[HeartStrongList] Outreach Team Embarks on 17th Trip in Ten Years

[press at heartstrong.org]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HeartStrong Inc
Contact: Marc Adams, Executive Director
1011 Boren Avenue #199
Seattle WA 98104
206-388-3894
http://www.heartstrong.org
marcadams at heartstrong.org


HEARTSTRONG EMBARKS ON 17th OUTREACH TRIP IN TEN YEARS

Seattle WA -  On August 11, 2006, the most extensive grassroots outreach
effort in the history of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
movement will begin their 17th outreach trip.  HeartStrong, Inc., is a
non-profit educational organization which provides support to GLBT
students in religious educational institutions and educates the public
about the legal persecution which can and does occur.

“With the rapid growth in religious schools over the past ten years, our
work is more vital than ever,” executive director Marc Adams says.  “There
have only been increases in the numbers of students coming to us for help.
 However, we are celebrating our tenth year of outreach doing work that is
not popular in any community”

Like most countries, religious schools in the United States utilize
religious freedom to expel any student for any reason as long as there are
religious reasons to back up the disciplinary action.  This includes Adams
states, the harassment, discipline and expulsion of students who are
perceived to be or actually are GLBT.

“It’s not a question of whether or not these schools have the right to
treat students so horrifically, they do.  But as history has always
proven, just because we have the right to do something, doesn’t always
mean it’s right to do.”

Students who come to HeartStrong for assistance share stories of public
outings, electro shock therapy, exorcisms, and use of religious beliefs to
shame them into restorative/reparative therapy.  Many students have
reported the use of the common religious theology of ‘death for sin’
proposed to them as divine punishment for their thoughts and actions.

Since October, 1996, more than 950 students have come to HeartStrong for
help.  The journey to self-acceptance begins with any one of HeartStrong’s
14 outreach programs.  Many of those programs are put into action by the
Outreach Team during their outreach trips.

Founded in 1996 by author/activist Marc Adams, Todd Tuttle and Clint
Kendrick, the HeartStrong Outreach Team has embarked on 16 prior outreach
trips throughout the United States and parts of Canada.  Additionally,
their outreach has spanned the globe, assisting students in the United
Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Indonesia, India, Scotland and elsewhere.

The HeartStrong Outreach Team first began traveling the road by car in
October, 1996.  Since then the team has driven more than 313,000 miles
around the United States.

The first portion of the Fall 2006 Outreach Trip takes the team through
California, Nevada and Arizona.  California is the state with the most
religious schools and highest attendance in the United States.  San
Francisco County has the largest number of schools and highest enrollment
figures.  It is only fitting that the outreach trip begins in San
Francisco with an educational forum hosted by PFLAG San Francisco.  In
addition to outreach efforts, more than 25 educational forums are
scheduled through September 28, 2006.


For additional information about HeartStrong, to recieve their newsletter
or to make a tax deductible donation, please visit
http://www.heartstrong.org