Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Soulforce to Carry Out “Walls of Jericho” Walk around BYU
Join Us March 22 for Historic Walk and Rally

by Matthew Kulisch
March 2007

On March 22nd, the Equality Ride—part of Soulforce, a grassroots organization that promotes full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people—will be visiting Brigham Young University. There, Equality Riders will be inviting the BYU campus community to become more proactive and better informed about the issues that LGBT students and faculty deal with on their campus.

We invite the community to become involved.

The stakes are high. Many LGBT students in our community suffer in silence. They feel lonely, without friends or avenues for support. They feel threatened by BYU or by their own feelings inside, without affirming and correct information to give them a sense of identity. They feel fearful—by fears real or imaginary—and unwilling to speak out. They feel hopeless: unworthy of the support and love of their families, friends, school, and churches. All too often, they feel sick and sinful; led to believe God does not love them, they take their own lives in shame and despair.

We affirm that some within BYU’s walls house the attitudes and actions that lead to an environment of fear and oppression. We invite you to walk with us as a peaceful testament that such abuses should end.

Starting at 10 AM and going continuously until 4 PM, the Equality Riders and those who join them from the school and the community will be walking around the edges of BYU’s campus. This is a walk, meaning that it is not a protest nor an act of civil disobedience; there will be no possibility of arrest. This is a public demonstration, meaning it is meant to draw the attention of the BYU community to the issues the LGBT population face on their campus. Finally, this walk is a Soulforce action, meaning participants will receive training prior to their participation in the day’s events. Further, participants should conduct themselves in a peaceful manner consistent with the principles of non-violent resistance as practiced by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Some things to keep in mind:

Be respectful – Of campus property, BYU officials and students, & police officers

Be reverent – Of our purpose: to create a safe space for LGBT people at BYU

Be present – Plan for meals & water; you can rejoin the walk at any time

Be appropriately dressed – Consider weather and WEAR RED in solidarity

Be brave – If you converse with students; tell your story

Be smart – If you need direction or assistance, ask an Equality Rider

Join us after the walk at 5pm in Kiwanis Park for a Community Rally. You can hear from community members about equality in campus environments and in your local activities. Take this opportunity to stand for social justice. Help make BYU a safer place for the LGBT community and a better place for all.