hot blond. Damn, that is one fine boy!!!!!
I hope the ride is a big success, but I still dont understand why a glbt person would want to go to a fundo religious school; unless their parents are forcing them too. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
2/06/2006 1:15 PM
This sounds like a great way to get the word out that we do exist and the fundamentalist right cannot silence us anymore. Go for it!
I agree that this is a really smart and useful tool n combating homophobia. Even if wedon;t change minds, we can soften the hatred and dissent among conservatives. Not all of them think alike - and a few have been known to use their brains.
As I Rider on the SoulForce Equality Ride, I have done much pondering as to how I can make a difference. I have come to understand that many LGBT students raised in fundamentalist households do not wish to be a member of our community. They may go through psychotherapy treatments, contemplate suicide, or just live in shame and in hiding. You must remember we are painted as contemporary villains by much of the fundamentalist religious community. My purpose in giving of my time and efforts to the Equality Ride is to be a visible affirmation for those LGBT students who are constantly bombarded by negative images of our community. I am devoting two months of my time to let them know that it is possible to be happy and healthy and most importantly accepted and loved as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. I recognize that everyone cannot have as easy a time coming out and accepting themselves as I have found in my supportive community, and I am determined to use this privilege to affirm others in the LGBT community who have not found the support they need from their families, their friends, and their religion. Please visit our website at www.equalityride.com/jacobneal to find out more about me and the ride.
posted by Jacob Neal, at
2/06/2006 1:52 PM
Questioning why a GLBT student would go to one of these schools is a distracting, secondary question. The real issue here is that these schools, in the face of so much research and scholarship, deny the truth about GLBT persons. They are responsible for so much suffering - not just the suffering of their students but the homophobia in society. One should not ask why a gay man would go to BYU but why BYU would expel, coerce, or shame a gay man. Ideally, these schools would not have their discriminatory policies, and that is what we must confront.
posted by havenherrin, at
2/06/2006 2:41 PM
Good for you, Jacob! Good job! :)
posted by Chris L., at
2/06/2006 2:42 PM
This ride sounds like a wonderful idea. Hopefully it will get the attention that it deserves and people all over the country can see the dedication of these riders.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/06/2006 5:13 PM
Thanks for taking note of our Ride-- any and all talk about our Ride helps our cause immediately. I agree with Haven, the question of why a GLBT person would go to a religious school is secondary, but consider this: GLBT people DO go to these schools, and they ARE religious, and they DO get a great education (math, literature, etc.) sometimes on a scholarship that might not have been offered to them from other schools. It is important that those students feel safe and accepted and loved.
posted by Rachel, at
2/06/2006 6:34 PM
I'm all for a good cause and this is a good cause.
This will be another in a long list of incredible undertakings by my cousin, Jake, which will bring awareness to this monumentally important issue. I say, GO JAKE!! I'll be thinking of you, praying for you, and eagerly awaiting news of this next journey. You have had the stength and courage of your convictions that so many others lack. I'm supporting every mile of this Ride, and just like the game we played as kids, I'll "pass it on".
Thanks Wayne for noticing us and the awesome work we are embarking on. All too often the work of young people goes unnoticed. You are just another example of adults who ARE noticing us, saying WOW, and doing what they can to support us. As a Soulforce Equality Rider I greatly appreciate the attention you are giving us. Thanx again, we could not do this without the support of our allies like you.
posted by Tommy Atz, at
2/06/2006 7:58 PM
Keep fighting the good fight!!! I wish you success on the ride.
Wayne, To echo the sentiments of other riders, thank you so much for not only noticing our Ride, but also helping us out by talking about it in your blog and encouraging people to support us.
posted by Jessie, at
2/07/2006 5:11 AM
You are in my prayers every day, Jake-I see your dreams in the eyes of students every day. I know your ride will change hearts and minds. Love, Karen
posted by karen, at
2/07/2006 11:10 AM
Thank you for including us on your page because by supporting the Equality Ride you are truly answering your call from God to do Justice in the world. I truly believe this ride will change the world as we know it. People its time to come together in solidarity and stand for the rights of all people. I am often reminded of Micah 6:8 which says He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. By supporting us on our journeys you are enabling us to respond to our call to duty in the world of spiritual violence and oppression. We live in a world plagued by hate and hurt and pain and it doesn’t have to be that way. The world is much too small for anything but love, with only 6 degrees of separation for you L Word fans.
posted by Angel, at
2/07/2006 11:46 AM
One of the greatest things about this Ride is the trickle-down effect it would have on GLBT rights worldwide. The further one country pushes the envelope, the faster the others have to catch up. Religious right is just about the last frontier for this fight in America - not that everything else is done/won, but that it hasn't really been exposed properly yet - and this ride would do just that. Then the media elsewhere would have to address it and even if they condemn it, they still bring the subject out from the shadows, which in some countries and communities would be a huge step forward! God Bless.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/07/2006 12:57 PM
thank you SO MUCH wayne for supporting this cause! i'm a rider on the bus and am so glad people are finding out about us before we even hit the road! blessings to you and your readers! :)kayla bonewell
posted by kayla bonewell, at
2/07/2006 2:43 PM
Dear Wayne, I really appreciate that you support the Equality Riders. I plan to make an impact on my world; thank you for supporting that.
-David Coleman, Equality Rider
posted by Anonymous, at
2/07/2006 5:42 PM
Heh- suckers - I get to ride the bus with the hot blonde!
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