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SAN DIEGO -- Forty-two percent of Brigham Young University students think those with a same-sex orientation should not be allowed to attend the LDS Church-owned school, according to a recent survey.
Nearly a quarter of BYU women would consider a relationship with a man with a same-sex orientation if he were romantically and sexually attracted to them and promised never to engage in any sex outside marriage, says another survey.
The findings of these two surveys were presented during separate sessions of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion meeting here. The three-day conference, featuring many sessions on issues relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, concludes today.
In the first study, BYU student Samuel Clayton, with the help of several faculty members, gave questionnaires anonymously to 420 students in randomly selected classes. Clayton acknowledged Saturday that he is same-sex oriented and his reason for conducting the survey was ``political.'' He and others wanted to prove to BYU's administration that there would be student support for the existence of a club for same-sex-oriented people. School policy dictates that gay students who obey the honor code, which includes being chaste, can attend BYU.
Some of Clayton's findings include:
-- 69 percent know someone who is same-sex oriented
-- 12 percent have a family member who is same-sex oriented
-- 24 percent would avoid befriending a same-sex-oriented student
-- 56 percent believe same-sex-oriented students should be allowed to attend BYU if they obey the honor code
Clayton said there was ``a significant gender gap'' -- 74 percent of women knew a same-sex oriented person, compared with 64 percent of men. Only 16 percent of women would avoid befriending a same-sex-oriented person, compared to 33...