Today I was thinking about the profound affect Soulforce has had on my life.  What if the Equality Ride hadn’t come to Calvin College in 2007?  The impact of the 33 Riders who came to my school is so much bigger then this article I found in the Chimes would lead anyone to believe.  In some ways, I think I’m an incredibly different person because of this. I found my voice.  I started speaking up about queer issues.  I was inspired by the Riders boldness and courage to do what I had always been afraid to do.  Then I met a seven Calvin students who wanted to make things better at Calvin.  Somewhere between the Riders and my new friends at Calvin I finally made sense of myself.  I realized I am queer.  It turns out, straight women do not find women attractive (as in date worthy) in addition to finding men attractive.  I started getting involved with activism and there was an interesting switch in the straight to queer friend ratio.  I now have some of my best friends in the world because of the Equality Ride coming to Calvin.  The summer after my final year at Calvin, I was accepted into Q Camp with Soulforce.  I learned a ton about intersectional social justice, it changed my frame work for doing justice. I also met my amazing woman at Q Camp and now we’re dating and I’m in love and ended up here in Kansas City. Aside from Yantezia, I’m also grateful for the other Q Campers who are amazing activist that I can go to for friendship and activism advice.

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Today we spent time in the Houghton Area. In the morning we spent time at the Subway and the Chinese restaurant to hang out with students who wanted to talk with us.  In the afternoon we were blessed by spending time in the beautiful Letchworth State Park.  This was a much needed trip.  The work that we have been doing is hard and exhausting so being in nature was a refreshing time.

The main attraction of the park is a beautiful and massive waterfall.  I spent time journaling while sitting at the edge of a waterfall.  As I reflected I thought about the work that we are doing and how it was a lot like this waterfall.  Let me explain.  This waterfall has tons of water falling down a huge cliff.  It is always changing.  After the water falls it swirls and churns at the bottom of the fall for a little bit before it moves on down the river.  This change is quick and noticeable.  Underneath the surface, the water is carving out the river bed.  In the cannon surrounding the river you can see lots of layers wore away over time.

The students are like the water that flow over the falls.  There is rapid and noticeable change.  While we spent time in Houghton several students came out to us as LGBTQ while many others came out as allies.  This is a massive and almost instant change.  I remember after the Equality Ride came to my school in 2007 feeling like I was churning and swirling in my thoughts of what to do with all of the new thoughts and ideas planted by the Ride.  Finally students will continue down the river and keep making changes along the way.  I believe many of the students at Houghton will experience similar feelings.  The school’s faculty and staff are more like the river bed because this will be a slower more gradual change.  They heard from us and will continue hearing from the students long after we have left the school.

Our day ended with some time enjoying a wonderful potluck at the Open Arms MCC church in Rochester.  It was a sweet time of fellowship.  I feel refreshed and ready for the next stop in Knoxville, TN.