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BYU And BYU-I Both Listed On LGBT "Shame List," But For Different Reasons

admissions.byu.edu
According to Campus Pride, BYU-Provo made the list for an established and well-documented history of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

Campus Pride is an educational organization for LGBT students and college campus groups. In the past, the organization released a "shame list" of 57 colleges. According to Campus Pride, the colleges all discriminate against LGBT youth through Title IX exemptions. This year’s list includes 102 religious colleges. Campus Pride claims all colleges discriminate against LGBT youth in policies, programs and practices.

BYU-Provo and BYU-Idaho both made the list.

According to Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride, any college that applied for a Title IX exemption was automatically on the shame list. Under Title IX, there is an allowance for religious colleges and universities to receive an exemption when “title IX would be inconsistent with the religious tenets of the organization."

“And the reason why we call it a shame list is because, you know, Campus Pride believes that anytime you use religion as a way to justify discrimination and harm toward a group of people, than that’s wrong," Windmeyer said. "And so we particularly use the word ‘shame list’ to call out these campuses.” 

BYU-Idaho, which is owned and operated by the LDS Church, made the list after receiving a Title IX exemption. Without the exemption, the school claims it cannot teach a religious belief it holds that gender is pre-determined.

According to Campus Pride, BYU-Provo made the list for an established and well-documented history of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

“I think there’s plenty on record at BYU that shows that they’re not a friendly environment for somebody who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Which, you know, they are argue that their religious beliefs the right and it does allow them the right," Windmeyer said. "And at the end of the day, our right is to share with every, you know, parent or family member, or young person out there that this campus is not a safe place. It’s not a place to be LGBT.” 

Campus Pride also has a list of the “Best of the Best” colleges campuses for LGBT students. None of the colleges listed are in Utah.