Here are some photos (aka screenshots… images copyright MTV News) from the MTV News Special on the Equality Ride and the events at Liberty University, when 24 activists were arrested (under the request of the Reverend Jerry Falwell).
Me hugging fellow activist Wyatt Fore after release from Lynchburg magistrate and jail
The Reverend Mel White (Founder, Soulforce) at Equality Ride non-violent protest training in Washington, D.C.
The Reverend Jerry Falwell on the pulpit of Thomas Road Baptist Church
Equality Ride Co-directors Jake Reitan (right) and Haven Herrin (left) at pre-Liberty University event at the First Christian Church of Lynchburg
Jake Reitan getting arrested while entering the Liberty campus
Equality Rider Tommy Atz (left) and me with other participants walking toward the Liberty campus
Jake Reitan and Soulforce Director of National Actions Bill Carpenter under arrest at Liberty
Soulforce Equality Ride Rally outside of the Liberty campus
The Lynchburg district magistrate and jail building
Fellow activist Jeremy Kidd (left) with whom I was arrested and faced the Lynchburg magistrate. Seth Croft (right) speaks to MTV News.
This event is one I will remember for the rest of my life. I was honored to have been able to participate in it and I thank Soulforce, Cris, Gene, Jake, Bill, Tommy, Jeremy, Donte, and so many more people for the experience!
Other showtimes for the MTV News Special, “The Amazing Break”, are:
- Sun 03/26 4:30 AM
- Sun 03/26 9:00 AM
- Sun 03/26 6:00 PM
- Tue 03/28 6:30 PM
Click here for the most up-to-date Equality Ride news on InterstateQ.com.
Technorati Tags: gay youth, gay, lgbt, gay rights, liberty university, jerry falwell, mtv news, soulforce, equality ride
Welcome to InterstateQ.com, the commentary and opinion blog of civic journalist and progressive, LGBT activist Matt Comer. Hailing from Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt, 26, now lives in Charlotte, where he works as editor of 
I’ve read and enjoyed your coverage of the Soulforce Equality Ride over the past weeks…
While I support gay marriage – I can’t say the same for the Soulforce Rides…
First, the comparison of Soulforce’s “Rides” to the “Freedom Rides” of the 1960′s is absolutely absurd. The purpose of the Freedom Rides was to protest racial segregation in interstate public facilities. BIG Difference between Public Facilities (i.e. Public Universities) and Private Universities…
Religious schools are religious! They are not funded by the government (unlike the school which you attend). As a result, they set their own policies. Most religious schools are funded and controlled by the individual denominations. Essentially the denominations (through the trustees) set the policies. The policies regarding sexual orientation (etc..) is guided and governed by the DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS of the Denomination and its Churches!
It’s theology!
What would the Church of God say if Lee University attempted to change its policies concernings sexual orientation?? Same goes for the Oklahoma Baptist Covention and OBU…
Religion Based Oppression?? Ha. You don’t have the right to engage in sexual activity at any of these schools! Heterosexual or Homosexual! These schools even determine how you dress and drinking is definitely forbidden. It’s not public school! Guy gets caught in Girls dorm – expelled. Just a few examples among many more…
Again, it’s theology. Religious schools have the RIGHT to determine their own policies…
But here’s the question…
Why are you fighting this fight? Why would a gay person even want to attend a private fundamentalist college? Private schools are always 3-4 times more expensive than public ones…In fact, the education is typically inferior. These schools are always ranked as Tier 3 or Tier 4.
I can only name two (non-mainline) religious universities (non-Catholic) which have a great reputation for academics…Baylor University and Mercer University…both of which are moderate Baptist schools and not on Soulforce’s hit-list….
Soulforce is nothing but a publicity stunt.
The problem is that you’re trying to gain support and acceptance by demanding that most Christians change their deeply held religious beliefs!!!
Despite their different theological beliefs on sexual orientation, most Christians still view homosexual sex as a “sin.” The United Church of Christ does not represent the views and beliefs of the average moderate Christian….Through Soulforce, you’re demanding that millions of Christians ultimately change their theological outlook in regards to homosexuality! I can deal with the Old Testement. But, you’re going to have a hard time explaining to Bible readers that Paul’s message in Romans should be ignored???
Thanks for your kind words. Let me clear something up though. Soulforce is not COMPARING the Equality Ride to the Freedom Rides. The Equality Ride was INSPIRED by the Freedom Rides. No one has ever said they were one in the same and no one has tried to compare them.
