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.