BYU Could Sue for Religious Discrimination

Brigham Young University (BYU) has applied to become a member of the Big 12 conference. However, some LGBT groups are urging the league to reject BYU’s membership application. Why? Because BYU’s honor code forbids all homosexual activity. However, there’s nothing in BYU’s honor code that discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation. The policy does not address or attempt to regulate feelings and attractions, only behavior. And it doesn’t single out homosexual behavior, it also bans all forms of premarital and extramarital sex. Besides, BYU is a private religious university operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and receives no public funds. BYU’s code of conduct is centered around the church’s religious beliefs. If the Big 12 denies BYU membership based solely on its prohibition of homosexual activity, the school could sue for religious discrimination. And it would have every right to do so.