Equality Ride

Name: Colin DanielsHometown: Kansas City, MOAge: 21 Statement: I grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist church, and decided to attend an Adventist boarding academy for high school. It came out that I was gay there and my Dean and principal cornered me one day and asked me about my sexual orientation over and over. […]

Name: Darren ArqueroHometown: Houston, TXAge: 21 Statement: The Equality Ride epitomizes the type of activism that I believe works best – creating change on the local level.  But until now I’d never thought that I would be comfortable enough with myself to take this physical and spiritual journey. If I wasn’t ready to reconcile my […]

Name: Danielle “DJ” JohnsonHometown: Merced, CAAge: 18 Statement: When I was younger, I moved from place-to-place a lot and was forced to learn how people discriminate against things that they do not understand. The first time I remember dealing with racism, I was eleven in Santa Barbra, visiting the university there.  I was waiting at […]

Name: Emily ZahnHometown: Beaver Falls, PAAge: 20 Statement: I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. I went to church every Sunday, was a conservative Republican, supported all the “right” causes, and hated all the right people, just like I thought God wanted me too. Thankfully I realized that the “get-me-out-of-hell-free Jesus” did not […]

Name: Heather ShuttleworthHometown: Alexandria, VAAge: 22 Statement: I believe that all individuals should have the ability to fully express the beautiful and unique people they are. Authentic self-expression, and acceptance of that in others, are responsibilities each of us must satisfy in order to contribute more fully to the richness of our society. An unwavering […]

Name: Jason ConnerHometown: Fairmont, WVAge: 25 Statement: Growing up in a conservative household in a rural town I’ve learned a lot about what it means to feel different. I joined the Equality Ride to let others know that they aren’t alone. I believe that you can love God and yourself no matter who you are […]