Latest Review
Mission
Freedom for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.
Key Facts
Geographic areas served:
National
Target demographics:
People of faith who believe in equality and civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals
Results to date:
Over 20,000 individuals trained in the nonviolent methods of M. L. King Jr. and M. Gandhi to resist religious-based oppression of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people.
Direct beneficiaries per year: many
Indirect beneficiaries per year: many
Obstacles:
As more and more people are voicing support for civil rights and equality for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, the fundamentalists have grown stronger in their efforts to impose their religious worldview on society as a whole.
Your donation of $45 enables us to:
Provide support and educational resources about God’s inclusive love to an oppressed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender college student studying at fundamentalist Christian colleges.
Your donation of $100 enables us to:
Provide resources and support for individuals who have suffered damage from being forced into “ex-gay” reparative therapy programs
Your donation of $450
train and support one college student on the Equality Ride, a 2-month nationwide bus tour which visits colleges and universities that have policies in place that discriminate against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people-- (prohibiting them from enrolling or expelling them when they reveal their sexual orientation.)
Board Members and Affiliation:
Mel White, Soulforce President
Soulforce Co-Founder and author, Lynchburg, VA
Dr. Rodney Powell, Board Member
Retired Physician and Civil Rights leader, Honolulu, HI
The Reverend Paul Egertson, Retired Bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Phil Lawson, Board Member
Retired United Methodist Pastor and Civil Rights leader, Hercules, CA
Matt Kulisch, Board Member
2007 Equality Rider and former BYU student during the inaugural ride in 2006
Jeff Lutes, Board Member and Soulforce Executive Director
Psychotherapist, Austin, Texas
Judy Osborne, Board Member
Retired PBS Executive, Seattle, WA
Philip Reitan, Board Member
Attorney, North Mankato, MN
Gary Nixon, Board Secretary
Soulforce Co-Founder and Financial Director, Lynchburg, VA
Karen Ball, Board Member
Attorney, Columbus, OH
Chuck Phelan, Board Chairperson
Entrepreneur, Los Angeles, California
Bill Carpenter, Entrepreneur, St. Petersburg, FL
Past and Current Funders:
Arcus Foundation, Gill Foundation, Mossier Foundation, Bruce Bastian, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Collingwood Foundation, Haas Jr. Fund, Small Change Foundation, Funding Exchange, Van Ameringen Foundation, Charles M. Holmes Foundation, Replacements, Ltd., The Bohnett Foundation, Andrew Tobias and Charles Nolan
Key Staff
Jeff Lutes, Executive Director, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Mel White, Founder, Author of “Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America” and “Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Christian Right”
Haven Herrin, Director of Young Adult programs
Alexey Bulokhov, Director of International Outreach