Coming out Greek

[DSTCHAOS]

I only know one person who struggled to "come out" as a member of a GLO. This person's parents were opposed to Greekdom for religious reasons.

Other than that, the people I know don't require a "coming out" other than the coming out ceremonies that many organizations hold.

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by jessicaelaine

This makes me think of when I told my dad I was joining a sorority. The coversation went something like this:
"So, are you going to live there?"
"Where, Dad?"
"At the sorority."
"Dad, a sorority isn't a place!"

That is sooo cute!

[SxyLambdaLady6]

My mom wasn't too excited about it but she supports everything that I want to put my heart into..She supported and was there for me thru my process and when my parents came to my probate they realized how proud I was for making it thru so they were proud too. They know my sisters care a lot about me so they understand more.

[OneTimeSBX]

my parents are opposed to certain GLO's because they feel they are cookie cutter and "clique-ish". When i decided i wanted to pledge anyway, i looked for one that wasnt necessarily well-known, so the intentions on my end were 100% pure. im not passing judgement on anyone who does select a more well known organization, but now that i have crossed my parents know, and they were glad i chose the GLO that i did...

[Kevin]

What do you mean, "come out"? Is it important to you that everyone know you're in a GLO? I mean, it may be a big deal for you, but if they don't like those organizations, what's the big deal? Do what you do.. have your car decals, your letters, if someone asks you a question, you answer it.. but really.. are you wanting to sit on the phone all night going through your high school telephone directory letting everyone know that you pledged a sorority?

They should probably be able to figure it out by looking at your myspace page.

[cutie_cat_4ever]

Originally Posted by Kevin

What do you mean, "come out"? Is it important to you that everyone know you're in a GLO? I mean, it may be a big deal for you, but if they don't like those organizations, what's the big deal? Do what you do.. have your car decals, your letters, if someone asks you a question, you answer it.. but really.. are you wanting to sit on the phone all night going through your high school telephone directory letting everyone know that you pledged a sorority?

They should probably be able to figure it out by looking at your myspace page.

I guess what the OP really meant is that sometimes you may want to share stories about what happen with your life (school, greek etc) with your other friends and family who are not greek, and to reference, you may need to tell them you are affiliated with a certain GLO. Not necessary in a oh-I-need-to-tell-everyone-I-am-Greek way. And most of the times, as the OP says, those non greek family and friends will give you a weird stare.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

What do you mean, "come out"?

Originally Posted by cutie_cat_4ever

I guess what the OP really meant is that sometimes you may want to share stories about what happen with your life (school, greek etc) with your other friends and family who are not greek, and to reference, you may need to tell them you are affiliated with a certain GLO. Not necessary in a oh-I-need-to-tell-everyone-I-am-Greek way. And most of the times, as the OP says, those non greek family and friends will give you a weird stare.

She said pretty clearly what she meant:

Originally Posted by LadyLight

Does anybody have stories about how they told parents or unsupportive friends they went Greek? What's the best way to do I do it?

As for parents and family -- just tell them, and be ready to tell them why and what it means to you. You might follow SAEalumnus's idea of having a new member handbook or something else for them to look at to get a better idea of what it's all about.

As for friends/everyone else -- don't worry about it. If it comes up, it comes up; if it doesn't, it doesn't.

[Goddess01]

Originally Posted by Kevin

What do you mean, "come out"? Is it important to you that everyone know you're in a GLO? I mean, it may be a big deal for you, but if they don't like those organizations, what's the big deal? Do what you do.. have your car decals, your letters, if someone asks you a question, you answer it.. but really.. are you wanting to sit on the phone all night going through your high school telephone directory letting everyone know that you pledged a sorority?

They should probably be able to figure it out by looking at your myspace page.

So on point here!

[LadyLight]

These comments are a little rude guys, I was talking about my parents and my 2 best friends back home, not my whole high school. I just wanted to hear other ppl's experiences and maybe get a bit of an idea as to how some ppl have reacted. It's completly normal for me to want to share events in my life with the ppl closest to me and if you don't have a helpful comment, you don't need to respond

[KyleMcGuire1983]

Originally Posted by Kevin

What do you mean, "come out"? Is it important to you that everyone know you're in a GLO? I mean, it may be a big deal for you, but if they don't like those organizations, what's the big deal? Do what you do.. have your car decals, your letters, if someone asks you a question, you answer it.. but really.. are you wanting to sit on the phone all night going through your high school telephone directory letting everyone know that you pledged a sorority?

They should probably be able to figure it out by looking at your myspace page.

To respond to my brother Kevin here....

It can be a challenge to those living in less traditional areas....like the San Francisco area for instance.

My parents were none too thrilled about the whole thing....to this day they're ambivelent but it's possible they aren't totally against it since they saw how much chapter supported me through some problems I had.

My old high school buddies, who are the real liberal types, told me I had "bought" friends blah blah blah...the usual nonsense true GDIs believe in.

So it can be a pain in the ass when you have people around you who either buy the stereotypes or are just outright hostile towards GLOs

[SnuKnight172]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

My old high school buddies, who are the real liberal types, told me I had "bought" friends blah blah blah...the usual nonsense true GDIs believe in.

I got this from some of my friends as well yet I meet most of them playing football or baseball. Weird last time I checked I paid to play football and baseball. I brought this to their attention and they haven't brought it up since.

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I only know one person who struggled to "come out" as a member of a GLO. This person's parents were opposed to Greekdom for religious reasons.

You must be talking about my mother! She was really opposed to the whole idea. She went to a Bible college that had no greek life. She said that her school justified no greek system with "We do not want any organization that separates man." I can't really see how that is the case when most orgs pride themselves on unity.

The good part is she is "slowly" changing her way of thinking.

[LTA4]

i think that being greek is something to be proud of-- an accomplishment, a commitment, and a lifestyle that at its best is not only beneficial to those that are Greek but also to those surrounding them. And I'm sure that most everyone who is Greek feels the same way, or else they wouldn't have joined their org.

I would just try to stress the positive aspect of Greek life-- the service, philanthropy, sisterhood/brotherhood, networking, and positive life experiences. Typically people who are anti-Greek have only been exposed to the negative/stereotypical idea of Greek life, and perhaps trying to educate them will help. Otherwise, I would just let them feel the way they feel and still be proud of it, because obviously if they care about you then hopefully it won't affect your relationship with them either way.

[Pike_Cardinal]

As far as my parents knowing I was greek, it wasnt a big deal because they dont really understand. In fact, I was really proud of my accomplishment, but they really werent because they didnt know what I had done. My dad called me a couple of weeks later and was like "Is everyone in the fraternity an alcoholic" to which I said no and he said alright ill talk to ya later. He called me one more time because he had been talking to one of his company partners who had a bad greek experience and he was making sure i wasnt a "frat boy". It was much harder to tell my non-greek friends, they just dont understand either.

[cheerfulgreek]

My parents are both greek so they were really supportive of my decision to pledge a sorority. They were both really happy for me when I came back home for the summer, greek.