Stanford Mocks BYU’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies in ‘Gay Chicken’ Skit – Yahoo News
Stanford University has apologized for a skit performed by its band at Saturday’s football game against Brigham Young University (BYU) at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto.
The band, officially known as the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), performed a halftime skit entitled “gay chicken” that featured two women getting married and kissing, and using terms common in marriages performed by the Mormon church.
BYU is ran by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the university repealed a ban on homosexuality a couple of years ago, the school still prohibits same-sex dating.
“The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB) has a long history of lighthearted and satirical halftime performances,” the Stanford Athletic Department said in a statement to local KSL Sports and BYU student newspaper Universe. “Unfortunately, some of the language that was used in Saturday’s halftime show did not reflect Stanford University’s values of religious freedom and diversity, inclusion, and belonging. The LSJUMB deeply regrets that this performance caused offense to spectators, and the halftime performance review and approval process is being adjusted to ensure that issues like this do not occur again.”
Related: Mormon Church Comes Out in Favor of Marriage Equality Law
The skit came during a halftime performance of the band and featured three women, one of whom challenged the second woman to propose to the third.
“Stacy, will you make me the happiest woman in the world and be my wife?” said the second woman in subtitles appearing on the stadium’s scoreboard.
“Oh my gosh!” replied the third. “Yes, yes, yes!”
The first woman performed a quick ceremony where the couple swore their vows “for time and all eternity.” The two women then shared a kiss.
The phrase “for time and all eternity” refers to the belief that marriage performed within the Mormon church is for both the present life and the life that follows.
The game was only the second time the two schools have played a football game at Stanford University. During the previous game played in 2004, the Stanford band performed a skit that featured five women wearing wedding rings and veils in a jab at the practice of polygamy. ESPN reported at the time Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland called the conduct of the band “inappropriate” and apologized for the incident.