[HeartStrongList] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Social Justice in Action: Outreach Trip Embarks on 19th Trip in Ten Years

[heartstrong at heartstrong.org]

HeartStrong needs your financial support for this landmark outreach trip. 
Want to help HS raise the $10,000 needed for this trip?  Make a donation
here..  http://www.heartstrong.org or mail your donation to HeartStrong,
PO Box 2051, Seattle WA 98111.  You gift is tax deductible and goes a long
way to helping HeartStrong reach persecuted GLBT students and others in
religious educational institutions.

Please distribute the below release to anyone you wish.  We need
everyone's help!


OUTREACH TEAM EMBARKS ON 19TH TRIP

Seattle WA -  On April 3, 2007, the most extensive grassroots outreach
effort in the history of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
movement continues with its 19th 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 legalized persecution of GLBT students and others in these
institutions.

“With the frightening growth in religious schools over the past decade,
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.  Fortunately for them, HeartStrong is now well into its eleventh
year of outreach.”

Like most countries, religious schools in the United States utilize
religious freedom to expel any student for any reason.  This includes,
Adams states, the persecution of students and others 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, having the right to do something, doesn’t
always make it right to do.”

Students who come to HeartStrong for assistance share stories of public
outings, brutal restorative therapy, exorcisms, and continuous attempts to
recruit them into simulated heterosexual lifestyles.  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 18 previous
outreach trips throughout the United States and parts of Canada. 
Additionally, HeartStrong's outreach has spanned the globe, assisting
students in places like the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, South
Africa, Indonesia, India, and Scotland.

The HeartStrong Outreach Team first began traveling the road by car in
October, 1996.  Since then the team has self-driven more than 336,000
miles around the United States holding educational forums and reaching out
to students in need.

The Spring 2007 Outreach Trip takes the team through Texas, Oklahoma,
Florida, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia.  The trip will also include
the annual HeartStrong Board of Directors meeting in Miami hosted by
HeartStrong President, Shelley Craig, LCSW.
In addition to outreach efforts, more than 20 educational forums are
scheduled through May 31, 2007.  HeartStrong is an all volunteer
organization and relies on the tax deductible donations of supporters to
continue its life-saving work.

HEARTSTRONG MISSION STATEMENT
HeartStrong is a non sectarian organization established to provide
outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other persons
adversely affected by the influence of all denominations of religious
educational institutions.

HeartStrong is also committed to educating the public about the
persecution of GLBT’s and others at religious educational institutions.