BYU AD: LGBT community welcome on campus

After LGBT advocacy groups sent the Big 12 a letter urging the conference to exclude BYU from expansion plans, school athletic director Tom Holmoe responded Tuesday.

"LGBT players, coaches, and fans are always welcome to the BYU campus. Everyone should be treated with respect, dignity, and love," tweeted Holmoe.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby also responded. According to FOX Sports' Stewart Mandel, Bowlsby wrote:

Thank you for your note. As we move forward with our processe, we will certainly take your comments into consideration. I appreciate you having taken the time to express your thoughts.

The private university is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The school has an honor code that all students and faculty, regardless of religion, are required to respect. The code doesn't identify same-sex attraction as an issue, but does prohibit "inappropriate sexual activity" including "homosexual behavior."

BYU is one of the schools interested in joining the Big 12 after the conference decided to expand from 10 teams.

"BYU's policies go against everything the Big 12 stands for," said Ashland Johnson, director of policy and campaigns for Athlete Ally, one of the organizations that signed the letter.

"Their member schools are very progressive. If they allow BYU into their conference, all of the LGBT student-athletes, coaches, and fans who travel to BYU will not have any (discrimination) protections."