Click Here to Meet the 2012 Riders!! >>

We are pleased to announce the dates of Soulforce’s next Equality Ride. Our next ride will depart on March 4th, 2012 and will run through April 29th, 2012.

For the past five years Soulforce’s Equality Ride has been through hundreds of cities – reaching thousands of students and trained some of our country’s best young adult activists. The first ride in 2006 was chronicled in an award winning documentary entitled: Equality U. The film is phenomenal and available for purchase in our store.

Our mission is simple. We aim to visit the hundreds of schools in the United States that openly discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals and their Allies (LGBTQA) through their policies and practices. On these campuses LGBTQA students and faculty are forced to suffer in silence. If they come out they are subject to expulsion and can even be forced into harmful “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapy programs.

Since it’s inception, the Equality Ride has catalyzed conversations and dialogue at these otherwise silent institutions. We have witnessed real change in practices and policies. Riders have worked to establish and strengthen Queer/Straight alliances all across the country. People have been provided with safe spaces in which to address the suffering they often feel at the hands of their schools and/or faith communities.

We strive to begin conversations at the institutions we visit. We go into these communities at the request and in collaboration with the very folks who are suffering in silence. We approach these communities with a relentless form of non-violent resistance.

Each year we bring in new riders who are given the best training in the non-violence method as well as training on how to organize to end the political and spiritual oppression felt by those in the LGBTQA community. (Click Here to Meet the 2012 Riders!! >>) In addition to this training – riders are taught to approach oppression from an intersectional lens – learning to fight racism, ableism, misogyny, classism, homophobia, transphobia, patriarchy, and other oppressive systems.

Best of all, our young adult riders are provided this life changing experience at no cost to them, ensuring that there is never a dollar amount required to be an activist fighting for social justice. All of our rider’s travel, accommodations, food, equipment, and training is provided by the generosity of our supporters. (Click Here to Meet the 2012 Riders!! >>)

This year there are several exciting new additions to our Equality Ride program. There will be an increased effort to build community support along our route in order to provide follow up and support systems for the young people at these institutions. We are pleased that renowned performers Ray Boltz and Azariah Southworth will join us in some of these communities for benefit concerts.

In addition to the community outreach efforts, we will also expand our leadership team with a special Advisory panel. This four person panel will be made up of former Equality Riders and expert community leaders. They will assist with the community planning, training, team building, logistical coordination, and technical support of the 2012 Equality Ride.

The 2012 Equality Ride

Click Here to Meet the 2012 Riders!! >>

See the route

Are you ready to be part of the next Equality Ride?

For the first time ever, the Equality Ride will be supported by a team of “virtual Equality Riders.” Just like the riders on the bus, participants in the Hit The Road campaign will have a profile page, participate in fundraising, and have access to exclusive training materials, updates, photos, and videos from the ride. Hit The Road participants will also travel with the ride in spirit, with names emblazoned on our distinctive bus wrap.

Register for Hit The Road

If you do not wish to participate in Hit The Road but still want to support Equality Ride, make a tax deductible donation today!

More Information about Past Soulforce Equality Rides

What is the Soulforce Q Equality Ride?
Student Stories
Endorsements of the Soulforce Q Equality Ride
2006 Equality Ride
2007 Equality Ride
2008 Equality Ride
2010 Equality Ride