Rally at the State Capitol: Soulforce Equality Riders vs. The “Rick Bus”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 5, 2012
Media Contact: Paul Schappaugh, paul.schappaugh@gmail.com , 404-643-7366
MEDIA ADVISORY
Rally at the State Capitol: Soulforce Equality Riders vs. The “Rick Bus”
Pro-Equality Advocates Confront Maggie Gallager and Marilyn Musgrave During Their Anti-Equality Bus Tour
ATLANTA, GA — This afternoon, advocates for the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans will confront some of the most vitriolic anti-equality forces at the State Capitol building. The “Rick Bus” — a pro-Santorum bus ride organized by the Susan B. Anthony List and promoted by Maggie Gallagher (founder of the National Organization for Marriage) and Marilyn Musgrave (author of the Federal Marriage Amendment) — will be pulling up to the State Capitol building this afternoon in order to articulate a vision for America that removes rights from LGBTQ Americans. To counter this hate speech, the “Equality Ride” — sponsored by the organization Soulforce — will park nearby and offer a counter-narrative of love and inclusion, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
According to the Georgia Voice, Georgia’s largest LGBTQ newspaper, the “Rick Bus” tour “features conservative and religious activists who support the presidential candidacy of former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.” The Georgia Voice’s full story, “Rick Bus Tour Brings the Anti-Gay to GA Ahead of Super Tuesday” can be read here: http://www.thegavoice.
This is the second recent marriage-focused bus tour for Maggie Gallagher, whose National Organization for Marriage organized a national bus tour in 2010 to build support for a restrictive definition of marriage. It was on that bus tour that the tour’s director, Louis Marinelli, was so moved by the counter-demonstrators promoting LGBTQ equality that he left the National Organization for Marriage, came out for marriage equality, and is in the process of writing a pro-equality book. More can be found at his website – http://louisjmarinelli.com
Background on the Equality Ride:
The Soulforce Equality Ride is a two-month social justice bus tour that confronts political and spiritual oppression of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people. The ride began in 2006 and has visited hundreds of cities, colleges, universities, and other institutions. The 2012 ride will be the fifth tour. This year a large emphasis is being placed on intersectional justice (or the desire to practice social justice in a way that ends all oppression against all people) and community involvement. The participants of the Equality Ride are provided top-notch training, transportation, housing, and food throughout the tour.
Background on Equality Ride co-directors Jason Conner and J. Mason:
Jason Conner comes to Soulforce after completing the 2010 Equality Ride. Though he is from West Virginia, he has lived in various parts of the country, including Utah, California, and Florida. Jason was raised LDS (Mormon) and served a two-year mission in the Florida – Orlando Mission. He left the church upon coming out and joining the Equality Ride. Jason has worked with and for various nonprofits over the past ten years – including United Way, The Red Cross, Utah Family Partners, The Central Florida Compassion Outreach Center, and the BSA. He was part of the successful campaign to elect Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia (2004). In the 2002 interim election, Jason was the youngest person on the ballot in the state of West Virginia, where he ran for the Democratic Executive Comittee. He served one term. Jason resides in Philadelphia and works full-time as the Director of Programs for Soulforce.
J. Mason is a Black/Trans/Queer educator and performer based in Philadelphia, PA. Mason has worked with thousands of community members and service providers on the needs of LGBTQ youth and adults in spaces such as church communities, elementary schools, domestic violence shelters, medical agencies, juvenile justice organizations, foster care programs and others. Currently serving as Co-Director of Soulforce’s 2012 Equality Ride, Mason works to end religious-based oppression in addition to his role working with/for LGBTQ youth as the Training Coordinator of the Attic Youth Center’s Bryson Institute. On his off time, he can also be found contributing to various academic and literary publications to keep his mind busy.
Background on Maggie Gallagher and Marilyn Musgrave:
Maggie Gallagher is the former Chair of the National Organization for Marriage and current Director of the Culture War Victory Fund – an organization whose “goal is to find the Americans who want to do two things: to think and to act in defense of core American principles: life, marriage and religious liberty,” according to their website www.
Former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), is the author of the Federal Marriage Amendment – legislation calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution that would define marriage between “a man and a woman.” After losing her re-election to Congress, Musgrave joined the staff of the Susan B. Anthony List and in her announcement letter she wrote that she is joining this political organization formed to defeat the “worst liberals in Washington” and elect complete and absolute pro-life candidates to Congress because she wants to “spread the truth about [liberals’] destructive agendas, drag down their approval ratings, force them to publicly defend socialism, authoritarian gun-grabbing, gay marriage, infanticide and everything else they vote for in Washington, and, ultimately, on Nov. 2, 2010, we will take their jobs away from them.”
Local SBAL speakers joining Maggie and Marilyn:
• Julianne Thompson, Georgia State Coordinator, Tea Party Patriots
• Megan Hamrick, Georgia Students for Life of America
• Suzanne Ward, Georgia Right to Life
• Mia Reini, Pro-life Activist, 40 Days for Life of Atlanta
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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 moreinformation, go towww.equalityride.com or www.soulforce.org.“Like” Soulforce on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/
