Understanding Sexuality, Gender, and Allyship

USGA (Understanding Sexuality, Gender, and Allyship, previously Understanding Same-Gender Attraction)[5] is an organization for LGBT Brigham Young University students and their allies.[6][7][8][9][3] It began meeting on BYU campus in 2010 to discuss issues relating to homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[10][11] However, by December 2012, USGA began meeting off campus at the Provo City Library[12][13] and is still banned from meeting on campus as of 2018.[14][15] BYU campus currently offers no official LGBT-specific resources as of 2016.[16] 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.[17] The group received national attention when it released its 2012 "It Gets Better" video.[11][18][19] The group also released a suicide prevention message in 2013.[20] A sister organization USGA Rexburg serves the LGBT Brigham Young University–Idaho student community in Rexburg, Idaho.[21][22][23]

USGA
Founded2010 (2010)[1]
Purpose"Strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction and LGBTQ issues."[2]
Location
Area served
Brigham Young University student body
Members
100+[3]
Volunteers
40+[3][4]
Websitewww.usgabyu.com
Formerly called
Understanding Same-Gender Attraction

Publicized activities
USGA participants in 2017

The group released an "It Gets Better" video in March 2012 that received press coverage.[24] 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.[25]

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

In 2016 the Provo newspaper Daily Herald published a series of six in-depth articles on the experiences of USGA members, centered around the topics of why they attend BYU,[26] the USGA group,[27] mental health,[28] the Honor Code,[29] and why some leave BYU.[30] The articles were written over the space of two months, with an editorial conclusion at the end of the series asking administrators to listen to USGA BYU students.[31]

Other activities reported by media in 2017 include their Faces of USGA photojournalism project[32][33] and their Provo Pride Festival booth.[34]

See also

References
  1. "Understanding Same-Gender Attraction" (PDF). Student Review. September 19, 2011. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2012.
  2. "Welcome to USGA!". usgabyu.com. USGA. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  3. Braley, Dodson (4 November 2016). "Group provides a safety net for BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. "About Us". usgabyu.com. USGA. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. Tanner, Courtney (19 July 2018). "BYU's unofficial LGBTQ club has changed its name to reflect 'all different types of sexuality and gender identity'". Salt Lake Tribune.
  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. "Understanding Same-Gender Attraction" (PDF). Student Review. September 19, 2011. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2012.
  11. Olsen, Jessica (20 January 2017). "Timeline". BYU. The Daily Universe. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  12. Hales, Whitney (18 September 2015). "Provo LGBTQ support group reacts to Elder Rasband's devotional invitation". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  13. 05.13.148:45 AM ET (13 May 2014). "Mormon U. Forces Gays to Be Celibate". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  14. Kerr, Emma (22 May 2018). "Inside Gay Students' Fight to Be Heard at BYU". The Chronicle of Higher Education. There are no institutional means of supporting students or educating professors on LGBTQ issues. ... USGA, is forced to meet in a local library because the university does not support or sanction its existence. Students in the group say they've been told it will never be allowed on campus.
  15. Alberty, Erin (16 August 2016). "Students: BYU Honor Code leaves LGBT victims of sexual assault vulnerable and alone". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  16. Gleeson, Scott (10 August 2016). "Could BYU's LGBT policies really deter Big 12 move?". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  17. "About Us". USGA. USGA. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  18. Winters, Rosemary (6 April 2012). "Gay BYU students to Mormon youths: 'It gets better'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  19. "Gay Mormon Students From Brigham Young University Produce 'It Gets Better' Video". The Huffington Post. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  20. McDonald, Amy (12 November 2013). "'Just be there': Group raises awareness for LGBT suicide prevention". BYU. The Daily Universe. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  21. Brown, Taylor (28 Jan 2014). "USGA Provides a Place for Comfort". BYU-I. Scroll. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  22. "BYU-Idaho Group Fosters Understanding Around LGBT Issues". affirmation.org. Affirmation. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  23. "USGA Rexburg". facebook.com. USGA Rexburg. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  24. Bolding, Joshua (6 April 2012). "BYU groups seek to understand students with same-sex attraction". Deseret News. LDS Church. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  25. Avery, Dan (5 April 2012). "Brigham Young University's Gay-Mormon Panel Draws Crowds, Questions". queerty.com. Q.Digital Company. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  26. Dodson, Braley (28 October 2016). "LGBT BYU students explain why they chose to attend and stay". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  27. Dodson, Braley (4 November 2016). "Group provides a safety net for BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  28. Dodson, Braley (11 November 2016). "LGBT BYU students fighting suicide while facing unique mental health challenges". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  29. Dodson, Braley (18 November 2016). "LGBT BYU students want honor code clarification". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  30. Dodson, Braley (25 November 2016). "LGBT students explain why they chose to leave BYU". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  31. Hale, Isaac (27 November 2016). "Herald editorial: Listen to BYU's LGBT students". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  32. Wagner, Danielle B. (5 October 2017). "Lesbian Mormon Shares a Powerful Message to Members of the Church: 'I Want People to See My Face'". LDS Living. LDS Church. Deseret Book.
  33. Jackman, Josh (6 October 2017). "This lesbian Mormon has posted an incredible coming out message". PinkNews. PinkNews Media Group.
  34. Pierce, Scott D. (16 September 2017). "Provo's growing gay pride festival surprised many fans headed to the BYU football game". The Salt Lake Tribune. No group was more visible than BYU's unofficial LGBTQ support group, USGA (Understanding Same-Gender Attraction) — their booth was right on the corner of Center and University. 'A lot of people on campus don't know that we exist, so they feel alone. And some of them think about suicide,' said Sabina Mendoza, 22, a BYU senior from Houston. 'We don't want anyone to feel that way.'
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