Lgbtq students byu
LGBTQ dating ban at BYU probed in federal investigation
The U.S. Department of Learning has opened a civil-rights investigation into how LGBTQ students are disciplined at Brigham Young University, a private religious school.
The complaint under investigation came after the school said it would still enforce a ban on same-sex digital dating even after that section was removed from the written version of the school’s honor code, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Students can be punished for holding hands or kissing someone of the alike sex, harsher discipline than that faced by heterosexual couples at the educational facility operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
BYU removed its written ban on “homosexual behavior,” in early 2020, prompting students to publicly come out as members of the LGBTQ group. But the school clarified a few weeks later that same-sex dating is still prohibited, even if it’s no longer expressly written in the honor code. It also bans things such as alcohol consumption, beards and piercings.
Students protested the apparent reversal, saying they felt tricked into coming out. The federal investigation from the department’s Office for Civil Rights started
LGBTQ & SSA Resources at BYU
Office of Belonging
To understand more about gospel-centered LGBTQ & SSA-related education and training, please reach out to the BYU Office of Belonging. The Office of Belonging can also help LGBTQ & SSA students get involved with focus groups, panel presentations, research projects, and scholar councils. Julianne Grosse is our LGBTQ specialist, however students are encouraged to meet with any of the advisors and managers at the Office of Belonging to find serve and support.
https://belonging.byu.edu/
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
For LGBTQ & SSA students interested in receiving therapeutic help, CAPS offers individual counseling and group therapy, including Reconciling Faith & Sexuality groups. Students can also receive online support by using Sanvello, Welltrack Amplify, and SilverCloud. After-hours crisis: 801.422.3035
https://caps.byu.edu/get-started.
Honor Code Office
The conclusion to attend BYU includes a personal commitment to the Honor Code. To get more information about behavior standards and policies related to same-sex sentimental behavior or social transitioning, please reach out to the Honor Code Offic
For queer BYU students, the Honor Code update picks at wounded feelings of belonging
In 2020, a section titled “homosexual behavior” was quietly removed from Brigham Young University’s Honor Code. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the private university, later clarified that even if the wording was removed, the standard remained the same.
An updated Honor Code for 2023 has now added back language that explicitly prohibits staff and students from “same-sex lovey-dovey behavior,” among other changes. The code will also apply to students and staff at BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii and Ensign College.
Whenever church education leaders reiterate the policies regarding same-sex relationships, Rachel Billings, a gender non-conforming BYU senior and vice-president of the RaYnbow Collective, said she feels the message is always the same.
“Every time it just feels like someone’s exhibiting me the door. Not telling me to abandon, but showing me the door.”
The new code goes into effect on Aug. 30 and classes begin Sept. 5. Billings said this reminder makes the first day of college feel “heavy.” Gracee Purcell, a lesbian student and president of the RaYnbow Collective, described it as
LGBTQ students talk about their experience in BYU Campus Climate Survey
BYU published the results of their second Campus Climate Survey in March and LGBTQ students are discussing the survey's results and their possess sentiment towards the campus climate.
LGBTQ students make up a small portion of the BYU population. From the 13,451 students surveyed, 8% identified as being gay or lesbian, bisexual or of another sexual orientation minority.
While this sample doesn't speak for the entire student population of more than 36,000, it may provide a excel idea of the size of the LGBTQ community at BYU.
BYU's current Honor Code policy regarding LGBTQ students states 'any same-sex passionate behavior is a violation of the principles of the Honor Code.' This update, issued on March 4, 2020, came as a result of changes made to the Honor Code in February 2020 that led to tensions between BYU and the LGBTQ people.
BYU student David Shill is one of the LGBTQ students who aspire to promote inclusivity and awareness of their community.
Shill describes his trial before and after coming out as a member of the LGBTQ collective as contrasting.
'My life before coming out was very move
BYU Commandment Review
Abstract
Federal law requires schools to protect students from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. This protection is based on the principle that students must be free to investigate their self-identity within the school environment as part of their intellectual training. Thus, schools must eliminate speech that threatens LGBTQ students based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. However, schools must also protect free speech and religious rights. Indeed, the statement of religious values is also essential to intellectual expansion. Thus, schools must develop student speech policies that safeguard LGBTQ students from harmful speech while protecting controversial religious student speech. Unfortunately, federal law fails to provide explain guidance to support schools find this balance. Instead, federal law requires schools to limit speech that may result in “psychological trauma.” This vague requirement causes schools to adopt overly broad speech codes restricting controversial religious speech. These undefined speech codes also fail to target the specific speech that causes harm to LGBTQ students. To support schools find the