Now to the other question in your comment that I think is important: “Why are you fighting this fight? Why would a gay person even want to attend a private fundamentalist college?” Have you ever stopped to think that LGBT youth “in the closet” often have no choice in attending colleges like Liberty? Many are there, while they are still “closeted” to both family and friends, because their parents have made them be there. Many of two choices: Stay in the closet and get an education while being accepted by family OR come out of the closet, lose your education all while being disowned by your family.
Also… The time has come where the LGBT community must start targeting discrimination and prejudice where it starts: The Pulpit. The root of many of our nation’s problems regarding anti-LGBT discrimination and prejudice are a direct result of the words spoken from God’s pulpit.
While religious schools have the “RIGHT” to choose their own policies we, in turn have every right to voice our opposition to those policies.
But… I completely understand the points and the logic from which you are basing many of your statements. I guess this is another time where you and I (this seems to happen a lot) must “agree to disagree”.
Oh… let me also add that two military schools will also be visited by the Equality Ride. The Ride is targeting religious and military schools, both for their anti-LGBT policies. It’s not just a religious thing.
This is ignorant. The problem with this is that you are trying to force people whose religous faith prohibits this act to agree with this act. I would never stand outside of a Mulsim University and tell them that they better eat pork or else just cause I eat it and it offends me that they think it is “sin”! Why don’t you just leave these people alone and let them serve their “God” the way the believe is right instead of harassing them into your own beleif system and cause them to “sin against their God”.
If someone who is gay is dumb enough to attend a school that holds religious beliefs against homosexuality, that is ridiculous. If you think gays are “trapped” into going, don’t blame the university. The school is just keeping it real and being who they are. You can’t make them change because someone’s parents forced them to go there. That is so freaking stupid. Who does that (besides this group)?
And why target so many Christians? Whats the vendetta with this group that gays seem to have. You must have no understanding of world religions. You have to realize that Christians are often loud about their faith because they beleive that homosexuality is a “sin”, like lying and sex before marriage, and they believe that if you continue in that “sin” then you will end up in Hell, which they honestly believe is a place of “eternal punishment”. Their saying those things is actually because they care, even if you don’t agree with it. Their intent is “good” in their eyes.
But, this is idiotic and “intolerance” what you are supporting. You are forcing people not beleive what is clearly written in their Holy Book just simply because you don’t like it and practice it yourself.
A Muslim should be able to attend a Muslim school and a Mormon should be able to attend BYU because they want to learn more about “their God” and practice whatever their book tells them to and not have “unbeleivers” like you throw what they consider “sin” in their face. Are you trying to rob them of their faith that they hold dear just because you want approval for your personal sex life?
That’s just freaking sick. What you do with your private parts shouldn’t invade someone’s religous belief system.
Who is the one who looks “intolerant” in this picture?
By the way, the only reason MTV supports this type of “rebel force” is because MTV is all about do whatever the hell you want. Every time you turn it on you see some girls fat @ss shaking up and down, people cursing and whoring themselves to some crappy song about all sorts of idotic stuff like drugs and murder. Not a very impressive channel to be supported by. Are you saying gays fit in with whores, druggies, murderers and pop whores, anything goes as long as it includes pleasure to someone? Guess so. I can understand why any religious group would call it sin.
First thing I’d like to say in response to you: CIVILITY. I use it… Weave used… almost all the commenters on my blog use it. I use civility and politeness and I expect my readers and commenters to do the same.
In response to your comment about youth being “trapped” in these schools I am just going to quote what I said to Weave:
Also… comparing discrimination against gays to people who don’t eat pork is a little shallow. Eating pork is an action, whereas sexual orientation is an inherent characteristic of a person.
I’m sorry you don’t feel as though discrimination is a bad thing. I guess you will just have to learn that lesson for yourself. Oh… by the way, did you know that it used to be a deeply held religious view, “based” in Scripture of course, that kept women held down as second-class citizens? Religious oppression has been used against many people and many groups… not just gays and women, but also Jews, the disabled, minorities, etc.
The point is that gay students are being told they are sick and sinful. People are being taught, in the name of our most loving and merciful Lord Christ, that gays are unworthy humans. People, like Jerry Falwell, are misusing their positions as messengers of Christ to teach people bigotry and prejudice. By the way… I am not an “unbeliever”… my faith is probably stronger than many of the students at Liberty… I doubt that many of them have had to struggle with almost the entire Church telling them that they are unworthy of God’s love and having to struggle to overcome that and still have a relationship with God.
