Soulforce Vision Statement

"The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance."

What is Soulforce?
Soulforce began in 1998 and is named after Gandhi's term "satyagraha", which means "truth force" or "life force." Gandhi defined this as a plan of action that developed inner lives while working to transform society. Throughout history, these principles have guided many nonviolent justice movements - including Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for racial equality.

Soulforce is determined to help end oppression against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; determined to help change the minds and hearts of religious and political leaders whose words and influence lead (directly and indirectly) to that oppression; and determined to be guided in our every action by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance as lived and taught by M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.. Soulforce ultimately seeks to challenge systems of injustice, not people.  We are seeking a community wherein all can share health, safety, and liberty.  One day we want to be in community with those in which we currently find ourselves divided. In the process of bringing hope and healing to our society, we find redirection and renewal for ourselves.

Soulforce is a non-profit organization whose administrative office is located in Austin, Texas, under the leadership of Jeff Lutes, Executive Director. Our co-founder's, the Rev. Dr. Mel White and his partner, Gary Nixon, live in Lynchburg, Virginia, where Gary runs the business office. Soulforce operates as a network of staff and volunteers committed to teaching and applying the principles of nonviolence to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The leader of the young white toughs was sporting . . . a motorcycle jacket and slick back hair, and when he saw [Jim] Lawson come over, he was so enraged by his coolness that he spat at him. Lawson looked at him and asked him for a handkerchief. The man was really stunned and he reached in his pocket and handed Lawson a handkerchief. And Lawson wiped the spit off himself as calmly as he could. Then he looked at the man's jacket and started talking to him. Did he have a motorcycle or a hot rod car? A motorcycle was the answer. Jim asked a technical question or two and the young man started explaining what he had done to customize his bike.”

- From The Children by David Halberstam

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