LGBTQ+ Students in German 330

Dear LGBTQ+ Students:

If you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, pansexual, queer, plusplusplus..., we welcome you to German 330! We’re glad you’re here and we appreciate the unique perspective you bring to this class. Whether you choose to openly discuss your identity as an LGBTQ+ person in class or not, we support you and we will do everything in our power to make sure this class is a welcoming, safe environment for everyone. If you feel like you have been the victim of discrimination or bullying, or if you have ideas about how we can better address topics of sexuality or gender in this course, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

A few words from an LGBTQ+ BYU student who has taken German 330:

Connor Kreutz served in the Berlin, Germany Mission from 2014-2016 and returned to Berlin and Leipzig Summer 2017 to work as an intern in the U.S. Embassy to Germany. He studied Political Science and Business Strategy implemented by upper-division German coursework. After graduation, Connor will start a job in Seattle at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm. Connor's message to all students in German 330:

“I took German 330 fall semester of 2016 and deeply loved the course. As a gay student at BYU, I will readily admit that my relationship with the Church is complex and ever-evolving. The opportunity to serve a mission in Germany and to learn to love the German-speaking people, their culture, and history is a blessing for which I will always be grateful. It is almost certain that at least one individual sitting in your German 330 class this semester identifies as LGBTQ+, so be thoughtful about what you say and do. LGBTQ+ students want to feel cool, authentic, and likable, just like you do, but the culture of BYU can still be very harsh towards people who are different. Perhaps you haven’t seen or experienced bullying or discrimination at BYU, but many LGBTQ+ BYU students, if asked, will admit they would have chosen the far-less tenuous path (being straight) if given the choice. Even though being gay has made areas of my life such as faith, marriage, and family so much more complicated, I am truly grateful God made me the way I am and for the way being gay has shaped the way I perceive my fellow brothers and sisters and the challenges they may experience.”