I commend Equality Utah’s generous decision to support Jeffrey Holland’s right to freedom of speech and not to demand canceling his invitation to address Southern Utah University’s 2023 commencement.
Holland’s remarks about LGBTQ individuals at his August 2021 speech at BYU (for which he has yet to apologize) have been hurtful and caused fear to many LGBTQ persons. They are concerned that targeting a gay student with criticism and using rhetoric such as taking “muskets” to defend LDS doctrine will promote violence against LGBTQ individuals. There are students who will forego their graduation ceremony at SUU rather than be in an audience where Holland is honored as commencement speaker.
I agree that the First Amendment gives Holland, as well every other American, the right to express our opinions. The First Amendment does not, however, absolve any of us from facing the consequences of our public utterances.
Jeffrey Holland is free to offer his feelings about the LGBTQ community, but his choice to speak his mind in public has impacted LGBTQ students at SUU. They should not have to miss their commencement ceremony because they won’t be comfortable being addressed by a person with an obvious bias against them. SUU should rescind their invitation or Holland should decline. That is a logical consequence of rhetoric that offends others.
Ann Johnson, Farmington
