Okay, they aren't Jewish or Buddhist (well one of them described himself as a Budeo-Christian and more on that later) but they are all my heroes. Their bus rode into town today and they were feted at G Bar where I spent time thanking as many of them as possible for their work.
If you haven't been following the story, these college students gave up this semester to ride around the country confronting institutionalized homophobia on Christian fundamentalist college campuses. They were met with phalanxes of police outnumbering them 2 to 1 at times. They were arrested in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi...and the outstanding fines and bail are expensive so you should head on over the Equality Ride site and donate some money right now!
Greg (on the left) was arrested in Oklahoma. Trespassing. Step on to a campus where students want to engage and the administration shuts it down. Greg is our "Budeo-Christian" since his mom is Jewish and his dad is the choir director at the church he grew up in. He rejected it at age 8 when they told him his mom was going to hell. A philosophy major, he spent a semester in Taiwan learning about Buddhist monasticism by living in a monastery.
Amy, on the right, was arrested in Mississippi, spending the night in jail. These kids are the freedom riders of our day.
On the left are the Vincents. Both are named Vince. And what's more, they are a couple, and they are married. So on the left is Vincent Pancucci-Cervantes, and on the right is Vincent Pancucci-Cervantes. Don't you just love it?
They were both at the same Christian college, met and fell in love. Came out together and were given the choice of recanting, leaving voluntarily or being expelled. Vincent (the one on the left) actually went through reparative therapy for a year — and then he came out with Vincent on National Coming Out Day. Vincent (left) plans to be a doctor. Vincent (right) plans to teach. Both are a life of service to community, but they've already started by serving the glbt community with strength and courage.
Josh was also arrested in the south. Talk about courage. A film major right here in New York City at Hunter, he was surrounded by friends from school just bathing him in love. He just radiates goodness. It was sad to hear how his family relationships have suffered since coming out. But he has discovered the strength that can be gained from chosen family.
All these students still have another two months to go, with many more colleges — and probably arrests — ahead. And they need sponsorship. Click on any name and you can donate to their fund raising goal.
Blessings on them all.