African Gay Human Rights Defender honored with world human rights award in Geneva

by Soulforce

From our friends at Human Rights First:

Washington, DC — Human Rights First today praised the work of Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, who was selected to receive the 2011 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. The 20^th recipient of this prestigious award, Nabagesera was honored last week during a ceremony in Geneva’s Victoria Hall.

Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera is the founding director of Freedom and Roam Uganda, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights organization. The situation of LGBT community is extremely difficult and dangerous in many countries like Uganda where LGBT people are threatened, imprisoned, attacked and even murdered on the simple ground of their sexual orientation. This year, on January 26, one of her colleagues, gay activist David Kato, was murdered following the publication of a “gay list” by the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone. The list, which also included Kasha Jacqueline’s name, called on the public to hang these activists. Despite that threat, Kasha continues to find the courage to appear on national and international media at the risk of her life.

The Chairman of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, Hans Thoolen, has described Kasha as “an exceptional woman of rare courage, fighting under death threat against homophobia.” During the one-hour ceremony last week, exclusive and penetrating images shot in Uganda demonstrated the work of the Laureate. Djenka Flow performed African music in her honour and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presented the award. The event was co-organised with the City of Geneva, the human rights capital of the world, and the Geneva State Councillor, Sandrine Salerno, concluded the evening.

The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders is a unique collaboration among 10 of the world’s leading human rights organizations and is the award of the whole human rights movement. It is sometimes referred to as the Nobel prize for human rights. The Jury is composed of the following NGOs: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture, International Commission of Jurists, German Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, Front Line and HURIDOCS.

For previous laureates and patrons of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, visit www.martinennalsaward.org.

SLDN Files Landmark Litigation on Behalf of Married Gay and Lesbian Service Members, Veterans

by Soulforce

Religious Leaders Come Together to Occupy Wall Street

by Soulforce

From our friends at Center For American Progress:

Faith voices have joined the growing protests over economic inequality, bringing hymns, prayers, and a golden calf to the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has spread from New York to hundreds of cities and towns across the country and around the world. Protesters are demanding a dramatic shift in national policies and priorities, calling for fairness and justice for the middle class and the poor. “We are the 99 percent” is the movement’s slogan, and it reflects the vast economic gap that has grown in this country.

Yom Kippur fasts, meditation tents, Muslim prayer services, hymn singing, and food offerings to hungry protesters—these efforts and others are providing a spiritual dimension to the movement. Religious leaders recently carried a golden calf to Wall Street to symbolize the idolatry of greed. Participating chaplains have created a blog, and Interfaith Worker Justice has put together congregational discussion guides.

While the policy agenda and outcomes of the movement are still in flux, the core sentiments are echoing loud and clear: Millions of Americans are distressed by a system of greed and corruption that coddles the rich, sidesteps the middle class, and tramples the poor. From labor unions and unemployed single parents to college students, public-sector workers, and concerned citizens, Americans are calling for our leaders to restore to our economic system core values of fairness, opportunity, and accountability.

We know that many of you are on the front lines, working every day to reshape a flawed economic system into one that protects the poor and strengthens the middle class. We hope that the enclosed materials will be helpful to your work. They include facts you can use about income inequality, an interactive map that shows how your district is weathering the economic crisis, and a recent report on the true costs of hunger in the United States. Thank you for your faithfulness, and let us work together in the days ahead to restore America to a land of promise, fairness, and opportunity for all.

Blessings,
Sally, Eleni, Catherine, and the Faith Team

Homecoming for LGBTQ Alumni of Wheaton College

by Haven Herrin

Some of the more anti-LGBTQ, conservative media will tell you that Wheaton’s troubles with the “homosexual agenda” started back in 2006 when the Equality Ride first visited the school. The New Amerian actually remembered a great quote from a schoolwide presentation we held there attended by 1,500 folks. In response to Wheaton’s policy that essentially made even straight allies forbidden, Ride Co-Director Jake Reitan stated to the crowd:

“It is unacceptable for an institution of higher education with a reputation like Wheaton’s to suggest that a student could not, after study, thought, and prayer, come to the conclusion that homosexuality is not a sin without risking expulsion.”

Manchester Student Wes Heath offers a review of the recent Soulforce Symposium held at Manchester College

by Guest Author

Note from Director of Programs Jason Conner: This Symposium would not have been possible without the tireless and valiant efforts made by Wes. Our thanks go to him for making this such an exceptional event!

After just under a year’s worth of organizing, conference calls, reservations, and possibly hundreds of emails, I was very excited to see Jason Conner and J. Mason pull onto the campus.  After a quick meal at Manchester’s finest restaurant, El Mesquite, we returned to campus for a quick tour and made our way to the location for the Leadership and Non-violence training.  Upon arriving, we were all excited to see that we already had a good crowd waiting.  After a few minutes of preparation, the presenters and the audience were both ready to begin.

