Elder Holland - Losing Control Over Mormon LGBTQ Support at BYU | Ep. 1465

Join John, Gerardo, Carah, and Kyle Ashworth (host of Latter Gay Stories Podcast), as we discuss Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland's August 23 speech to faculty at Brigham Young University during the first day of the 2021 university conference. During his speech, Elder Holland condemned: 1) a recent BYU valedictorian for coming out as gay during his commencement address; 2) a recent uptick in LGBTQ-affirming demonstrations at BYU, and; 3) a recent surge in LGBTQ support from BYU students and faculty. Holland's comments appear to be in response to concerns expressed by orthodox, ultra-conservative LDS adults, who fear that BYU is becoming too LGBTQ-affirming. Holland invoked war metaphors, including: "I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets.” ————— Show Notes: "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embrace Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior," Holland's controversial speech at BYU on August 23, 2021 https://bit.ly/3meujU4 "BYU student comes out as gay in his valedictory speech," by Lindsay Whitehurt, Associated Press, April 29, 2019 https://bit.ly/3MklSkO "When LDS Apostle Jeffrey Holland Calls You Out," Gay BYU Valedictorian Matt Easton on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3GTSdhh "Group lights BYU's 'Y' on mountain with rainbow-colored lights," by Tad Walch, Deseret News, March 4, 2021 https://bit.ly/3GQsGFF The relevant portion of a 1965 address by BYU President Ernest Wilkinson, offering to refund gay students' tuition if they would leave to avoid "contaminating" other students https://bit.ly/3NfPMYU "To Young Men Only," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1976 Better known for Packer describing the male genitals as a "little factory" to discourage masturbation, he also praised a missionary for punching his gay mission companion so that a General Authority wouldn't have to do it [The original talk has been removed from the Church's website] https://bit.ly/3NhEweu "When a Gay Man Marries a Mormon Woman," Kyle Ashworth on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3MecuPO "A Mexican Mormon Story," Gerardo Sumano on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3tb7pRG "BYU Under Investigation for its Treatment of LGBTQ Students" on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3t9T3kk "Dept. of Ed drops Title IX investigation of BYU's treatment of LGBTQ students," Rick Seltzer, Higher Ed Dive, February 11, 2022 https://bit.ly/3aFDSJm BYU Office Of Belonging (it's unclear if BYU has noticed the unfortunate acronym) https://bit.ly/3GKZTCt "From EFY Singer to Ex-Mormon EFY Director" Jessie Funk on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3MaaEzr "Mormon Nuclear Submarine Commander and his Family," Kelly and Heather Laing on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3zgw4YA "Did Dallin H. Oaks Lie About Gay Electroshock Therapy at BYU?" on Mormon Stories https://bit.ly/3PUpBJ3 The former "Mormon and Gay" Church website: https://bit.ly/38KU4Iz Some time since 2016, its title was changed to "Same-Sex Attraction": https://bit.ly/3M9H0Kw Color the Campus https://bit.ly/3MfppAW Encircle https://bit.ly/3zgC5od Affirmation https://bit.ly/3m8qtvU Latter Gay Stories with Kyle Ashworth https://bit.ly/3xd3juu Donate a Rainbow or Trans Flag umbrella to BYU https://bit.ly/3tdfFka ————— Timecodes 00:00:00 Introduction and opening remarks 00:06:45 Holland weaponized the LGBTQ community to bolster the "conservative tradition" at BYU 00:12:10 LGBTQ Mormons are fodder in a longstanding left-right divide within the LDS Church 00:18:21 Holland reads a purported letter from an unidentified person who is concerned that BYU is "losing its gospel principles and becoming like any other university" 00:28:52 The structure of BYU (e.g., the First Presidency also chairs the Board of Trustees) makes it impossible that Russell M. Nelson was unaware that the Honor Code Office had changed its policy to allow same-sex dating and chaste physical affection 00:36:08 Holland calls for "musket fire" in defense of "marriage between one man and one woman" [Contains some graphic discussion of suicide; to skip, click here: 00:38:00-00:38:34] 00:48:00 Holland condemns Matt Easton, who came out during his 2019 valedictory speech at BYU; the speech had been pre-approved by the university, but Holland accuses Easton of "commandeering" the graduation 00:57:44 Holland has made it clear that LGBTQ rights are the hill the Brethren are willing to die on---but, given past history, they may still change the doctrine, too 01:03:55 Audience comments 01:08:21 Closing remarks and resources