The OUT Foundation

A nonprofit organization empowering the LGBTQ+ alumni and current students of BYU to achieve their professional and intellectual potential

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Hey everyone,

Given *gestures around at the state of this place*, we’ve made the decision to stop posting on this account. We’re going to leave our past posts up for anyone who finds them helpful, but we’ll no longer be monitoring this account. Find us on Insta or Bluesky!

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Mckay's dream of going to BYU, and the reality were very different. Being isolated, feeling like you're one of the only queer people around, is very difficult to experience firsthand.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

A lot of people growing up in the church, with family that goes to BYU, expect to go there as well. McKay also assumed that he'd go there, as a sign of his success.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

While the people there can be wonderful, Cal's feelings on the culture of BYU ranges from cold and unfeeling to callous and cruel to queer students. While the allies and support groups help, it can only do so much to undercut that tension.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

After returning from his mission, Cal felt the need to turn down his full ride scholarships, in order to go to BYU. He had been convinced that BYU was the where "the best people go."
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

One year for Christmas, Robert and his brother both got a male doll. While his father wasn't thrilled, seeing dolls as "girls toys", his mother pointed out that they needed to be good fathers someday, even if the dolls were of adult men.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Robert had always known he was gay, even if he never had the words to express what he was feeling, and no one safe to talk to about how he was feeling growing up.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

This Transgender Day of Visibility, let’s recommit ourselves to supporting and protecting each other. To enduring, and to loving, and to remaining visible. 🩵🤍🩷

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

This year’s Transgender Day of Visibility falls amidst an unprecedented wave of attacks on the trans community — from Utah being the first state in the nation to ban Pride flags, to the federal government refusing to issue passports that reflect the applicant’s gender.

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

But we also know that when cisgender people personally know a transgender person, they are more likely to support trans rights. We know that when transgender people know cisgender people who are courageous and visible allies, their wellbeing improves.

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

The stress and anxiety of hiding as a gay student while at BYU led Robert to seek counseling. That action likely ended up saving Roberts life, and helped improve his mental health.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Depression and anxiety, due to hiding who you are, isn't anything new to queer people. As Robert can attest to, having attended BYU as a gay student back in the 60's.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

By throwing himself into school, work, and other things that kept him busy, Robert was able to put off the stress and any issues of being a gay man at BYU. Unfortunately, that led him to using work to avoid other, future problems.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Robert was going to night school, and met a professor who became a friend to him while at BYU, encouraging him to join the Honors program, and even came to Robert's father's funeral.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

The simple answer for Robert was that it was the cheapest college for him, since his father was on the faculty staff. That was exacerbated with his brother convincing his parents that going elsewhere would "corrupt" him.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

After some time, Joseph's mother finally reconciled with him. But when she was passing, she told Joseph that she felt guilty about reconciling, as her bond with her son was seemingly less important than anything else.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

Even going to college in the 90's, Joseph had friends and allies at BYU that created safe spaces for him, places that let him know he was okay, that people cared about him.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

For Joseph, one of the things that allies can do is call out hypocrisy and hatred. It can be scary, and others may despise you for that, but it also shows the love and care you have for those who are suffering that hatred already.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer

[The OUT Foundation @OUT_Foundation]

A piece of advice Joseph gives for queer students is to reach out to people. Even during his time, there were people he could've reached out to that would've helped him feel less isolated.
#OUTSpoken #LGBTQ #BYU #LifeatBYU #Queer