The atmosphere was fantastic!  Jason introduced Soulforce and the meaning of their visit to campus, and J. Mason introduced the training.  Everyone seemed very intrigued and receptive as the presentation carried on.  The audience was made up of several Peace Studies students, student leaders from several different organizations on campus, and a few faculty and staff members.  In total, the amount of visitors was around 30 people, and proved to be the perfect size group.  People were comfortable questioning the topics that did not make sense or that were not agreed with, while others felt the one-on-one attention of the Soulforce crew.  After the training, several students made their way to the front to thank Jason and Mason for the wonderful opportunity.  We also heard from two students who drove all the way from Cincinnati, OH to hear the dynamic duo speak!

The next day at 3:30 in the afternoon, Soulforce was heard once again on campus.  This time, they were here to provide a convocation requirement for many students known as VIAs (values, ideas, and the arts) at Manchester.  The panel arrived early to prepare while Jason and Mason made last minute arrangements.  Originally we had ordered 250 chairs for the program, but as time quickly faded, we realized the need for more seating.  In total, another 50 chairs were added, and the VIA still had people filling up the aisles and standing along the wall without seats.  We quickly estimated that roughly 400 students were in attendance making this the biggest turn-out in Soulforce history for their panel.  Panelists Mason, Dorothy, Michael, Cheri, and Whitnee took their seats while Barb (professor of social work), the moderator, introduced the schedule of events.  Questions dwelt with personal definitions of intersectional justice, how society and individuals can help with intersectional justice, and what groups are currently working to achieve intersectional goals.  The audience was captivated by some of the emotional answers in which panelists told of their minorities and stories of social denial and acceptance.  Following the convocation, several students stayed behind to discuss their insights with the panel and the Soulforce crew.  One particular conversation lasted well over forty-five minutes!

Later that evening, Soulforce and students reconvened for a night of open mic and the performance from J. Mason (J. Mase III).  The crowd was a good size, roughly 30 people, which helped keep the event on a personal level, and with a variety of talent.  Joseph Myers, a sophomore Communication and English major was first to present at the open mic.  His poem recalled an array of stereotypes that surround the Black community while refusing his participation or acceptance in a single one.  Following suit, students read segments of autobiographical essays, told stories of their pasts, and continued with emotional poetry.  As a nice intermission, Jason Conner taught the attendees his infamous “Window Dance!”  Complementing the talent of Jason, J. Mase III took the stage with his impressive, comical, and emotional routine of poetry.  All-in-all, the evening was very inspiring and uplifting.

Soulforce was an amazing experience for Manchester College, and I, on behalf of everyone here, would like to thank them for the outreach, talent, and charisma that they brought to us!

Wes Heath is the co-president of the Active Inclusive Movement or AIM at Manchester College. He was the student liason for the recent Soulforce Symposium.

You can ensure the success of future Symposiums by donating today.

Announcing the 2012 Soulforce Equality Ride Co-Directors

by Soulforce

Soulforce is pleased to announce the selection of the directors for the 2012 Equality Ride. Director of Programs Jason Conner and new staff member Program Coordinator J. Mason will be leading the 5th historic bus trip. 

The Equality Ride is a 2-month social justice bus tour that takes a group of young adults to colleges and universities that have discriminatory policies against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) students and faculty and their allies.

“The Equality Ride remains as salient as ever, creating much needed space for real talk about matters of sexuality, gender, race, class and ability.  It’s never easy to be the squeaky wheel, but Soulforce takes on that role gladly so that others can enjoy greater freedom to speak and hold ideas outside the norm,” says Haven Herrin who helped lead the first Ride in 2006.

The directors have announced that they plan to expand the focus of this year’s ride to include more community-based efforts in the cities they visit. Individuals and organizations will be able to sign up to host or help with the Equality Ride in individual cities once the route is announced.

“The board of directors and I are deeply honored to support the work of these extraordinary young leaders within the LGBT community and the broader movement for global justice for all people.  The Ride was co-founded by young adult leaders of Soulforce in 2005 and continues as our most significant program to date. The Riders have touched the lives of thousands of young people on dozens of campuses nationwide and they are determined to visit every campus that persists in oppressive and discriminatory policies.  We are determined to help them,” states Soulforce Executive Director Dr. Cindi Love.

You can visit the rider pages of both Jason and Mason to learn more about why they are involved in the Soulforce Equality Ride or to donate to their individual pages.

Interested participants can also register to be Virtual Riders as part of the 2012 Equality Ride. Virtual riders assist with fundraising by inviting their friends to donate to their pages, and they receive exclusive content about the 2012 ride and special updates from the road. Virtual Riders who raise $1,000 will also have their names or the names of their organizations featured on our bus as we take it around the country.

Be sure to regularly check for important updates at www.equalityride.com

Compass to Compassion Program Announced

by Soulforce

The Compass To Compassion program, which we previously announced, begins in New York City and the final program has just been announced. If you are in or near New York City, please join us for this movement-changing two-day event. Our executive director, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, is participating.

The event is held at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Registration is free, but required.

Full program available after the jump!