Transgender women in sorority life?

[AGDee]

Title IX is a law, passed by the US legislature and signed by the President. Unless we want all our organizations to go fully co-ed, we are unable to initiate someone who is biologically male. We didn't make the law except that we did fight to keep our single gender status. It is unfortunate, but until someone was fully transitioned, we could not initiate them.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Title IX is a law, passed by the US legislature and signed by the President. Unless we want all our organizations to go fully co-ed, we are unable to initiate someone who is biologically male. We didn't make the law except that we did fight to keep our single gender status. It is unfortunate, but until someone was fully transitioned, we could not initiate them.

That is not at all what Title IX addresses, AGDee. Title IX does not dictate that a sorority is forbidden from initiating men. Social sororities are EXEMPT FROM Title IX rules.

Title IX says, in essence: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

If a chapter of a sorority wanted to accept a transgender woman, they would be subject to the rules of the sorority, not Title IX rules.

To the original poster: I feel you. Keep fighting. The battle will not be won on GreekChat, but it will, indeed, be won.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

That is not at all what Title IX addresses, AGDee. Title IX does not dictate that a sorority is forbidden from initiating men. Social sororities are EXEMPT FROM Title IX rules.

Title IX says, in essence: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

If a chapter of a sorority wanted to accept a transgender woman, they would be subject to the rules of the sorority, not Title IX rules.

Right, but there is an argument that if some men are initiated, then a sorority could lose its Title IX exemption. The argument would be that by initiating some men, they could not decline to initiate other men simply because they're men.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Title IX is a law, passed by the US legislature and signed by the President. Unless we want all our organizations to go fully co-ed, we are unable to initiate someone who is biologically male. We didn't make the law except that we did fight to keep our single gender status. It is unfortunate, but until someone was fully transitioned, we could not initiate them.

So, here's a question (posed to everyone, not just AGDee). What about an initiated sister (born female) who transitions to male post initiation?

I ask because I was looking over some SAI policies the other day and came across our transgender policy (didn't even really know we had one). It would appear that at the collegiate level, we will only initiate women who are legally and medically female. However, if at some time after initiation, the member elects to transition and identify legally and medically as male, the Fraternity requires that her membership category be changed to the appropriate Distinguished Member category. The member is required to turn in her collegiate badge, membership card, & certificate. Following the appropriate Distinguished Member ritual, the member would wear the Distinguished Member badge and remain in that category of membership.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

So, here's a question (posed to everyone, not just AGDee). What about an initiated sister (born female) who transitions to male post initiation?

This is a great question for NPHC orgs since we can, and do, initiate at the undergrad and graduate levels. I don't know if my org, SGR, has a policy on this - I need to look it up.


Back to the OT:

From a NPHC perspective, I think this would be less of an issue if the transgendered person was initiated at the graduate level.

I think NPHC undergrad chapters might not be so willing to want to initiate a transgendered person. Campus reputation is very powerful. Even in NPHC, no undergrad chapter wants to known as thatchapter.

[AnchorAlumna]

Well.
That was fun!

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Well.
That was fun!

That's because it was a quick read. We had original post, heated discussion, and flounce all within three pages. In the old days of GC this would have gone on for 15 - 20 pages.