Equality Ohio yesterday announced the launch of the “Equality Express 2012,” a statewide bus tour designed to spread the message of equality by educating Ohioans on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues through voter registration and community projects.
The 2 ½ week tour will travel to 10 cities, in both urban and rural regions, throughout the state. Eleven crew members, who are students at colleges throughout Ohio, will participate in the tour. Each crew member was chosen by a panel of community members, with careful consideration.
“Nationally, we are on the precipice of great change for our community," says Ed Mullen, Executive Director of Equality Ohio. "Today in Ohio, a person can be fired, denied housing, or excluded from public accommodations because they are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender, and our state's anti-bullying law does not specifically protect students based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This tour is intended to change the hearts and minds of people throughout Ohio so that we can provide these basic civil rights protections."
"This is an opportunity for Equality Ohio to spread the message of full equality to places in the state that have not been reached before and where some people may have never met a Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender person," says Community Organizer and Tour Captain Lee Reinhart. "This visibility allows us to show people that we are just like them. We seek equality and recognition like everyone else and it all starts with a simple conversation.”
“I am elated to be part of Equality Express 2012,” says crew member Greg Porter. “It will give me the opportunity to make a difference in my community and in the lives of others. Together we can work to help make Ohio the open, accepting, and fully equal place that we all want and need it to be. I look forward to the tour, to meeting my fellow crew, the captains, and everyone we'll interact with along the way.”
The tour schedule is as follows:
June 14-17 Columbus
June 18-19 Zanesville
June 20-21 Akron/Canton
June 22-24 Cleveland
June 25-26 Toledo/ Bowling Green/ Lima
June 27-28 Dayton/ Springfield
June 29-1 Cincinnati
July 3 Chillicothe/ Athens
“I am elated to be part of Equality Express 2012,” says crew member Greg Porter. “It will give me the opportunity to make a difference in my community and in the lives of others. Together we can work to help make Ohio the open, accepting, and fully equal place that we all want and need it to be. I look forward to the tour, to meeting my fellow crew, the captains, and everyone we'll interact with along the way.”
The tour schedule is as follows:
June 14-17 Columbus
June 18-19 Zanesville
June 20-21 Akron/Canton
June 22-24 Cleveland
June 25-26 Toledo/ Bowling Green/ Lima
June 27-28 Dayton/ Springfield
June 29-1 Cincinnati
July 3 Chillicothe/ Athens
Below is the full list of Equality Express crew:
Kara Bindus of Kent State
Bryan Cole of OSU
De'Garrica Elliott of Denison University
John Frederick of Ohio University
Mike Liggett of University of Dayton
Sarah Lilly of Ohio University
Raisa Mathis of Bowling Green State University
Liam Pal of Ohio University
Gregory Porter of Kent State
Padraic Stanley of University of Findlay
Hannah Turpin, Co-Captain
Kara Bindus of Kent State
Bryan Cole of OSU
De'Garrica Elliott of Denison University
John Frederick of Ohio University
Mike Liggett of University of Dayton
Sarah Lilly of Ohio University
Raisa Mathis of Bowling Green State University
Liam Pal of Ohio University
Gregory Porter of Kent State
Padraic Stanley of University of Findlay
Hannah Turpin, Co-Captain