Brigham Young University Changes Rules on ‘Homosexual Behavior’

A university in the American state of Utah made news recently when it changed the school's code of conduct. Brigham Young University amended¹ its rules to remove a rule that banned any behavior that related to "homosexual feelings."

LGBTQ students and their supporters claimed the rule was unfair since it was not required of heterosexual couples. The term LGBTQ is short for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender.

Brigham Young University (BYU) belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church teaches its members that being gay is not wrong, but having a sexual relationship with a person of the same sex is.

BYU's changes to what the university calls its honor code does not change the religious group's opposition³ to same-sex relationships or gay marriage.

A BYU official said an email that the new version of the code of conduct is very much like a new handbook of rules released by the church. She said the changes removed "prescriptive language" and kept the values "of the Honor Code, which have not changed."

The church has tried to become more understanding in its relationship to LGBTQ people in recent years.

A part of the code that dealt with "homosexual behavior" has been removed. The language that angered people was the part that said any form of physical activity "that gives expression to homosexual feelings" were banned.

In the past, students criticized language that barred gay couples from holding hands, which is permitted for heterosexual couples. The university bans all sex before marriage for all students.

Former BYU student Addison Jenkins had asked for years for university officials to remove the language. He said he is pleased the words are removed.

Jenkins said he still has some worries about how officials will enforce the new code. BYU officials released several tweets about what they called some "miscommunication" about what the changes mean.

"The Honor Code Office will (answer) questions that arise ...case by case," BYU tweeted.

The university's Honor Code bans some things that are commonplace at other U.S. colleges. They include drinking alcohol, men's beards and any body piercings. Students who attend BYU, in Provo, Utah, agree to follow the code. Nearly all students are members of the Church.

Last year, several hundred students urged BYU officials to be more understanding in the way students were punished for breaking some of the rules.

Words In This Story

code of conduct– n.a set of rules that establishes what is and what is not acceptable behavior

homosexual–n.someone who has a sexual desire for people of the same sex

heterosexual –n.someone who has a sexual desire for people of the opposite sex

couple– n.two people who are married or in a close relationship

lesbian– n.a woman who has sexual desires only for women

gay – n. someone who has a sexual desire only for people of the same sex

transgender– adj.of or related to a person whose gender² differs from the sex the person had at birth

prescriptive– adj.insulting, overly harsh

beard– n.facial hair

pierce– v.to cut a hole in the body to wear earrings or other jewelry

1 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

2 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。