Greek Life Assessment: Where do you stand on Trans Issues?

I thought it might be helpful to “boil it down” into a few key questions for you to ask yourself, your students, your colleagues, administration, national leaders, etc. Remember this is all about a beginning the conversation.

Prospective Students

A prospective student is interested in participating in recruitment on your campus.

What do you do if?

This person is living as a gender that is documented in school records, personal documents, etc., and is different than how they were assigned at birth based on external genitalia, hormones, or chromosomal make up? This person is living as a gender that is not documented in school records, personal documents, etc., and is different than how they were assigned at birth based on external genitalia, hormones, or chromosomal make up?

Do you have genitalia, hormone, chromosome, or documentation requirements in order to join your organization? If so, how are you currently checking this information for all of your members? If you were to implement something, how would you include alumni, current members, staff, etc.?

Current Members

A current member in your organization is active, has taken on leadership roles, has a solid GPA, and is a picture perfect member meeting your standards completely.

What do you do if?

This person transitioned prior to joining your organization and has successfully is living “stealth” is outed as trans?

This person begins to question their gender identity and leans of their Greek family for support?

This person begins the transition process by going to a therapist? Beginning hormone therapy? Scheduling surgery or cosmetic services?

Active Alumni Members

An active Alumni member of your organization, makes large financial donations, mentors undergraduates, writes articles for your publications, serves on the national board, support colonization and recruitment efforts, etc.

What do you do if?

This person is “outed” as trans? They transitioned prior to joining? They transitioned while an active member years ago? They transitioned shortly after college? They have recently begun the transition process?

This person is a visible alumni graduating from a prestigious university or a founding member of a chapter. They graduated more than 50 years ago and serve an active role in the organizations leadership and want to continue being involved.

All of these scenarios are taken directly from interviews conducted as a result of this resource. These people are waiting for you to respond, act, listen, and set a precedent. Let us think openly about the experience of sisterhood or brotherhood and continue to grow.

Source: Campus Pride, 2010.