I think your comment should be recognized for what it is… an ignorant, biased, uncivilized and prejudiced rant chock full of homophobia and hate. Maybe it would be a good idea for some gay folk to visit with you and try to start a dialogue with you (although I doubt you’d let them)… maybe then you would see gay people aren’t the evil “sinners” you think they are.
Quoted from last post:
“The point is that gay students are being told they are sick and sinful. People are being taught, in the name of our most loving and merciful Lord Christ, that gays are unworthy humans. People, like Jerry Falwell, are misusing their positions as messengers of Christ to teach people bigotry and prejudice. By the way… I am not an “unbelieverâ€â€¦ my faith is probably stronger than many of the students at Liberty… I doubt that many of them have had to struggle with almost the entire Church telling them that they are unworthy of God’s love and having to struggle to overcome that and still have a relationship with God.”
If Jerry Falwell is in fact telling LGBT people that they are “not worthy of God’s love” than he is certainly making a mistake. Unfortunately, it is often these brazen and bigoted statements that get all the attention. I personally think that the more prevalent attitude is a “hate the sin, love the sinner” attitude (pardon my use of the word “sin,” but that is the colloquialism.
Many of the same Christian people that believe homosexuality is a sin are actually viewing homosexuality similarly to alcoholism (I am thinking of BYU in particular). Scientific evidence is giving more and more credibility to the argument that alcoholism and homosexuality are both “genetic.” (An easier term to deal with may be innate….meaning that people don’t purposely choose to be alcoholic or homosexual, but they certainly have a tendency toward that behavior.)
While a tendency toward alcoholism isn’t a problem, giving in to the tendency and drinking alcohol certainly is a problem. The key is to love an alcoholic friend or family member without supporting or condoning his drinking. Same with homosexuality.
Finally, we should remember that we each struggle with different issues in our lives, some more difficult, and some more public.
These statements are obviously made in the context of a person who believes that homosexuality is wrong. There is certainly a valid belief that homosexuality is not wrong. In the end, many of our actions will be determined by those beliefs, and if we don’t believe the same way, there will be differences in our actions. Regardless of how we believe, though, allowances should be made to see the other’s opinion.
I am choosing to keep my identity anonymous for reasons which I feel will be quite obvious as this letter progresses. I am a Southern Baptist male attending a Southern Baptist College. I believe homosexuality is a sin. It is the same as lying, worshiping another god or disobeying one’s parents. Guess what, I struggle with homosexuality. Every day I struggle with the fact that I like men. Everything about a built man’s physic makes me hot and until very recently I was disgusted by anything concerning a woman’s body. Clearly I am not a fan of Falwell or Pat Robertson. I feel they are monosyllabic bigots who misconstrue our gospel and speak – though we ourselves are annoyed by their words – as the voice of all evangelicals.
Anyway, why do I believe homosexuality is a sin? I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of G-d. 2 Timothy 3:16 says all scripture is G-d breathed and I believe that whole heartedly. I cannot pick and choose which parts of scripture are true and which aren’t; to do that would be to play G-d. Therefore, when I read in Romans 1 about how G-d allowed us to live according to our own depravity…men sleeping with men I have to recognize it as truth. Homosexuality is a sin. Now, you may play G-d – in a sense – and say, “Well, G-d didn’t actually say this.” The fact is, however, the Bible explicitly says that homosexuality is a sin.
So, do I believe it is a choice? No, I really wish it were. I’d give almost anything to make homosexuality something as simple as “choice” switch which can turn one’s desires on and off at a whim. It is unfortunate that as a 6th grader I slipped into a deep depression because I felt G-d were punishing me. I was so worried. What if someone found out? What would my church say? Would my dad be even more disappointed in me? Why did G-d hate me so much? Was this result of religious persecution from the pulpit? It most certainly was. It was the result of Adam and Steve jokes, love is a choice statements, erroneous theology used only to break down others and to counteract the grace which the true gospel so blatantly pours forth. However, I know something to be true now. G-d loves me. He always has and He always will. Better than that – He loves you. He loves us all! It is an amazing revelation which sadly enough many never hear. I, however, know this to be true and am seeing it taught more and more in our churches and seminary. People are understanding what it truly means to love ALL people as Christ did and does. Still, it is important that we note that loving some one does not mean accepting their sins as appropriate. A relationship with Christ does not mean one may continue to live how one pleases. It means that one must sacrifice quite a bit. Do I do it to get into heaven? NO! I could care less about gold streets and pearly gates. I do so because I am so thankful that Christ died for me so that I might get to heaven. I want to glorify G-d in all that I do because of that. So, I choose to try not to sin.
