Four were BYU students. The university placed three on probation and issued a "suspension withheld" to Matthew Kulisch, who transferred last fall to the University of Utah. A fifth student who participated only in the march was also placed on probation.

"(BYU's) decision this year was based on the behavior last year," Jenkins said. "Visitors are welcomed to campus. (Soulforce members) were welcomed to engage in dialogue, but it became clear very quickly their intent was to demonstrate in a way that led to a citation."

Jenkins thought Soulforce would have been invited back on campus this year if it hadn't violated BYU policy last year. "I do," she said. "I think we would have followed our policies that visitors are welcome on campus."

Instead, BYU followed its policy to prohibit visits by people or groups who have violated policy in the past.

Asked if she regretted last year's violations because of BYU's response, Herrin said the group stands by its principle that the time for dialogue is now.

"Students here are suffering in the closet," she said. "We come civilly and academically inclined to have a dialogue. The university decides to respond in a way that is punitive and negative, and that is their decision."

Allen said she joined her son to support him and ask BYU students to treat GLBT students the same as their heterosexual counterparts.

"They should be respected as much as anybody else," she said.

At least two BYU students marched with the group Thursday. During a panel discussion Wednesday night at the Provo City Library at Academy Square, student Lauren Jackson and Melissa Pomeroy said they are lesbians.

Nearly 100 people attended the discussion, including several BYU students.

Jenkins said discussion about gay issues and treatment does happen at BYU, including among administrators. "To say there is no place for discussion at BYU, that is hurtful, because discussion does take place on campus," she said.

One BYU student who stopped by as the press conference broke up said Soulforce is a non-conformist group who came to BYU trying to make it conform to their ideas.

"There's hypocrisy there, trying to make us conform to their non-conformity," said Clark Rumsey, a business student. "We're unique, and BYU students come here because they like it that way."

Rumsey said President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns BYU, "has already said (Mormons) honor people who call themselves gays and lesbians as sons and daughters of God."

BYU allows openly gay students to enroll and study at the conservative Christian university. Its Honor Code prohibits any homosexual behavior or even implicit advocacy of homosexuality.

Kulisch, who said he is now an inactive Mormon, prayed with Osborn and Allen before they entered campus.

"Make safe spaces," he said, "for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students brothers and sisters on this campus."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com