The Equality Ride stop at Northwest University was April 11, 2007.
The Equality Rider who organized the stop at Northwest University is Rebecca Buck.
 | Rebecca Buck rebecca@equalityride.com |
Thank you to those who participated in our activities in Seattle this year, and to those of you who expressed support or interest in the Soulforce Equality Ride.
On Monday, April 9, 2007, Multifaith Works welcomed the Soulforce Equality Riders for dinner and conversation. Equality Riders Alexey Bulokhov, Amy Brainer-Medellin and Delfin Bautista offered an international perspective on LGBT issues. We had a great time meeting with this interfaith group, as well as students and alumni from Seattle Pacific University and community members from Seattle and Kirkland.
On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, we visited the University of Washington. Many of the Equality Riders canvassed the area for a marriage equality campaign sponsored by Equal Rights Washington, while others explored the Q Center resources and later met with a queer women and trans individuals discussion group. In the evening, we enjoyed a relaxed private dinner at the home of a Soulforce board member.
The city of Seattle declared April 11, 2007 officially Equality Ride 2007 Day! When we drove into Kirkland, the Deputy Mayor welcomed us to town.
Northwest University offered the Equality Riders a fully regimented day: morning classroom visits, lunch with student leaders and student life staff, a closed meeting with administrators and faculty about the desired results of this visit, and a panel on the theological arguments around homosexuality and implications of the good neighbor imperative. Unfortunately, community members were not invited to participate. Although we enjoyed the opportunity to meet with some students, faculty and staff at Northwest University, the format of the day was highly unusual. The university provided little opportunity for the Equality Riders to converse one-on-one about the Scriptures and LGBT issues, or to give any of our typical presentations. We are hoping for better conversation in the future.
Read about Northwest University and GLBT equality.