The fact is that G-d does not want us to be gay. He did not create us to be that way. Homosexuality is a result of psychological happenings and build ups from a child. In my case it was many things but mostly the way I was treated and neglected by all males as a child – including my father. Needing and desiring male companionships it turned into fulfilling that need with sexual relationships with males. It was about love even more than it was/is about sex. I realized this and began to associate hang out with a bunch of guys my age. On top of that I began to create a father-like relationship with a guy who means so much to me. This man takes me fishing, taught me how to throw a football, and is there to talk to me with out even a hint of prejudice. Of course, I could have done nothing without prayer and strength from the almighty – G-d the father. I just recently had a wet dream in which I was engaging in heterosexual relationships. I also have my first crush on a female and I am mad excited about it. G-d is so amazing and miracles do happen! Even if I never gained a desire for females it would not matter. G-d is sufficient. He is more than you or I need. He is amazing and I love Him!
As to your equality rides or whatever they are called. I feel – while stated in the most audacious manner – Tiffany made some good points. Can you really call Christians intolerant when you yourself are trying to tell us how it is we should think and believe. We do not allow people who are living in sin into our academic institutions. Is that not our own prerogative? I will say this. You should come to my institution. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary does not allow practicing homosexuals (to the best of my knowledge) in as students. However, I assure you that we will treat you with a more G-d-like manner than was given to you at Liberty. G-d loves you, He does not want you to be gay, you do not have to be gay, and what you are doing is deeply intolerant.
Lastly, are you going to Hasidic schools, Muslim clerical training schools, etc.? Realize that in this country we have the freedom to hold our own ideas. The first amendment grants us the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. So, you have the right to speak out against, assemble for this cause, write articles about, and petition the government against the beliefs of Christians in concerns to homosexuals. Just remember that we have the right to hold our own beliefs as a part of that same religion. Furthermore, we have the right to say homosexuality is a sin in our pulpits, write articles about how we should ‘love the sin and hate the sinner’, etc. Please do not go about taking away civil liberties. Don’t you think our current administration is doing a good enough job of that?
Wow. I have not had internet access for the last several days, and in addition to having to catch up on 100+ emails, I missed some interesting discussion. As a straight female who considers herself an Evangelical Christian, I would like to speak to this a little bit. I say a little bit because time in no way permits me to adress all I want to adress, that would take all day. But I will try to say some things I think are important.
I find this conversation especially interesting because I used to be in a position of many of you, feeling like gay marriage is acceptable but thiking that fighting this fight against religious institutions is silly and perhaps even unethical. But my thoughts on this changed, and let me explain why.
I know Matt said that comparing Soulforce’s rides to the freedom rides is not the case and I would agree with what he had said. But I think there are some comparisons to the entirety of the civil rights movement, that give light and strength to the inspiration and make it seem like what we are doing is not futile. Part of the civil rights movement was not just the freedom rides but the lunch counter sit ins. This was a large part of the effectiveness of the campaign in ending segregation. And these lunch counters were privately owned facilities! They may not have been religious, but they were surely not governmental. One could ask, why would a black person want to go to a segregated counter. The answer is that they should simply have the right to. Whether they would want to is a moot point. I also want to point out that many involved in the freedom rides and the sit ins are supportive of soulforce—Jim Lawson and Rodney Powell are two that I know of but I believe there are more…
And BDW, you say “its theology!†My question is, is it? And if so, is it correct theology, or doctrinally inspired theology? Or is it societally influenced theology? There was a time when peoples’ theology prevented desegregation and womens suffrage and women and africans speaking in churches. But that theology has changed (by and large).
BDW, I agree that there are a LOT of evanglicals out there who still believe homosexuality is a sin. But this tide is surely changing. More then the UCC is accepting homosexuality as just as normal as heterosexuality. I have seen this firsthand through my attendance at an evangelical university and in the solid evanelical church I go to. And when you look at it at a scholarly level, a lot of evangelicals are changing their minds and hearts. And the general population usually trails the scholarly findings.
Also, I just finished reading a long article about the lunch counter sit ins, and I must say I am amused at the parallels between how people are responding to soulforce and how they did to the sit ins. I can expand on that if anyone is interested, but i think i have written enough right now. Just some thoughts… Hope to hear some in return.