Gay LDS Students From BYU Produce 'It Gets Better' Video

[skippy740]

This is a message of the love of the Lord for ALL God's children. This was really well done.

Gay Mormon Students From Brigham Young University Produce 'It Gets Better' Video

In what has been described as a "groundbreaking" move by some in the LGBT blogosphere, a group of gay Mormon students from Brigham Young University (BYU) have produced a stunningly poignant "It Gets Better" video on the heels of a campus forum on homosexuality.

Based in Provo, Utah, the university is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. An estimated 98 percent of the student body are practicing Mormons, and all are required to follow an honor code, which includes adherence to dress and grooming standards and abstinence from extramarital sex, among other restrictions.

As After Elton notes, it was only a few years ago that the school changed the honor code, permitting LGBT students to enroll. At present, an estimated 1,800 LGBT students are currently enrolled at BYU, according to statistics seen in the video.

Many in the video speak out about internal conflicts they experienced as they entered adolescence. "It absolutely terrified me, naturally. I truly believed in this church, and these feelings didn't coincide with that church," one student explains. Adds another: "I just felt that I needed to just kill myself because the heartbreak of me dying would be less than the heartbreak my parents would experience if I came out to them."

[Vort]

Originally Posted by skippy740

This is a message of the love of the Lord for ALL God's children. This was really well done.

Perhaps. But the quote you included was not:

As After Elton notes, it was only a few years ago that the school changed the honor code, permitting LGBT students to enroll.

This is a blatant lie. Students who self-identify as homosexual have never, to my knowledge, been prohibited from enrolling at BYU. That has never been a question on the application, and I have never heard of the question being asked of anyone. I was certainly never asked anything like that. The only requirement in that regard has been and is that they live a chaste life.

Originally Posted by skippy740

At present, an estimated 1,800 LGBT students are currently enrolled at BYU, according to statistics seen in the video.

A ridiculous, bogus statistic, probably arrived at by:

• claiming a 6% homosexuality rate (almost certainly inflated: 1.5% - 4% is more likely);
• assuming that the rates at BYU match those of the general population (unlikely, since BYU students are a self-selecting group from which homosexuals would be likely to opt out), and;
• multiplying by 30,000 students (an overestimate, especially considering the very high population of married heterosexual couples, who will almost certainly have a much lower homosexuality rate from the general unmarried population, even at BYU).

Such hamfisted attempts to goose the perceived homosexual population at BYU greatly weakens the credibility of those who put forth such statistics, at least in my eyes.

[skippy740]

This message isn't for us - the hetero-sexual members of the church. This message is for those that NEED it... and for us only to show that there is a need within our LDS communities... and that there is a perception out there, and if there is anything we can do to be more helpful and hopeful for those that struggle with same-sex attraction.

86.7% of all statistics are made up anyway.

[Vort]

Originally Posted by skippy740

This message isn't for us - the hetero-sexual members of the church. This message is for those that NEED it... and for us only to show that there is a need within our LDS communities... and that there is a perception out there, and if there is anything we can do to be more helpful and hopeful for those that struggle with same-sex attraction.

Be that as it may, inventing lies out of whole cloth ("it was only a few years ago that the school changed the honor code, permitting LGBT students to enroll") does not increase their credibility or ultimately do any good.

[skippy740]

Another article directly related to this topic:

BYU’s Gay Mormon Panel a Huge Success, Overflow Crowds Turned Away TrevorAntley.com

Here's a good quote from the article:

Panelist Brandon Bastian stated that calling homosexuality “a choice” was offensive. They also discussed another issue that arises with gay Latter-day Saints: the idea that if they are good, and they keep all the commandments, God will heal them. A gay teenager might find himself asking God, If I graduate seminary, if I go to BYU, if I serve a mission, if I marry a good girl in the temple, if I keep all of the commandments as best I can, will you take these attractions away from me? The panelists noted that, in Mormonism, God does not heal every invalid or cancer patient. The panelists also stated that telling someone that they are homosexual because they lack faith or have broken a commandment is the ultimate self righteousness.

[Dravin]

Originally Posted by skippy740

and if there is anything we can do to be more helpful and hopeful for those that struggle with same-sex attraction.

Such as tell falsehoods? That's essentially what Vort's objection is. If they are telling falsehoods it is not justified by the aim of helping those who struggle with same-sex attraction. I don't know how viable the estimate is, nor do I know what the honor code was, but if Vort's objections are legitimate their aim doesn't excuse their methods. I mean, if it were possible to not get caught*, should Missionaries deny blacks were ever unable to be ordained to the priesthood to help blacks (and others) come into the Church? I would say no. The end goal may be laudable but that doesn't excuse the tactic.

*Not that being able to be caught makes it good, but it'd be self defeating of any laudable aim considering the existence of Google.

[skippy740]

Originally Posted by Dravin

Such as tell falsehoods? That's essentially what Vort's objection is. If they are telling falsehoods it is not justified by the aim of helping those who struggle with same-sex attraction. I don't know how viable the estimate is, nor do I know what the honor code was, but if Vort's objections are legitimate their aim doesn't excuse their methods. I mean, if it were possible to not get caught*, should Missionaries deny blacks were ever unable to be ordained to the priesthood to help blacks (and others) come into the Church? I would say no. The end goal may be laudable but that doesn't excuse the tactic.

*Not that being able to be caught makes it good, but it'd be self defeating of any laudable aim considering the existence of Google.

I can understand and appreciate the objection. I also wouldn't advocate "throwing out the baby with the bathwater". I think both the video and article are good.

This isn't produced by the church. It's produced by BYU students. It is addressing a matter that is important to society that appears to be in conflict with the teachings of the church. The church has an image of inflexibility on this issue - both collectively and on an individual basis. Just because that's the image/perception, doesn't necessarily make it a reality.

While the issue of Blacks in the priesthood is a serious issue... this one is probably more serious - because of the rate of suicide. There is no denying our past, nor our past interpretation and understanding of the scriptures.

The problem here is that there has never been a question regarding the Church's stance of the doctrine - because of the basis of the entire plan of salvation on the family. The church never banned those with same-sex attraction from anything within the church, unless one was acting on that attraction.

The church focuses on choices for inclusion in the gospel... not our inborn traits, tendancies or our skin color. It is in our actions and faith that the Lord is using to judge us. It is in the struggle of battling the weakness of our flesh that we can determine our faith and what manner of men we ought to be.

This is the true church of Jesus Christ. But as I have been pondering this often used statement said in testimonies, I wonder if we are thinking of the best definition of "True Church"? True does not always mean "100% right".

What if true was a verb... instead of a noun? As we are continuously 'truing' ourselves to the Lord's will and His ways?

[mordorbund]

I was extremely offended at the video. The honor code may have been amended in other categories, but men must still remain clean-shaven.

Shocked and appalled!!

[annewandering]

No where did they say that they supported an unclean life style. If they did they would not be allowed to stay at BYU.
They probably believe the numbers they post. Who knows. Maybe they are right. I can see why they are probably inflated but I doubt it is intentionally misleading.
Why cant we take them at their word? They have had a rough time and want to help others so the suicides will end. Sounds like a worthy cause to me.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by skippy740

Another article directly related to this topic:

BYU’s Gay Mormon Panel a Huge Success, Overflow Crowds Turned Away TrevorAntley.com

Here's a good quote from the article:

I served with Brandon on my mission, and am still friends with him on Facebook. He's been involved for quite some time with LGBT activism in the LDS sphere, helping heal and raise awareness. Character-wise, he's a really good guy.