A collective of LGBT students at Brigham Young University, the nation’s largest religious university owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have created a video that speaks to other LGBT mormon youth.
Below is how the group describes themselves on YouTube:
A message of hope and love to LGBT Mormon youth from the students of USGA (Understanding Same-Gender Attraction) which is an unofficial group of Brigham Young University students, faculty, and friends who wish to strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction.
Campus Progress’ Shay O’Reilly points out that the group isn’t allowed to form an official group or use the word “gay” in their description so they identify as a collective. The group is not recognized by the school.
According to BYU 14% of students are of color with the majority of them being Asian/Pacific Islanders. Latino, black and American Indian students follow, in that order,
On Tuesday, CNN reported Carri Jenkins, an assistant to the president of BYU, said that that for the video alone, the students would not be punished. The honor code, Jenkins said, is “based on conduct, not on feeling, and if same-gender attraction is only stated, that is not an honor code issue.”
However, the honor code reads: “Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the honor code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.”
Source:colorlines.com
Source:colorlines.com
