FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 CONTACT: Makenzie Marineau, Luna Media Group makenzie@lunamediagroup.

com , 541-404-0033 (cell)

National Equality Ride Young Activists Participated in Non-Violent Direct Action at Oklahoma Baptist University Today
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Social Justice Bus Tour Brings Message of Acceptance to Oklahoma City Area
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - The Soulforce "Equality Ride" bus rode into the Oklahoma City area with 17 young social justice activists Monday, March 26, with a mission of confronting issues on discriminatory lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) policies at two prestigious universities Southern Nazarene University and Oklahoma Baptist University. As part of their two-month bus tour from Philadelphia, Pa. to San Francisco, Calif., the Equality Riders visited Southern Nazarene University (SNU) upon their arrival in Oklahoma for a panel discussion with the university's faculty members on issues surrounding their LGBTQ policies on campus. The discussion, open to all students, staff and faculty of the campus, addressed audience questions, such as why the campus does not allow an LGBTQ safe space and which affirming LGBTQ Bible passages Soulforce uses. Afterward, students of SNU ate dinner alongside Equality Riders to continue the dialogue about the important issues facing the LGBTQ community on their campus. Christian Parks, 20, Equality Rider from Philadelphia, participated on the panel discussion as a representative of Soulforce. The conversation got hard, but thats good, Parks said. Coming from SNU, my hope is they all can begin to see us as humans instead of an issue. The Riders headed to Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) today, March 28, in Shawnee, Okla., to participate in a non-violent direct action in protest of OBUs discriminatory policies against LGBTQ people. Three community churches were also involved in the direct action: Expressions Community Fellowship, Mayflower Congregation and Church of the Open Arms. Along with the Riders, community members participated in a vigil line, shared coffee and cookies with participants and observers, and spread an affirming message of acceptance. "Equality Ride" co-director Jason Conner, 27, from Philadelphia, said the policies at OBU directly contribute to the harm, suicides and, in some cases, murder afflicted on LGBTQ people. Were here in Oklahoma to reach students who may be suffering in silence. For those told they are unloved and unholy, we are here to tell them that they are affirmed and loved by God without reservation, Conner said. We are here to help save lives. The "Equality Ride" will be in Oklahoma City through March 30, when it will then travel to New Orleans for its sixth leg of the tour.

** For additional information on the Oklahoma City events and the Equality Ride, or to schedule an interview with one of the Equality Riders, please contact Makenzie Marineau, Luna Media Group, at makenzie@lunamediagroup.com or 541-404-0033 (cell). **

### Soulforces purpose is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. For more information, go to www.equalityride.com or www.soulforce.org. Like Soulforce on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SoulforceOrganization, or follow the organization on Twitter at @soulforceorg.