A former student at Brigham Young University in Utah settled a lawsuit Thursday (26 March) after he was assaulted and evicted from student accommodation for being gay.

The amount was not disclosed but Andrew White had sought $101,610 for damage to property and ’emotional distress as a result of management’s sharing his sexual orientation.’

On 23 January, White was evicted from ‘BYU-approved’ housing which enforces the Mormon school’s honor code, including no premarital and gay sex.

According to court documents, White told one of his roommates ‘in confidence’ that he was attracted to men in early January after nearly three months living in the apartment. The housemate then told the other two men living in the house.

A few days late, a quarrel broke out over food and White’s roommates told him that ‘because of his homosexuality, he should not be permitted to live in the apartment, to study at Brigham Young University, be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or work at the Missionary Training Center.’

That night, they woke White up and threw his things into the street. He claims he was pushed during the argument and was treated for bruised ribs.

The apartment manager, Lance Freeman, initially offered White temporary housing but later served him an eviction notice 10 days after the incident.

Court documents state that Freeman told several employees that White was gay, which he claimed ‘led directly to an assault on him and a loss of living quarters.’

White released the following statement after reaching a settlement with the landlord: