• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Spun

What's trending in the sports world today.

  • NFL
  • College Football
  • NBA
  • College Hoops
  • News
  • Interviews
  • About

Search The Spun ...

Close

August 9, 2016 @ 2:41pm » Dan LyonsShares 0

BYU AD Responds To Criticism Of School By LGBT Groups In Light Of Big 12 Expansion

mountain west expansion, mwc expansion, gonzaga mwc, gonzaga conference change, mountain west byubyu lavell edwards stadiumBYU.

BYU is angling to become a member of the Big 12 Conference, but on Monday, a new challenge presented itself to the Cougars’ candidacy.

Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that works to build connections between straight and LGBT athletes, posted a letter, signed by 26 different organizations including GLAAD and the National LGBTQ Taskforce, to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, criticizing the school for anti-LGBT policies.

We are writing to express our concerns about Brigham Young University’s (BYU) candidacy for Big 12 Conference membership. As organizations committed to ending homophobia, biphobia and transphobia both on and off the field of play, we are deeply troubled by this possibility. We feel it would be extremely problematic to include BYU in your conference expansion for the following reasons:

Adding BYU would be inconsistent with Big 12 Conference membership values.

The letter goes on to allege that Brigham Young University policies violate NCAA rules and Title IX.

The Big 12 is known for its dedication to its sports community (fans, coaches, staff and players, etc.) and its commitment to the welfare of its student-athletes. BYU’s membership to the Big 12 would jeopardize both. First, LGBT coaches, players and fans who attend and/or compete at any Big 12 events hosted at BYU would be subject to discrimination since BYU remains exempt from Utah’s LGBT nondiscrimination law. Moreover, any student-athlete who identifies as LGBT, and subsequently selects BYU due to its Big 12 membership, would be subjected to BYU’s unabashed discrimination. This would endanger the student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility and mental health. The Big 12’s sports community, especially its student athletes, deserve better than this.

BYU’s anti-LGBT policies violate both Big 12 guidelines and NCAA guidelines.

Bowlsby had a brief response to the letter this afternoon.

Here is Bob Bowlsby's initial response to Athlete Ally re: BYU letter. pic.twitter.com/LhLamTj1Nw

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 9, 2016

Thank you for your note. As we move forward with our processes we will certainly take your concerns into consideration. I appreciate your having taken the time to express your thoughts.

Bob Bowlsby

Shortly after Bowlsby’s statement, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe tweeted that all members of the LGBT community are welcome to play and attend games at the school.

LGBT players, coaches and fans are always welcome to the BYU campus. Everyone should be treated with respect, dignity and love. Tom

— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) August 9, 2016

The Cougars have a strong football history, and a number of other top programs. However, it seems like other programs like Cincinnati and Houston have more support from the conference’s most influential programs, Oklahoma and Texas respectively.

The letter from Athlete Ally may not have a major impact on BYU’s Big 12 hopes, but it probably doesn’t help either.

FacebookTweetEmailSMS

Filed Under: Baylor, BYU, College Football, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia

Reader Interactions

Featured Posts

  • sam ponder, college gameday, college football playoff, ohio state michigan, mark helfrich fired
    Q&A With ESPN's Sam Ponder
  • Antonietta Collins ESPN
    A Q&A With SportsCenter Anchor Antonietta Collins
  • todd gurley, todd gurley georgia, todd gurley compliments alabama, alabama defense, alabama washington game
    Q&A With Todd Gurley On His Huge Season, The Offer He Always Wanted, His Heisman Pick, Georgia’s Future And More
  • Jemele Hill Voted Most Annoying Person In Sports Media

About Dan Lyons

Dan is an Editor at The Spun.

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent Content

Elite Program Could Lose Starting QB To MLB

Elite Program Could Lose Starting QB To MLB

All 22 ESPN Analysts Got This NBA Pick Embarrassingly Wrong

All 22 ESPN Analysts Got This NBA Pick Embarrassingly Wrong

A Team Unveiled A National Championship Banner At Today’s Spring Game, And It Wasn’t Alabama

A Team Unveiled A National Championship Banner At Today’s Spring Game, And It Wasn’t Alabama

SEC Head Coach Calls Out His Team’s Fans After Spring Game

SEC Head Coach Calls Out His Team’s Fans After Spring Game

Nick Saban Caught On Mic Criticizing Jalen Hurts During Spring Game

Nick Saban Caught On Mic Criticizing Jalen Hurts During Spring Game

White Sox Announce Pitcher Danny Farquhar Suffered Brain Hemorrhage During Last Night’s Game

White Sox Announce Pitcher Danny Farquhar Suffered Brain Hemorrhage During Last Night’s Game

Home » Blog » Independents » BYU » BYU AD Responds To Criticism Of School By LGBT Groups In Light Of Big 12 Expansion
  • Privacy Policy / Terms Of Use
  • Coverage By Team

Copyright © 2018 The Spun · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding, Inc.

  • NFL
  • College Football
  • NBA
  • College Hoops
  • News
  • Interviews
  • About
  • Search
  • April 22, 2018
  • 8 hours ago
    Elite Program Could Lose Starting QB To MLB
  • 9 hours ago
    All 22 ESPN Analysts Got This NBA Pick Embarrassingly Wrong
  • 10 hours ago
    A Team Unveiled A National Championship Banner At Today’s Spring Game, And It Wasn’t Alabama
  • 12 hours ago
    SEC Head Coach Calls Out His Team’s Fans After Spring Game
  • 13 hours ago
    Nick Saban Caught On Mic Criticizing Jalen Hurts During Spring Game
  • 14 hours ago
    White Sox Announce Pitcher Danny Farquhar Suffered Brain Hemorrhage During Last Night’s Game
  • 14 hours ago
    Verne Troyer, Actor And Michigan Superfan, Passes Away At 49 Years Old
  • 15 hours ago
    Aaron Rodgers Is Now Part-Owner Of An NBA Team
  • 16 hours ago
    Nebraska Is Absolutely Crushing Everyone Else In Spring Game Attendance
  • 17 hours ago
    Kate Upton’s New Photoshoot With Yamamay Is Going Viral
  • 17 hours ago
    Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua’s Younger Brother, Officially Announces Where He’ll Play College Football
  • 18 hours ago
    Bad Weather Did Not Stop Nebraska Fans From Selling Out The Team’s Spring Game
Share this Article

Email sent!