Black greek organizations and the LGBT community. Clashes between the two always end up being some “public outrage” having more to do with homophobia and transphobia than the greater good of the greek organizations. The latest “outrage”? Menace to Sorority. Apparently Zeta Phi Beta had an issue with a trans*masculine member, Devin, being initially recruited to join the sorority, and then leaving due to non-acceptance.
From the time that Devin Alston-Smith became involved in George Washington University’s Zeta Phi Beta sorority, he made it clear that he was not your typical sorority sister. In spring 2008, Alston-Smith began what Zetas refer to as the “intake process.” He knew his sisters would have a lot to take in: He asked them to call him Devin instead of his legal name, Chanise. He told them he preferred male pronouns—”he” and “his” instead of “she” and “her.” At sorority events, he wore a button-down shirt and tie and a fedora over his long dreadlocked hair.
Now why would he join a sorority and not a fraternity? Legally he would not be able to join a fraternity like the Kappas or Alphas because they can discriminate on the basis of birth sex. The assumption here being that they wouldn’t hesitate to exercise that right. Which in my mind brings up the issue of how trans women would fit into greek life, since a sorority could technically reject them, and I know they wouldn’t feel at home in a fraternity.
As I read the story, I couldn’t really feel much sympathy for the members of Zeta as they recruited him, not the other way around. Then they want to get transphobic an attitude when dude does not live up to the “finer womanhood” point? This is a complicated issue, and as a non-trans person I really don’t feel I have the right to tell Devin what social group he should belong to, gender based organization or not.
Former Story:
In Houston a year or two ago on HBCU Texas Southern Univ’s campus, the MiAKAs (Men interested in AKA) were blasted all over the blogosphere for appropriating the AKA sorority traditions.
At colleges where Greek-letter activities dominate student life, gay and lesbian students are often excluded. For some, groups like MIAKA offer an alternative. Their existence is no secret at large HBCUs. Still, membership is often discreet. Events are held privately to avoid a homophobic backlash. There’s a pledging process, but members don’t consider themselves AKAs. They understand “they could never go to the Boule and ‘skee-weet’ with the real girls,” Elliot explained. “It certainly isn’t about me or anyone wanting to be a woman or replace them.”–BlackGreekNetwork.com
Though I see where the MiAKAs are coming from, I would have to side with the sorority members and others who feel that it isn’t right to appropriate a sorority’s paraphernalia and traditions. If they admire the AKAs that much there are auxiliary orgs for that. This brings me to the subject of greek organizations that are founded for LGBT community members, and why the MiAKAs don’t just establish their own without biting off of other people’s organizations.
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COMMENTS / 20 COMMENTS
Confused Luv spoke on Feb 28 09 at 7:59 pmWhen I read the article I honestly did not know how I felt about the situation. I think there is a lot more to the story on both sides. I think one of the comments from a student at the school at the time(may be true or false) said that Devin identified as a man for his gender but was still sexually attracted to men. I do think it is a complicated issue, but from my reading it does not look like Zeta Phi Beta contributed to the story.
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whatilike spoke on Feb 28 09 at 8:14 pmYea I know, there was a lot that wasn’t told. I don’t think Devin being attracted to either men/women/both is the issue, so much as his gender ID. We can only go by what was covered in the paper. :-/
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glennishamorgan spoke on Feb 28 09 at 8:16 pmFirst off, I’ve never been too fond of sororities and fraternities anyway. Sure they throw nice parties, have fun step shows, and do things for the community but, I’m not for pledging and going through a bunch of hoops to be a part of anybody’s group. The sisterhood and brotherhood aspect is nice but, this type of discrimination kind of denounces it. All I can say is if we want to have sororities and frats. then we should just start our own. I’m kind of tired of always trying to force people to accept us. So fuck it. I wouldn’t want to be any where I’m not welcome.
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breastswildasblkwaves spoke on Mar 01 09 at 6:15 amSometimes I feel like Glennisha, but if people don’t push the boundaries and tolerance of other people then we’d have no progress. I think of tolerance as a muscle that you must tear little by little and when it repairs, it grows…then you tear it a little more and keep doing this until it’s strong like when you lift weights at the gym. We have to keep challenging groups and organizations’ concept of gender and sexuality and putting pressure on them little by little to accept us, so that in twenty or forty years, homophobia and transphobia will be that less salient.
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whatilike spoke on Mar 01 09 at 7:34 pm@glennisha
I was never a soror/frat type of person either, but I get why you’d want to be in one. It’s more about networking that “sister/brotherhood”, at least from my perspective.@bwb
I agree that we need to push boundaries. Though I also see the value in our own LGBT groups.[Reply]
swandiver spoke on Mar 01 09 at 8:50 pmI too am going to have to agree with glennisha. While I get that whole educating process, if I’m going to be part of something, I have to weigh where my time and energy would be better spent. Knocking my head against a homophobic wall when I could be building organizations that have inclusive policies from the start just seems like a waste of time.
Besides, as more and more people refuse to pledge Greek and create vibrant alternative communities, these organizations will get the hint: Evolve or become obsolete.
