Are you allowed to be gay at byu
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 trainee 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 aid and support.
https://belonging.byu.edu/
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
For LGBTQ & SSA students interested in receiving therapeutic assist, CAPS offers individual counseling and group therapy, including Reconciling Faith & Sexuality groups. Students can also receive online support by using Sanvello, Welltrack Stimulate, and SilverCloud. After-hours crisis: 801.422.3035
https://caps.byu.edu/get-started.
Honor Code Office
The verdict to attend BYU includes a personal commitment to the Honor Code. To get more information about behavior standards and policies related to same-sex love-related behavior or social transitioning, please reach out to the Honor Code Offic
Media focuses on LGBT reaction to BYU's Honor Code update
News media paid swift attention to BYU's announcement it has updated its Honor Code and put the spotlight on reaction from the LGBT community.
The Recent York Times, Washington Post and USA Today are among media that carried a story by the Associated Pressurize with the headline 'Mormon-owned BYU eases rules on 'homosexual behavior'.'
BYU's announcement came early in the day on Wednesday, Feb. 19, but it was much later in the day the school suggested reaction in news and social media misunderstood the school's intent.
'An entire section in the code that was dedicated to 'homosexual behavior' has been removed.' says the AP article. 'The clause that upset people was the part that said 'all forms of physical connection that that donate expression to lesbian feelings' is prohibited.'
USA Today's article says 'The announcement came the same time the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints released its fresh handbook, but did not specify what displays of fondness same-gender couples are allowed to do.'
BYU posted on Twitter saying there may have been some miscommunication on what the Honor Code changes mean, saying 'Eve
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 exclude on same-sex internet 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 same sex, harsher discipline than that faced by heterosexual couples at the school operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
BYU removed its written ban on “homosexual behavior,” in first 2020, prompting students to publicly reach out as members of the LGBTQ community. But the school clarified a few weeks later that same-sex dating website 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 clear reversal, saying they felt tricked into coming out. The federal investigation from the department’s Office for Civil Rights started
College grad opens up after displaying gay pride flag at BYU graduation
A former Brigham Young University learner has gone viral for flashing a gay celebration flag at the college that was founded and remains financially supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jillian Orr shared what she did on social media, in a TikTok video that has now been viewed more than 3 million times in the last three days, and in a more in-depth Facebook post, where she wrote in part, “It’s hard being gay at BYU. I didn’t realize I identified as bi until halfway through and it’s scary to exist with the fear that any moment they could take away your degree. You can’t be in a relationship unless you’re hetero and most of my classes spoke of the ‘evil’ that I was born into.”
Members of the church, also acknowledged as Mormons, follow various church teachings, including the law of chastity, which prohibits same-sex relationships and marriage outside of one between a man and a woman.
Orr told “Good Morning America” that she used to be a devout Mormon and when she decided to proceed back to school to further her social labor career, she chose Brigham Young for its religious ties.
“I was like, ‘Oh,
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 amorous 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 homosexual 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 representing me the door. Not telling me to quit, 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 educational facility feel “heavy.” Gracee Purcell, a lesbian student and president of the RaYnbow Collective, described it as