Ava Moorhem Reaction Paper 2

Ava Moorhem
Professor Zugnoni
English 105-7
October 30, 2023
Reaction Paper 2
In the words of civil rights activist Kimberle Crenshaw, intersectionality is “ a lens
through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and
intersects.” This definition of intersectionality is centered around power dynamics in
society, and how systemic injustices oppress and harm marginalized groups. This
definition can be expanded to include understanding how various aspects of our
identities relate to each other, as well as how our unique combinations of identities
influence our experiences in the world. Our identities are intricately woven together to
create the tapestry of our lives, and each thread cannot be unraveled independently,
without the total collapse of our understanding of ourselves. However, what happens
when two identities within a single person directly contradict each other? When the
power societally attached to one identity is used to directly harm and dismantle the
other? This question is asked and addressed in the documentary Same Sex Attracted.
Within the film, queer, Mormon students at Brigham Young University are shown
navigating the daily turmoils of life at a religious institution that is openly hostile to
members of the LGBTQ community. The students consistently find themselves at a
crossroads, debating their faith, their sexuality, their safety, and what it means to be true
to themselves. This film highlighted the unique role religion has on our identity and how
individuals navigate the conflict between their opposing identities.
In a podcast titled Religion Bites, creator Malory Nye discusses the important
role that religion has on identity for many people. Nye indicates that religion is often
believed to be a choice, before stating that this is not necessarily the case. He goes on
to express that religion is often a central part of one’s culture, and that to understand
one you must understand the other. This ideology can be seen in the Same Sex
Attracted Film. The students featured in the documentary feel a profound connection to
their religion and they do their best to live life in accordance with their faith. Many of the
students admit to doing this to the detriment of themselves and their mental health. For
the BYU students specifically, this means abandoning or ignoring their queer identities,
to live the traditional life of the Latter-Day Saints, which is dictated by the marriage
between a man and a woman. One gay student even went as far as saying he agrees
that the integration of queer spaces on campus may not be a good idea, as it would
challenge the traditions and beliefs of the church. While this was not representative of
all the queer students at BYU, this mindset, honestly, quite surprised me. I personally
grew up in an environment where part of my family strongly pressured me to learn and
practice their religion, despite it not aligning with my beliefs. Through the freedom of
expression and thought given to me by my parents, however, I was able to move past
the influence of my other family members. After comparing my own experiences to
those of the BYU students, it appears to me that Nye’s description of religion being part
of culture is true. The BYU students were likely raised in an environment where religion
was the only major aspect of their culture and identity. Without outside support networks
or resources, these LGBTQ students have to find the strength within themselves to
accept their sexuality, which can be a monumental task.
The actions the students took and the attitudes they held in response to the BYU
administration and their policies toward queer towards varied greatly. The documentary
primarily focused on the students who became great advocates for change, pushing for
the future of inclusivity on campus and the freedom for all students to live their lives
truthfully. Some students, who were only alluded to in the documentary without ever
truly being shown, succumbed to the hostility. These students felt depressed and
isolated, with their only relief being the other student advocates who were fighting on
behalf of the whole community. While these two groups differed in their actions and
mindsets, there is a common theme among them: their lives are constantly dictated by
their queer identity. The students were unable to live the same lives as their straight
counterparts, as each decision they made was forced to be within the context of their
queer identity. The students could not simply be LGBTQ and Mormon. Their school and
their religion forced them into a position where they had to hyperfocus on one aspect of
their identity rather than being able to just live and learn regardless of their identity. This
internal battle seemed to constantly be at the forefront of many students' minds. These
students’ identities should just define who they are, not how they are forced to navigate
their lives.
Inclusivity in many spaces is an ongoing problem without any true and near
solution, and this is the case for LGBTQ students at BYU. Because of their mindsets
towards the LGBTQ community, students were forced into lonely and dangerous
situations, where they had to choose between their religious and sexual identities.
Despite the efforts from student activists to work with the university to create a space
that would work within the context of both groups, the university failed to cooperate and
compromise. Religion is central to the school's culture and history, and it is important to
foster spaces where an identity or belief can be shared among a group and celebrated.
However, BYU, and many other religious spaces, fail to account for the fact that in a
group as broad and diverse as a religious organization, its members are going to have
numerous different identities. Tradition may imply there is no space for queer individuals
within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, tradition is rooted in a
time when queer individuals were not accepted outwardly by the majority of society.
With increased visibility and acceptance that has slowly grown for members of the
LGBTQ community, religious institutions should implement intersectional policies within
their groups. This does not mean the foundation of their religion needs to change.
However, they must realize that religion is an area where people choose to come
together, and by harming the queer members they do not agree with, they are not
changing the mindsets of sexualities of the queer students, but instead poisoning their
opinion of the church.

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Ava Moorhem

October 30, 2023

In the words of civil rights activist Kimberle Crenshaw, intersectionality is “ a lens

intersects.” This definition of intersectionality is centered around power dynamics in

definition can be expanded to include understanding how various aspects of our

members of the LGBTQ community. The students consistently find themselves at a

individuals navigate the conflict between their opposing identities.

grew up in an environment where part of my family strongly pressured me to learn and

the influence of my other family members. After comparing my own experiences to

accept their sexuality, which can be a monumental task.

LGBTQ community, religious institutions should implement intersectional policies within

opinion of the church.

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