LGBTQ+ at BYUH

COME JOIN & FEEL SAFE

Affirmation Hawaii Chapter presidency says its goal is to create a safe, welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students and ohana

BY LISI TIAFAU

Ateam of four BYU–Hawaii students and one faculty member lead the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter. As one of the international chapters of the Affirmation organization, the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is for all of Hawaii to support LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in the Church and at BYU–Hawaii, according to the chapter presidency.

The president, Hao Le, a senior from Vietnam majoring in business and peacebuilding, said, “The Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is not an official BYUH chapter. It is a place where the LGBTQ+ community here in Hawaii and at BYUH can come, join and feel safe. “Whether you’re gay or not, we can go to school together [and] participate in activities without any homophobic discrimination or judgment because we are all humans. Why love [one] and not the other?”

She continued, “Our [presidency’s] goal is to make sure our LGBTQ+ students’ voices are heard. Acceptance is not our end goal. Unifying is our long-term goal, so we are working together with BYUH leaders, faculty and staff to ensure the safety of our LGBTQ+ students on campus and to let everyone know there is available help.

“There is a community, a chosen family, for them. More love for LGBTQ+ individuals does not mean less love for anybody else. We all are God’s creations, and you cannot love God if you hate and exclude His creations.”

Le said the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is not an anti-Latter-day Saint organization. She said they support Church leaders and work together with them around the world to create a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community. “We have members who have strong faith, want to be in the Church, want to be at BYUH and also want their sexuality to be accepted,” Le said.

Iese Wilson, a senior from Hawaii majoring in music and the vice president of the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter, said, “Affirmation Hawaii is the chapter for the whole state of Hawaii at the moment, and BYUH is where we have the most members currently.”

Wilson said they are doing their best to live up to Affirmation’s vision, which is “to be a refuge, to heal, share and be authentic.” Wilson said, “A strength of our presidency is we have a diversity of thought which ensures we cover the wide-ranging needs of our members. For example, we are equipped to support LGBTQ+ individuals with a safe space, secular support and resources, as well as spiritual support and resources, the latter being both my personal passion and role in the presidency.”

Gabriella MoraVeracruz, a senior from Texas majoring in intercultural peacebuilding

Leaders of the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter. From left to right: Gabriella MoraVeracruz, Elisa Moncrief, Hao Le, Iese Wilson and Michelle Johnson Blimes.

and vice president of activities and planning, said, “We want to be an open community with open communication to anyone and everyone.

“We want to personally connect with people and adhere to their needs, which is hard when you can’t meet in person, but we are doing our best to accomplish that,” MoraVeracruz said.

Michelle Johnson Blimes, an adjunct faculty member in the Faculty of Education & Social Work and Faculty of Arts & Letters, is the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter advisor.

She said, “We started out having a lot of students here at BYUH as members. We love them, and we want to support them.”

Blimes said they have a vision of how they can help students at BYUH and try to reach out to the whole Hawaii LGBTQ+ community.

Elisa Moncrief, a senior from California majoring in communications, is the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter’s marketing analyst. She said, “This chapter is a necessity as it opens up a new dialogue on this campus.

“I want students from all backgrounds to be able to be unapologetically comfortable on our campus. The LGBTQ+ students here should never feel like they need to hide, and they should feel comfortable seeking help when they need it,” Moncrief said.

Le said, “When [I] first came here in 2017, there was no community like this. I remember times where we had to hide and suppress ourselves from microaggressions and discrimination on campus and in the community just to fit in. Hence why this organization chapter was created is to bring visibility to BYUH and to protect the LGBTQ+ students’ wellness.”

She expressed her concerns about discrimination and harassment towards LGBTQ+ students during a meeting with BYUH Vice President of Student Life Jon Kau, she said. “He expressed his care for our students and his vision to help them reach success in their best self,” Le said.

She said when they held their first chapter event in March 2020, they expected a few students and community members to join, but they were surprised with how high the attendance was. “Everyone came together. There was so much love, and it was a safe place for them to be themselves.

“We not only [have] students but also BYUH faculty, teachers, community and many other people who joined and want to know how they can support the LGBTQ+ community and the wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ students here at BYUH,” Le stated.

Wilson said, “We are not contrary to the teachings, practices or doctrines of the Church. So, if you feel isolated, here is your community full of people like you and safe people who will love you and are learning how to build a better world for you.”

Wilson is a LGBTQ+ Spiritual Liaison, which is a person who helps maintain relationships between the Church and it’s LGBTQ+ members, according to Le. Wilson said, “I am passionate about training members of the Church on how to be allies through a spiritual lens.”

He feels it is important to note those not wishing to pursue a spiritual path are loved and accepted by him regardless, he said. “I know by personal experience this journey is painfully complex, and my love is not qualified based on another’s repentance or their choice to venture away [or] return to church activity.”

Elisa Moncrief: marketing analyst for Affirmation Hawaii Gabriella MoraVeracruz: vice president of planning and activities for Affirmation Hawaii

Photos by Ho Yin Li

Moncrief said, “Since my freshman year, there’s definitely been a change in spirit regarding the unity of students. I think this is the perfect time for our Affirmation chapter to thrive because the conversation about LGBTQ+ issues isn’t one students are as afraid of anymore.”

Le said the biggest change was adding Affirmation Hawaii to the map of the island as a new and only resource for LGBTQ+ individuals located in the North Shore area. “Through Honolulu Pride 2020, Affirmation Hawaii has built professional connections from other LGBTQ+ organizations on the island to support the well-being of our members, including BYUH students.”

Moncrief said, as one of the students who has been around for years, the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter not only helped her but also students who are dealing with gender issues. “This chapter creates unity among the LGBTQ+ students and BYUH and [helps them] not be separated from BYUH and its standards,” she said.

“Even with the ongoing pandemic, there’s still a need for community and a safe place for the LGBTQ+ students. That is why we’re here and will continue to grow our numbers. We are looking forward to that,” Le said.

MoraVeracruz stated they are doing activities online, but they are trying to have activities besides Zoom meetings. “We have so many activities we planned. When COVID-19 started, it was difficult to make plans, but we are doing activities online to bring everyone together,” she said.

Blimes said, “We are trying to do online activities that involve everyone and keep up with our social media to let people know we care about them and [they are] part of our community, even though we can’t physically meet.” Wilson stated if students are not open about their sexual identity or are questioning, they can attend as an ally. “You deserve to bide your time and navigate your unique journey the way you feel is best,” he said. He added students will not get into trouble with either the Church or the school for being involved in the chapter.

Wilson shared he has met with members of the BYUH presidency but only acted as a student. “After talking with Vice President Kau, the school cannot work exclusively with this one organization, which implies the Church is officially working with this organization, he said. Neither is it in Affirmation’s vision to be a part of campus advocacy, he explained. “However, we are willing to provide training if the campus asked for it or if clubs or departments invited us onto campus,” he said.

Le also said, “If you are currently living or planning to live, go to school or work in Hawaii, it is important to be educated about LGBTQ+ issues. The LGBTQ+ [community] has been part of Hawaiian culture for centuries, through terms such as aikāne, meaning gay and māhū, referring to a third gender identity.” Wilson said he believes “it is not a choice to be aikāne or māhū, but it is a choice whether or not to learn how to love other human beings.”•