24 arrested at BYU

PROVO — Brigham Young University police arrested 24 people, among them five current students, who participated Tuesday in a march and demonstration by a national gay-awareness group.

At the event, the group marched around the edge of campus and then staged a "die-in" on campus property near the university's main entrance, just past one of the university's icons — the sign "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve."

"I'm not advocating a gay lifestyle," said one of the arrested students, Lauren Jackson, a freshman from Baxter, Tenn. "I've known people who have come out to me and who have struggled within the church. An anti-Christ-like attitude exists among many church members."

The students could face disciplinary action under BYU's Honor Code if university officials judge the march, organized by the group Soulforce, as advocacy of a gay lifestyle, which is contrary to the teachings of BYU's owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jackson and her boyfriend, Alex Liberato, sought advice before the march from BYU Police Chief Larry Stott and the associate dean of student life, Jonathan Kau.

Stott told the students before the march that if arrested, they would be banned from campus for 72 hours, but he lifted the ban for three students at 10 p.m. Tuesday and said he'd meet with the other two early this morning to consider a similar action.

Jackson wrestled with the decision to be arrested because she had a quiz Tuesday afternoon and a test scheduled today.

The Honor Code Office reports to Kau, who told Jackson and Liberato they likely wouldn't face damaging sanctions.

"If you're actively advocating, as it says in the Honor Code, that might be a different matter," Kau added. "If you're asking if you're going to be expelled, I don't think so."

The marchers proceeded somberly and silently on a 42-minute walk past the LDS Missionary Training Center, the Marriott Center, Larry H. Miller Field and LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The procession ended at the campus entrance on the corner of Bulldog Boulevard and Canyon Road, where Soulforce conducted a rally to memorialize the deaths of 22 members of the LDS Church who committed suicide between 1965 and 2004.

Soulforce leaders read biographies of each of the gay men — 11 served LDS church missions and six were former BYU students or graduates. The rally included memorials for two other gay men who had ties to Utah or the LDS Church.