soulforce equality ride announces 2012 riders; one of 15 from harrisonburg
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8/3/2019 Soulforce Equality Ride Announces 2012 Riders; One of 15 from Harrisonburg
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Feb. 17, 2012CONTACT: Heather Cronk, Luna Media Group
[email protected] or 202-812-8140 (cell)
Soulforce Equality Ride Announces 2012 Riders;
One of 15 from Harrisonburg
Fifth Ride of Nationwide Social Justice Bus Tour Selects Riders to Confront LGBTQ Oppression, Organize Community Outreach
HARRISONBURG, VA – Today, Soulfource – a non-profit organization committed to the freedom of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people from political and spiritual oppression – announced this year’s Equality Riders, a team of young activists who will embark on a two-month cross-
county bus tour.
Jason Conner, 27, and J. Mason, 27, will lead the Riders as co-directors during the organization’s fifth
tour from Philadelphia to San Francisco to reach out to communities and confront LGBTQ oppression at
colleges with discriminatory policies. Lauren Cole Parke from Harrisonburg, Va., along with 14 other
advocates, will join Conner and Mason on the 2012 Equality Ride.
Parke is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite
University. After spending years in service to homeless youth, she now hopes to continue working to promote greater understanding of full equality for all people regardless of who they love or how they
identify.
“The God that I know is a God of infinite love – love that embraces and affirms all people, just the way
they are,” said Parke. “For me, the Equality Ride is an opportunity to share that good news with people
who have been told otherwise. As a student at Texas Lutheran University, I was introduced to Gustavo
Gutierrez, one of the founding fathers of the liberation theology movement. Gutierrez argues that God
has a ‘preferential option for the poor,’ and that in order to draw closer to God we must join in thestruggle to liberate the oppressed of our society. In his words, ‘To know God is to work for justice.
There is no other path to reach God.’ It’s a simple but powerful concept that continues to empower and promote justice.”
Over the past month, the Equality Riders trained in nonviolent resistance and community service in preparation of the tour ahead. Soulforce will announce more details on the 2012 Equality Ride in the
coming weeks leading up to the launch on March 4, 2012.
To speak with one of the 2012 Soulforce Equality Riders, please contact Heather Cronk at 202-491-
7240 or [email protected] .
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Soulforce’s purpose is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. For more information, go to
www.equalityride.com or www.soulforce.org. “Like” Soulforce on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/SoulforceOrganization, or follow the organization on Twitter at @soulforceorg.