8/3/2019 Soulforces Equality Ride Announces 17 Riders for Two-Month Cross-Country Social Justice Bus Tour

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

CONTACT: Heather Cronk, Luna Media Groupheather@lunamediagroup.com or 202-491-7240 (cell)

SoulforcesEquality Ride Announces 17 Riders for Two-

Month Cross-Country Social Justice Bus TourFifth Ride of Nationwide Bus Tour Selects Riders to Confront LGBTQ

Oppression, Organize Community Outreach

PHILADELPHIA, PA Today, Soulfource a non-profit organization committed to the freedomof lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people from political and spiritual

oppression announced this years 2012 Equality Riders, a team of 17 young advocates who willembark on a two-month cross-county, social justice bus tour next month. The 17 young Riders

will kick off their tour on March 4 in Philadelphia, Pa. and end the two-month long ride in SanFrancisco, Calif. with a debriefing session set to take place from April 30 until May 4.

Jason Conner, 27, and J. Mason, 27, will lead the Riders as co-directors during theorganizations fifth tour. Since its inception, Soulforces Equality Ride has visited over 70

fundamentalist, anti-LGBTQ colleges and universities in order to confront the institutionspolicies and practices that are designed to oppress and marginalize LGBTQ students and faculty.

Joining Conner and Mason on the 2012 Equality Ride are:

y Crystal Cheatham, Ovid Amorson, Ibrahim Vicks and Christian Parks from Philadelphia;y J.D. Melendez, Andy Cofino and Meisha Hospedales from New York City;y Ryan Barnette from Cincinnati, Ohio;y Chelsea Fullerton from Athens, Ga.;y Eric Karabetsos from Pittsburgh, Pa.;y Bethany Meier from Ann Arbor, Mich.,y Robert Moore from Salt Lake City, Utah;y Lauren Cole Parke from Harrisonburg, Va.;y Zachary Pullin from Spokane, Wash.; andy Matt Steele from Portland, Ore.

The 2010 Equality Ride literally saved my life, said Conner, who came out to his family and

friends after he was chosen to serve as a Rider in 2010. This years tour will allow us to reachsome of the most isolated and down trodden people, and we will affirm them as perfect, wholeand loved individuals.

Religion can give us a sense of purpose and good moral character, but it can also be used as a

weapon. Sadly, it has been used to oppress multiple groups of people throughout history. I dobelieve that there is reconciliation to be had between the LGBTQ community and religious folks

8/3/2019 Soulforces Equality Ride Announces 17 Riders for Two-Month Cross-Country Social Justice Bus Tour

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from all backgrounds. These two communities are not mutually exclusive of each other, contraryto popular belief.

Conners counterpart Mason said, I believe the young leaders we will meet on this journey have

the potential to be at the forefront of the intersection of religion and politics of our country. I

have always found myself very compelled to work with communities of faith as an openlyLGBTQ person. This particular role as co-director allows me to use my passion for reachingothers in a broader sense than I had ever previously imagined.

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 Ridein the coming weeks leading up to the launch on March 4, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.

To speak with one ofthe 2012 Soulforce Equality Riders, please contact HeatherCronk at

202-491-7240 orheather@lunamediagroup.com.

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Soulforces purpose is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religiousand political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. For more

information, go to www.equalityride.com orwww.soulforce.org. Like Soulforce on Facebookat: http://www.facebook.com/SoulforceOrganization, or follow the organization on Twitter at

@soulforceorg.