Mormon Leaders Ask Students If They ‘Struggle With Same-Sex Attraction’ –Â ‘Homosexual’ Or ‘Bisexual’ Not An Option
A confidential survey distributed to some Brigham Young University students reveals the depths of ignorance the Mormon Church’s top leadership has about homosexuality. Students were told the survey was created to screen students for a focus group designed to better understand Millennial’s attitudes about “same-sex attraction,” yet it makes clear that “gay” is not an option — literally.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is conducting a focus group to better understand your views on marriage and same-sex attraction,” the short survey, which was exclusively obtained by The New Civil Rights Movement, reads. An email requesting students’ participation appeared to have been sent by Michael Colemere, Managing Director, Communication Services, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brigham Young University, which has a student population of about 34,000, is wholly owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The online survey asks basic questions, and also requests respondents rate on a scale of 1-5 if they are “not intimidated by people [they are] unfamiliar with,” if they “enjoy participating in new situations,” are “open to new ideas and experiences,” are “comfortable expressing [their] opinion to others,” and if they “often set the trends in [their] social circle.”
The survey also asks the students to rate their “stance on social and moral issues” on a 1-5 scale, from “Traditional / conservative” to “Progressive / liberal.”
All relatively basic questions.
But the survey also asks students to answer the question, “What is your sexual orientation?”
There are only three options and students must choose one:
I am heterosexual, but I struggle with same-sex attraction.
I am heterosexual and do not struggle with same-sex attraction.
Other, please specify:
Despite the LDS Church creating a website called “Mormon and Gay,” seemingly, in the minds of the Mormon Church’s top leadership, either someone is heterosexual, or they are heterosexual and “struggle” with a problem. Actually being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or any other orientation is not within the realm of possibility — as if the entire concept of homosexuality just does not exist.
A link to the survey was sent via email and included the request to complete the survey “to help the Quorum of the Twelve better understand what YSA members believe about same sex attraction.” The Quorum of the Twelve is part of the governing body of the Mormon, or Latter Day Saint church.
UPDATE:Â Breaking: Mormon Leaders Add, Then Remove Homosexuality From BYU Sexual Orientation Survey
Image, top, via Instagram