Soulforce (organization)

Soulforce is an American social justice and civil rights organization that supports acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people through dialogue and creative forms of nonviolent direct action. Soulforce is inspired by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance as taught and practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was founded in 1998 by Mel White, who was a ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, and others until he came out as a gay man. The organization's Executive Director is currently Haven Herrin.

Since 2006, Soulforce has supported a project called the Equality Ride. Led by young adults, it targets Christian colleges. In 2007 it was divided into two different trips (eastern and western), each leg visiting 15-20 different colleges. Other rides were launched in 2008 and 2010. A fifth Equality Ride is planned for the spring of 2012.

In 2006 Soulforce organized the Right to Serve Campaign, the first nationally organized youth effort to bring attention to the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the United States Armed Forces. Youth in 30 cities across the country were recruited to organize events in which openly lesbian, gay and bisexual youth attempted to enlist in the United States Armed Forces while stating their sexual orientation. Headed by Jacob Reitan and Haven Harrin, it took place in 30 cities from late summer and fall of 2006. It attracted coverage in both local and national media. Reitan said: "The don't ask don't tell policy couldn't be any more clearly government-sanctioned discrimination. The Right to Serve Campaign is a way for us to show to the American people how this discrimination works."

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