DiscussMormonism.com

See link below for the artist's side of the story -- a student's photographs of gay BYU students and the persons who support them, part of a Fine Arts show, have been removed and the exhibit rearranged.

http://areyou1too.blogspot.com/2008/12/ ... sucks.html

Click this link to see photos as orginally exhibited:

http://areyou1too.blogspot.com/2008/11/ ... oject.html

As you can see, other than identifying the subjects as gay, there is nothing offensive or that portrays homosexual behavior, which is the key issue in current BYU Honor Code policy regarding gays (emphasis below mine):

Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code.

One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior and/or advocacy of homosexual behavior are inappropriate and violate the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings. Advocacy includes seeking to influence others to engage in homosexual behavior or promoting homosexual relations as being morally acceptable.

Of course, we all know that gay students cannot hold hands without violating this provision, while straight students can hold hands and it's perfectly acceptable. That alone shows the differing treatment of gay BYU students even though there has been no violation of the Law of Chastity. Now, BYU is removing photos of students merely identified as gay (which would seem to contradict that provision that "one's STATED same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue"). BYU and the Church can claim they treat gays and straights the same so long as the Law of Chastity is not violated, but we see this simply is not true.

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Gay people really have no business being Mormon or even attending a Mormon school.

As you can see, other than identifying the subjects as gay, there is nothing offensive or that portrays homosexual behavior, which is the key issue in current BYU Honor Code policy regarding gays (emphasis below mine)

If I'm reading the artist's statement correctly, he doesn't specifically identify any individual as gay, only that among those portrayed, some are gay. I like this extra layer to his project.

These are some of the final images for my fine art photography project. These portraits are of students of BYU who identify themselves as homosexual and a person that supports them. With all of the dissenting views regarding this topic in the past few months I have felt very strongly about this project. The portraits will be shown in pairs. The idea is that there are gay and lesbian individuals not only in the Mormon culture, but also at BYU. I also chose to photograph someone who is a support to this person. This could be a family member or friend. This support person may also identify themselves as homosexual and both people may provide support to each other. I am not telling the viewer who identifies themselves as homosexual, because I hope the viewer will realize that placing a label with the portrait only creates divisions in our society and furthers stereotypes. It is my hope this body of work can be a vehicle for tolerance, support, love and change.

From the artist's statement.

As you can see, other than identifying the subjects as gay, there is nothing offensive or that portrays homosexual behavior, which is the key issue in current BYU Honor Code policy regarding gays (emphasis below mine):

No, except for the fact that the entire purpose of the exhibit has a clearly stated ideological and personal agenda at its foundation that is clearly incongruent with the mission and purpose of the university, which is a private, privately funded religions institution.

Bravo to BYU for pulling down this monotonous pc BS.

That alone shows the differing treatment of gay BYU students even though there has been no violation of the Law of Chastity.

Oh, there hasn't? In what manner has there not been such a violation?

Droopy wrote:No, except for the fact that the entire purpose of the exhibit has a clearly stated ideological and personal agenda at its foundation that is clearly incongruent with the mission and purpose of the university, which is a private, privately funded religions institution.

Bravo to BYU for pulling down this monotonous pc BS.

Yeah, we certainly couldn't expect the Lord's own university to actually follow the dictates of the gospel.

Droopy wrote:

As you can see, other than identifying the subjects as gay, there is nothing offensive or that portrays homosexual behavior, which is the key issue in current BYU Honor Code policy regarding gays (emphasis below mine):

No, except for the fact that the entire purpose of the exhibit has a clearly stated ideological and personal agenda at its foundation that is clearly incongruent with the mission and purpose of the university, which is a private, privately funded religions institution.

Bravo to BYU for pulling down this monotonous pc BS.

Do you think BYU should kick out any student who is homosexual, regardless of "behavior"?

Droopy wrote:

That alone shows the differing treatment of gay BYU students even though there has been no violation of the Law of Chastity.

Oh, there hasn't? In what manner has there not been such a violation?

In what manner has there been a violation?

Droopy wrote:

That alone shows the differing treatment of gay BYU students even though there has been no violation of the Law of Chastity.

Oh, there hasn't? In what manner has there not been such a violation?

No "sexual relations."

Yeah, with pictures like this, who could ever guess which is which?