Official Soulforce Equality Ride Day in Seattle!

In Seattle, we plan to meet on April 11th with Seattle Pacific University and Northwest University, both of whom are located in a city which was ranked 10th for gay cities by Syracuse University. Seattle is surprisingly “more gay” than my hometown Philadelphia which boasts a gayborhood and has GLBT-affirming high schools.

It is surprising that Seattle would even have schools which hold discriminatory policies. In attempting to locate Northwest University’s policy, I came across a document entitled “FAQs On Equality Ride”, which specifies that “sexual intimacy is reserved for heterosexual, monogamous marriage…If a student acknowledges his or her homosexual tendency while at Northwest, he or she will not be asked to leave as long as he or she agrees to engage in ongoing dialogue with our campus ministries staff and live by our Community Life Standards.”

Presumably, a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender student on Northwest’s campus should live a chaste, closeted life and strive to change their innermost being, the intrinsic aspects of their identity. Although being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender is not a choice, you should choose differently anyhow. Otherwise, you’ll probably be asked to leave.

Seattle, unlike some of its resident private institutions, does not discriminate. Mayor Nickels supports marriage equality and it is illegal to discriminate in the workplace against sexual orientation or gender identity.

The city council of the city of Seattle welcomed the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride with an official proclamation today. Seattle’s city council officially recognizes and celebrates Wednesday, April 11, 2007, as Soulforce Equality Ride Day.

Although our identities as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and allies are not affirmed by Seattle Pacific University or Northwest University, we have been more than welcomed by the entire city of Seattle.

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