(New York City) Arrests are mounting up for members of the nondenominational Soulforce Equality Ride as they attempt to enter Christian colleges in the deep South to engage students in a discussion on gay inclusion.

The riders were accompanied by two Mississippi College students. After a warning from MC security, the two students stepped back. The Equality Riders continued onto campus and were arrested.

The letter described his experiences as a gay man on the MC campus, where he said he has been the target of anti-gay speech.

Part of the letter read, "I honestly fear that when I do decide to let the public know who I really am, many of the organizations and activities with which I am involved will turn me away." 

"This letter is a clear indication that there are students on this campus who are struggling to have their voices heard," said Katie Higgins, Equality Ride Co-director. "If the student were to openly express the content of this letter, he would be placing himself at risk." 

In 2007, when members of the group visited Mississippi College Clinton police issued a written warning that "riders" would be arrested for congregating in groups of four or more near the campus, the ACLU of Mississippi intervened, and the Clinton police withdrew the unconstitutional restrictions on First Amendment rights.

However, as the "riders" attempted to depart from Clinton, Mississippi, they were stopped three times in less than 10 minutes by police vehicles. Their driver was subjected to threatening demands to "get out of town." Leaders of six national equality organizations wrote a letter of protest to Clinton Mayor Aultman.

More than a dozen LGBT young adults and their allies are taking part in this year’s Equality Ride, visiting 15 Christian schools throughout the South.

The two women arrested Monday were identified as Caitlin MacIntyre, 19, of Houston, Alex Lundy, 21, of Syosset, NY. They were released after being booked and given a court date.

Last week three "riders" were arrested at Heritage Christian University in Florence, Alabama. And, six members of the group were arrested when they attempted to enter the chapel at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida.

More than 200 U.S. colleges and universities have explicit policies that discriminate against LGBT students. 

Since 2006, the Equality Ride has visited 50 schools, hosting public forums, participating in panel discussions, and taking part in worship services and Bible studies. The goal is to inspire further conversation and to empower students, faculty, and administrators to make their school welcoming to all students.

But the bus tour often has been met with opposition from schools, and resulted in the arrests of some Soulforce members.

Two members of the group were arrested last year at the headquarters of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs.

About 20 demonstrators held a vigil outside the headquarters, quoting from some of the FOF statements that homosexuality is "choice" and can be "cured;" that homosexuality is harmful; that gays live shorter lives; and that same-sex relationships threaten opposite-sex marriage.

Following the vigil, two protestors entered the headquarters building. Chris Hubble and Leigh Lyon, armed with two dozen yellow roses for Dobson, copies of the Soulforce booklet "A False Focus on My Family," and a DVD letter titled "Dear Dr. Dobson," asked to see the conservative Christian leader.

When they refused to leave they were arrested.

Ten other riders were arrested on trespassing charges after they entered the Bethany Lutheran College campus in Mankato, Minnesota. 

In 2006, 24 Soulforce demonstrators were arrested at a gay "die-in" at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Three others were arrested at Bob Jones University in South Carolina, and others were arrested at Covenant College in Georgia, University of Cumberlands and at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky,  

Soulforce members also were arrested at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University in Lynchburg; West Point; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; Oral Roberts University in Tulsa; Oklahoma; and Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which is affiliated with Christian Broadcaster Pat Robertson. 

The organizers of the Equality Ride said they use a collaborative approach, writing to college administrators months in advance and inviting them to work together to design programming that examines diverse points of view — including points of view that affirm gay and transgender students.