I am a very proud Utah alum and am a strong supporter of Utah sports. We alums of the University of Utah all have a responsibility to protect our school’s legacy.
In 1968, in protest of the LDS church’s racists policies, seven San Jose football players refused to play BYU in football. The San Jose State basketball team also boycotted BYU because of the LDS church’s racist policies. In 1969, students at the University of Wyoming demonstrated against BYU and the “Black 14” were kicked off the football team for attempting to wear black armbands in protest of BYU. Protests continued at many schools, including the University of Utah. Stanford and other prominent schools dropped BYU from their future sports schedules. Not coincidentally and in very large part due to the student and school protests and boycotts, in 1978 the LDS church took a large step forward in changing its racist policies.
The BYU Honor Code specifically prohibits acts of physical intimacy between same-sex couples. Last month when BYU removed the “homosexual behavior” clause from its Honor Code, many thought BYU was taking a large step forward. Hopes were dashed, however, when the LDS church clarified by a follow-up letter stating that same-sex romantic behavior is “not compatible” with the BYU Honor Code.
Why does the University of Utah continue to play a school that has blatant homophobic policies? These policies are harming our children. If the University of Utah continues to look the other way, why are the students of the University of Utah not demanding action? It’s time that we stop looking the other way. Allowing that team down south to come into our stadiums, fields and arenas is implicit support of their destructive and harmful homophobic policies. Please, U. of U., take action. Let’s get on the right side of history. This story will be told someday and this is our chance to do the right thing.
Chris Campbell, Portland, Ore.