Brigham Young University removes rule from code of conduct banning ‘homosexual feelings’

Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah decidedly revised its code of conduct to remove a school policy that banned behavior that may exhibit “homosexual feelings.”

On Wednesday, BYU, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, updated its Church Educational System Honor Code to exclude homosexuality from the abstinence list, according to NBC.

Previously, reports from some LGBTQ students said that the now-removed rule created an unequal double standard that did not affect heterosexual couples the same way.

“As of today, homosexual relationships are now treated the same as heterosexual ones at BYU,” Matty Easton, a BYU student posted on Twitter after reports confirmed the removal of the ban.

Less than a year ago I joined my student body in protesting BYU’s honor code, a policy that banned same-gender romantic relationships.

As of today, homosexual relationships are now treated the same as heterosexual ones at BYU :’)

Girls and gays, we did it! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/67VGLC3mgU

— Matty Easton (@easton_matty) February 19, 2020

A spokeswoman from BYU, Carri Jenkins, said that the refreshed codes align with a new handbook of rules revealed by the faith, also known as the Mormon church, according to the report.

However, the changes only removed “prescriptive language,” and “kept the focus on the principles of the Honor Code, which have not changed,” Jenkins penned in a school email.