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04/06/2012

Gay Mormons at Brigham Young University Say It Gets Better: VIDEO

Byu

"Even on this campus..."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Posted Apr 6, 2012 at 9:38 AM EST by in Bullying, Mormon, News | Permalink

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Comments

  1. gay sex is and always will be immoral. that doesn't mean mormons hate gays, but they do not have to accept immorality.

    Posted by: Bob | Apr 6, 2012 10:51:31 PM


  2. Bob: It isn't just that gay sex is immoral in the eyes of the LDS, but that any sex outside of wedlock is immoral. This is true of most religions, but the punishment meted out by BYU can be particularly severe, even if you are not a Mormon. Ask Brandon Davies: http://deadspin.com/5791461/the-truth-about-race-religion-and-the-honor-code-at-byu

    What saddens me more than the psychological trauma the students in the video have withstood in their short lives, is that should they participate in sex with a same-sex partner, they risk being expelled from school and shunned by the church should their behavior become public knowledge.

    In other words, the school and church are saying its okay for you to say that you are gay, but you can't participate in any sexual behaviors unless you are married. Since same-sex marriages are not recognized by the church, any sex acts between same-sex couples (in the context of love or otherwise) are punishable offenses; not just by God in the afterlife, but by the church here on Earth.

    Still, I am heartened that these brave students have found solace in school-approved camaraderie and are able to openly discuss the issues they face. It has gotten better for them, but they still have major mountains to climb. I wish them well....

    Posted by: Clementine | Apr 7, 2012 2:26:30 AM


  3. Kinda long but this is the BEST 'It Gets Better' vid I've seen.. and I'm an Atheist.

    Posted by: lookyloo | Apr 7, 2012 3:38:39 AM


  4. @Clintint -- SURE, they can be happier while at BYU, which is progress, and may even be patted on the head by mormons, but when they graduate, and their siblings marry, their world falls to bits.
    @Clementine -- yes I know that, thanks for the link to exploitation of Black athletes, but Brandon Davies GAINED by being a shill for their publicity when they "redeemed" him through the magic of lds

    Posted by: Bob | Apr 7, 2012 3:39:29 AM


  5. Gay people are a great example of the strength of the human spirit. We can survive and even thrive in such inhospitabe environments as Brigham Young University.

    Posted by: jack | Apr 7, 2012 10:12:02 AM


  6. Wonderful young people, too sad they have to grow up in such a homophobic environment.

    From the BYU *current* (2011-2012) Honor Code: "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." (...)

    I really hope it will get better for them, they deserve it. Maybe they can provoke a change of heart by staying in the church. But their best chance for a happy life is still to leave the cult.

    Posted by: Peter M. | Apr 7, 2012 5:50:05 PM


  7. No it's not, BOB. Your written diarhhea is immoral. Gay sex is hot, holy and sacred.

    Posted by: nikko | Apr 7, 2012 11:12:53 PM


  8. I am NOT the Bob who criticized Gay sex, trust me on that

    Posted by: Bob | Apr 8, 2012 4:26:18 AM


  9. @ "Kyle in Madison:" The gay community is, in my experience, more "diversity-embracing" than a good many other communities. That being said, our community has its own prejudices ("no fats, no femmes..." in personal ads) and hypocrisies, just as every other has.

    I think that, after the critical role played by the LDS church in the Prop. 8 events, we are justified in being suspicious. It's likely that church leadership approved the release of this video for their own purposes. The students clearly imply that, through prayer, they found acceptance of themselves. Conversely, they say nothing of what the expect for their future lives. Do they expect to marry a same-sex spouse? Do they expect to have fulfilling same-sex relationships? Do they expect the University to support them if someone attacks them on campus? No word on those things. They simply imply they've become comfortable with being gay at BYU.

    This probably was a sincere effort on the part of the students who produced it, as Clint stated above.

    But: that the Church would allow it to be released means only that the film serves some purpose of the Church: good PR, most likely. This is not conspiracy, this is business as usual: promise nice things, change nothing.

    Posted by: Chuck Mielke | Apr 9, 2012 11:58:39 AM


  10. Mormon-haters really should shut up about this video. The target of the video are the gay Mormons that are stuggling with their identities - what any other person thinks about the video doesn't matter. I applaud the students for making the video, and hope they helps others to come to a place of clarity and hope for themselves. They had the courage to go to BYU - as I did not - and that deserves respect.

    Posted by: rick | Apr 10, 2012 6:37:54 PM


  11. People that have to deal with same sex attraction. Need all the support that can be given. The LDS church is considered homophobic by many but those individuals who criticize are really a bunch of fools who have hijacked a serious social issue to hurl abuse at an organisation that spends millions of dollars and thousands of man hours each year doing what they will not. Caring. So people, either step up or step off. But trying to destroy the credibility of another's beliefs is gross arrogance. It is my hope that these guys find the peace they seek.

    Posted by: joe | Jun 6, 2012 9:46:10 PM


  12. I wasn't a huge fan of this video because I think it gives the wrong idea about the church's standing on homosexuality, but I especially am not a fan of the ridiculous comments that people have left. It's a shame that everyone has to be so over dramatic and extreme. Yes, the mormon church doesn't believe in sex before marriage or homosexuality. Yes, that's just like any other normal Christian church.

    Posted by: Roger | Jun 24, 2012 3:50:22 AM


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