![]() ![]() He too had labels for those like me when he said “among us today there’s some ugly things” and explained me as “something that’s creeping in that’s as devilish and hellish as anything among us today. I have listened with my own ears and wept in grief at the first clearly and unmistakably transphobic words ever spoken in LDS circles by the same leader that BYU’s own library is named for. For example, I remember well the labels leaders first gave me in “For The Strength Of Youth” and other places like “Perversion” or “Abomination.” But in my search for understanding, I also found and learned the history and origins of transphobia among my culture of origin. I have memories, some wounds that I don’t know if they will ever fully heal. I know I’m not and will never be the 99 that this probably means nothing for, or who may even view this with resentment-but it means something to me as someone who walked so many nights so alone in darkness at BYU with no hope while others slept. ![]() ![]() I don’t believe that I have ever seen a more beautiful night with that Y than tonight all my life. Most of my memories of BYU-even the happy ones-are always shrouded in a context of deep hidden sorrow, pain, and shadows. Especially after the fencing barrier was placed around the Y so symbolic of similar ones that still surround so many hardened hearts in my culture of origin. A light every trans person knows and another Y that I never thought I would ever live to see. – Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmation I honor her story and share it here with you, our Affirmation community. One of the most powerful posts came from a friend of mine, who gave permission to share it anonymously, from a trans woman who graduated from BYU many years ago. After the lighting of the Y, I came across many reflections from the Queer Latter-day Saint community. Personal posts, stories, and shared feelings are the true agent of change whenever the Y gets lit in Queer colors. These personal reactions contextualize this moment in time and do so in empowering ways by assigning meaning to this expression of love and support. Seeing the Y lit in transgender and rainbow colors was powerful, but to hear personal stories from the Queer community about this night is absolutely the most meaningful and powerful part of this event. It was a show of love and support for BYU students by the local citizens and fellow members of the Church-a celebration of the Queer soul, those who face or have faced some pretty intimidating prejudice and acts of prejudice in their everyday life as an LGBTQ+ BYU student. No citations were given and no arrests were made. ![]() By the time they cycled these colors to rainbow colors, BYU police had made the forty-minute hike from the valley floor to disperse the crowd and question the participants. LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saint allies, family, and friends hiked to the imposing block-letter Y on the mountain overlooking the campus of Brigham Young University and with flashlights, illuminated the Y in the colors of the transgender flag. Last night was anything but a typical Saturday night in Provo, Utah. ![]()
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