Understanding Same-Gender Attraction

USGA
Founded 2010 (2010)[1]
Location
Members
100+[2]
Volunteers
40+[3][4]
Mission "Strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction and LGBTQ issues."[5]
Website www.usgabyu.com

USGA (Understanding Same-Gender Attraction) is an organization for LGBT Brigham Young University students and their allies.[6][7][8][9][10] It began meeting on BYU campus in 2010 to discuss issues relating to homosexuality and the LDS Church.[11][12] However, by December 2012, USGA began meeting off campus at the Provo City Library.[13][14] BYU campus currently offers no official LGBT-specific resources.[15] The group maintains political neutrality and upholds BYU's Honor Code. It also asks all participants to be respectful of BYU and the LDS Church.[16] The group received national attention when it released its 2012 "It Gets Better" video.[12][17][18] The group also released a suicide prevention message in 2013.[19] A sister organization USGA Rexburg serves the LGBT Brigham Young University–Idaho student community in Rexburg, Idaho.[20][21][22]

Publicized Activities

The group released an "It Gets Better" video in March 2012 that received press coverage. A student panel of USGA leaders held on BYU campus soon after in April by the sociology department also received press coverage as well as complaints to the university from a conservative political group.[23][24]

Mission Statement

USGA participants in 2017
BYU LGBTQ students and allies gather at a Thursday meeting.

The mission statement[25] of USGA at BYU reads as follows:

Understanding Same-Gender Attraction (USGA) is an unofficial group of Brigham YoungUniversity students, faculty and guests who wish to strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction and LGBTQ issues.

Empathy and community are the goals of USGA. Hurt, fear, anger, and shame are real and familiar emotions in our community. This is, however, not an appropriate forum for angry, vulgar, or profane remarks, nor for expressions of antagonism against any person or organization. In order to build a community of respect and understanding, we ask all participants to be mindful of USGA’s political neutrality and to be respectful of BYU, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the beliefs and experiences of others. Above all, we support BYU students and guests in upholding the Honor Code – queer or straight, do not use UGSA as a place to hit on, ask out, or hook up. USGA is a neutral space – don’t assume, or ask, someone’s sexual orientation or gender. Likewise, don’t assume to know someone’s behavioral choices or activity in the Church based off of their orientation or gender. Our motto: Don’t ask, do tell! (If you want).

While USGA is a supportive community, we are not a support group nor are we run by professional therapists. If you think you might be experiencing depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, or any other mental health issues we highly encourage you to check out the BYU Counseling center which is bound by law to be confidential. Other resources are listed on our Facebook page and website.

If you have come to understand, to be understood, to find empathy and compassion, and to build community, you’ve found the right place. USGA welcomes you.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Understanding Same-Gender Attraction" (PDF). Student Review. September 19, 2011. p. 16.
  2. ↑ Braley, Dodson (4 November 2016). "Group provides a safety net for BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Braley, Dodson (4 November 2016). "Group provides a safety net for BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "About Us". usgabyu.com. USGA. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to USGA!". usgabyu.com. USGA. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Fieldsted, Page (24 February 2013). "Gay BYU students say attitudes are changing". Daily Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Wood, Benjamin (6 November 2016). "LGBT at Mormon universities tell of isolation — often from the people teaching them". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Katrandjian, Olivia (8 April 2012). "Gay Mormon Students Discuss Struggles With Suicide in 'It Gets Better' Video". ABC News. ABC News. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Frances (24 March 2016). "Choosing Love or the Mormon Church". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Braley, Dodson (4 November 2016). "Group provides a safety net for BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Understanding Same-Gender Attraction" (PDF). Student Review. September 19, 2011. p. 16.
  12. 1 2 Olsen, Jessica (20 January 2017). "Timeline". BYU. The Daily Universe. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ↑ Hales, Whitney (18 September 2015). "Provo LGBTQ support group reacts to Elder Rasband’s devotional invitation". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  14. ↑ 05.13.148:45 AM ET. "Mormon U. Forces Gays to Be Celibate". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ Gleeson, Scott (10 August 2016). "Could BYU's LGBT policies really deter Big 12 move?". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "About Us". USGA. USGA. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Winters, Rosemary (6 April 2012). "Gay BYU students to Mormon youths: 'It gets better'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Gay Mormon Students From Brigham Young University Produce ‘It Gets Better’ Video". The Huffington Post. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  19. ↑ McDonald, Amy (12 November 2013). "‘Just be there’: Group raises awareness for LGBT suicide prevention". BYU. The Daily Universe. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  20. ↑ Brown, Taylor (28 Jan 2014). "USGA Provides a Place for Comfort". BYU-I. Scroll. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "BYU-Idaho Group Fosters Understanding Around Around LGBT Issues". affirmation.org. Affirmation. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "USGA Rexburg". facebook.com. USGA Rexburg. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  23. ↑ Bolding, Joshua (6 April 2012). "BYU groups seek to understand students with same-sex attraction". Deseret News. LDS Church. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  24. ↑ Avery, Dan. "Brigham Young University’s Gay-Mormon Panel Draws Crowds, Questions". queerty.com. Q.Digital Company. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  25. ↑ "About Us". usgabyu.com. USGA at BYU. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
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