On March 10, 2022, the Academic Vice President of Brigham Young University, Shane Reese, submitted a letter to ASHA (the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) regarding BYU’s decision to discontinue providing gender-affirming voice services through their Speech and Language Clinic hosted by the Department of Communication Disorders.

He quotes a portion of the ASHA’s Code of Ethics, stated below:

Rule C. Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, culture, language, or dialect.

The implication is that the clinician may not refuse services based on an individual's gender identity/expression that are not related directly to gender transition (e.g., voice disorder, cognitive-communication disorder post-stroke, etc.).

He goes on to state that “BYU did not require its Department of Communication Disorders to end all voice and communication services in its Speech and Language Clinic for transgender clients” but rather, that “going forward, BYU’s clinic will not provide gender affirming voice services.”

This distinction places BYU’s institutional values over the values of trans lives and effectively ostracizes trans students by removing access to a service that is fundamentally necessary for the trans community. Because of this policy, three transgender students were cut off from services without reasonable notice. Cutting off treatment completely and without notice is unethical. And unlike BYU, Christ went out of his way to gather lost sheep.

Sadly, this is just the latest development in a history of transphobia not just within BYU culture, but society overall. Transitioning is a life-giving practice which allows trans people to align their internal gender identity with their external gender expression, and we wholeheartedly believe transitioning should be a protected practice not only under ASHA’s Code of Ethics but also all other state and federal non-discriminatory laws.

The OUT Foundation is committed to serving the transgender students and alumni of BYU. We have partnered with Rocky Mountain University’s Center for Communication Disorders to provide free, gender-affirming therapy to any transgender students or alumni seeking to align their voice with their preferred gender. If you are a trans student or alumni interested in taking advantage of these services, apply at our website here: https://www.theout.foundation/genderaffirming-speech-therapy

Consider becoming a monthly donor to help sustain these and other life-saving services here: https://www.theout.foundation/donate