Soulforce Equality Riders Make Two Kentucky Stops

KFA was pleased to welcome the Soulforce Equality Riders to Kentucky March 27-28.  The Soulforce Equality Ride, now in its second year, involves courageous young people who visit campuses with anti-gay policies to engage people in discussions about Fairness, and at times, stage acts of nonviolent civil disobedience.

On March 27, the Equality Riders visited the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on the heels of outrageous remarks by Albert Mohler, the seminary President, who suggested that if a biological basis for homosexuality is found, Baptists should support prenatal hormone therapy to change the orientation of a gay fetus.  Mohler did not meet with the riders, and 10 of them were arrested after a sit-in.

KFA helped arrange a “safe place” for a dinner for the Equality Riders that evening in Berea. 

On March 28, the Equality Riders visited the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, roughly a year after the school expelled honor student Jason Johnson over his sexual orientation. 

Even though the visitors stayed on public property – a sidewalk in front of the college - Williamsburg police harassed and threatened the young people with arrest, thereby preventing them from having conversations with Cumberlands students.  One Equality Rider was arrested and charged with trespassing and failure to disperse.  Two Cumberlands students who stopped to talk to the visitors were charged with failure to disperse. 

The day ended with a rally at the Whitley County Courthouse, attended by about 50 people, including police and counter-demonstrators.

“The Soulforce Equality Ride's stops in Kentucky put a spotlight on the abundance of religious bigotry we have here,” said Christina Gilgor, KFA executive Director.  “We admire their mission and their courage.  It's a shame they encountered hostility, and not hospitality here.”