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whatilike spoke on Mar 01 09 at 9:39 pm@swandiver
I doubt they’ll become obsolete, straight ppl outnumber LGBT folks. I don’t see that happening. Though for the purposes of networking/camaraderie that soror/frats provide…it’s really up to the individual as to whether they would like to push those trans/homophobic boundaries or not.[Reply]
Barbara spoke on Mar 02 09 at 10:19 amI read somewhere not that long ago about a fraternity for masculine african american women. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was though – or where I read it. In Curve? I don’t read it that frequently, but I think that might have been it. It was started for this exact reason.
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Chanel spoke on Mar 02 09 at 12:13 pmWow. Just…wow. I don’t agree with igonrant/homophobic exclusion in any form. But being a Greek myself, I fully understand the rules & guidelines. The Miakas…lord. They’re killin me. I understand that anyone can go around wearing pink and green as much as they want to, but come on now. Dont do it in full copy cat form of a legal historical organization. We take that seriously. I fully support members of lgbt being accepted in frats and sorors as much as the next person is considered. I’m an out lesbian and if my sisters would have ousted me solely for who I sleep with…I would’ve been too through. But there’s a proper way to do things on BOTH sides.
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blueinthefaceangel spoke on Mar 02 09 at 2:50 pmI’m wondering know that I read everything..is there any GLBT Greek?
Even though I know it’s good to challenge the norm and all but I think sometimes it would be easier to have your own space.
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whatilike spoke on Mar 02 09 at 3:03 pm@blue & barbara
yes, I’ll post LGBT (ok specifically lesbian) orgs in a bit.[Reply]
sublimefemme spoke on Mar 02 09 at 8:32 pmGlad you wrote about this. And yes, sexuality is not the issue; it’s gender. If women’s colleges can accept transgendered/transmasculine students, why can’t sororities?
xo
SF[Reply]
Tahlia spoke on Mar 03 09 at 1:39 amJust dropping by.Btw, you website have great content!
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Davi spoke on Mar 13 09 at 1:33 pmIam a die hard sorority girl in many aspects! I love AKA!!! I hated what I went through as far as my sexuality and pledging but I think most people go through the same things with their family! FEAR of Acceptance! If you want to joing a sorority or frat you need to work for your membership in that group! Being open and honest is one of those things…I chose to hide my sexuality which in turn caused me a lot of problems!
I believe that Zeta’s believed they were accepting (not recruiting because most sororities DON’T recruit!) a lesbian not someone who was going to be a man! I give them much respect because most sororities wouldn’t have given her a chance even just being a lesbian! I know several women in my sorority who are lesbians but are fearful of accepting to many lesbians because they don’t want the sorority to be looked at as the “gay” sorotity! I personally feel extremely strong about the character of people chosen to represent my sorority in general…straight or gay!
In the end SORORITIES are for women! If you feel like your a man in a woman’s body then you should be trying to join a FRAT! point blank!!! It’s disrespectful to try to change or force people to change tradition to accept you!
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whatilike spoke on Mar 13 09 at 5:08 pmDavi, I get what you’re saying, though reading what the article said Devin told them upfront about his gender ID, and they took him anyway…so I feel it’s on Zeta. It’s complicated I feel for transpersons more so than for lesbians/gay men b/c like you said people are adamant about soror=women and frat=men. Many people who aren’t knowledgeable about trans IDs (most people in greek orgs) will likely “sort” them into different categories. A frat may have said, no you’re still legally a woman so you can’t join. Then where would he be? These are questions to ask.
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Davi spoke on Mar 14 09 at 2:35 pmI just don’t understand why he would want to be in a Sorority if he feels like he’s a man! I really don’t get it! I feel bad for trans people…I truly do!
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whatilike spoke on Mar 15 09 at 8:22 amI don’t think feeling bad for trans persons is the necessarily the best thing. I think trying to understand their positions would be more helpful.
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lipsticklez spoke on Mar 21 09 at 11:39 amA very interesting post, my wife is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc, and we are (obviously) both lesbians. African-American Fraternities/Sororities have very rich histories and do a lot for the community so I cannot bash them based on this incident.
People should look at each individual CHAPTER and not the sorority as a whole because each chapter on a campus operates/throws events/conducts intake independently. So while one person may have a bad experience with a sorority on one campus does not mean that the members on another campus would behave the same way.
Secondly a sorority is a sisterhood and we address one another as “soror”, which I am sure that Devin was aware of upon agreeing to joining the org. (BGLO orgs do not recruit members, individuals attend interest meeting indicating that THEY would like to join.) I do not feel that the organization should have to change their rules or traditions to accommodate a member that was well aware of these traditions PRIOR to joining. Yes the sorority did accept him (which they do not have to – they can deny anyone), but that does not mean that they have to address this member as a “he” when it’s an organization for women. There are LGBT sororities/fraternities that are out there for all to join where members can be gay, bi, trans etc.
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whatilike spoke on Mar 21 09 at 5:46 pm“but that does not mean that they have to address this member as a “he” when it’s an organization for women.”
Irregardless of whether they are in a sorority meeting or on the bus, addressing a trans person by their chosen pronoun is basic respect. So I disagree with you on that point. Thanks for the comment.
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sublimefemme spoke on Mar 23 09 at 7:38 pmYes I completely agree; we need to respect everyone’s right to self-identify!! And would you kill me for pointing out that it’s “regardless” not “irregardless?” Sorry, sometimes I can’t help sounding like a schoolteacher.
Thanks for the great discussion!
xo
SF (high femme grammar nerd)[Reply]
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