“Every single member of the sorority was so open and accepting, and I didn’t imagine every single person in such a large group to be that way.”Īngel thinks the process of sorority rush can be intimidating and discourage transgender women from rushing. “It felt really really amazing to know that I had a home,” she said. But then friends from Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority invited her to a party and three weeks later, Angel was asked to join. Leigh Angel, 19, a second-year transgender woman at Adrian College in Michigan, never thought she would be allowed to join a sorority. The fraternities Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Upsilon, Delta Tau Delta, and the sorority Delta Gamma, have also recently changed their bylaws to allow for anyone who “identifies as” male or female, and don’t require any paperwork. The sorority Gamma Rho Lambda is open to all gender identities, and recently opened a new chapter at the University of Texas. Lawyers say excluding transgender students because of their gender identity could put fraternities at risk of discrimination complaints and threaten their staying power.Ĭurrently the policies vary by organization, but several prominent Greek houses have adopted transgender inclusive policies in the last year. In the US, more than 200,000 students rush Greek houses every year, and some of those individuals identify as transgender. Infamous for raging parties, members tout familial bonds and swear lifelong loyalty. Greek houses have been central to American university life for more than 200 years. And because gender identity is not a protected class like race, religion, or sexual orientation, individual Greek organizations can decide whether to allow transgender members in, as well as whether membership will be based on gender identity or genitalia.Īlpha Sigma Alpha Bid Day in 2016. This May, the US Department of Education informed American schools in a Dear Colleague letter that it is illegal to discriminate against students based on their gender identity.īut Title IX, the US law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities, does not apply to fraternities and sororities. Therefore, we support Ryan and his effort to participate in Greek life based on his self-identity and not his birth certificate.”īishop’s experience comes when many institutions defined by gender binaries – American schools, the US military, and even the International Olympic Committee – are adopting transgender-inclusive policies. The university believes Ryan and all students have the right to participate fully in every aspect of campus life. “We seek to be open, inclusive, and supportive of the LGBTIQ community. “The issue of transgender students participating in Greek life is important to Ohio Wesleyan on multiple levels,” said Cole Hatcher, media and community relations director for Ohio Wesleyan University. “No one deserves to be excluded or discriminated against based on their gender or based on genitals.”Ĭhi Phi did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but representatives from Ohio Wesleyan University said the school supports Bishop. “Not being allowed into the fraternity was humiliating because they were saying, we see you the way you are on paper,” Bishop said. In July, Chi Phi opened membership to transgender individuals that were “male as defined by valid legal documentation.” The decision was widely publicized and celebrated, but the fine print was ignored.įor Bishop, Chi Phi’s requirement for “valid legal documentation” meant that to join the fraternity, he would need to change his government issued identification and likely undergo costly and intensive sex reassignment surgery. “I had sold him on this idea that he could be a fraternity man, and it was a smack in the face,” Simon said. When Chi Phi rejected Bishop, Simon was shocked and ashamed. He was everything I wanted Chi Phi to become.” “As an international student and transgender, we would get a really amazing person, with another diverse perspective. “Ryan represented the best student leader that I had seen as a first year since coming to the university,” Simon said. Former Chi Phi president Kyle Simon, 22, said he recruited Bishop to join the fraternity because he was so impressive. “It felt like the moment I arrived here I was seen as who I truly am, and could just act like myself.” Bishop jumped into campus activism and devoted his studies to zoology. America offered a sort of gender asylum and so three years ago, on his first night at university, Bishop introduced himself as Ryan. He always said his sex felt wrong, but never felt safe enough to transition in the conservative Balkan country.
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