[HeartStrongList] 350, 00 Miles Driven for GLBT Students in Religious Schools

[heartstrong at heartstrong.org]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HeartStrong Inc
PO Box 2051
Seattle WA 98111
206-388-3894
http://www.heartstrong.org
heartstrong at heartstrong.org

November 12, 2007

350,000 MILES DRIVEN FOR GLBT STUDENTS IN RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

Seattle, WA - The most extensive grassroots outreach effort in the history
of the GLBT movement has reached another pinnacle. This month, the
HeartStrong Outreach Team marked the 350,000th mile driven in outreach and
educational efforts.

Since January, 1998, the HeartStrong Outreach Team has traversed the
United States and parts of Canada by car. The team hosts educational
forums to raise awareness regarding faith-based bullying of GLBT students
at religious schools and reaching out to those who need their support.

"I remember clearly the very first mile we drove," says Marc Adams,
founder and executive director of HeartStrong. "With exploding enrollment
and the continued faith-based bullying of GLBT students at religious
schools worldwide, the work of HeartStrong is more relevant today than
when I began it back in October of 1996."

"The message of HeartStrong is effective because we speak the language,"
Adams says. "Since the inception of HeartStrong, the team has done the
work quietly, consistently and confidently."

Since January, 1998, HeartStrong, Inc., through the efforts of the
HeartStrong Outreach Team, has provided hope and help to over 1,000
students directly and affected hundreds more via their more than 14
outreach programs including websites, public meetings and other outreach
work. Thousands have attended HeartStrong educational forums and
workshops. Paving the way to self-acceptance for students from all
religious educational institutions has been the goal of HeartStrong from
its beginning.

HeartStrong, Inc., is a nonsectarian non profit organization and outreach
efforts extend to current and former students of every religious
educational institution.  HeartStrong is not a religious organization but
an educational 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.  It is an all volunteer
organization.

Every religious school, college or university that does not allow GLBT
students to fully express themselves emotionally, spiritually,
romantically and socially is targeted for outreach.  Additionally, any
religious educational institution which does not have a written,
administration sanctioned nondiscrimination and nonharassment policy for
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students is also targeted for
outreach.


MISSION STATEMENT

HeartStrong is a non sectarian organization established to provide
outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender 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.