As state laws begin to change and allow more liberties for members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, phenomenons regarding Greek life are sweeping colleges across the nation.

In cases such as Zeta Chi at Trinity University in Texas, a transgender was encouraged to join the sorority. While these situations do occur, there are important national aspects to understand about Greek life, said Director of Student Engagement Tammy Jacques.

“Nationally, the sororities and fraternities are selective organizations,” Jacques said. “That’s the way it is with sorority recruitment and so-forth, so the university can’t tell them who to pick or who to select. It’s about a mutually selective process. The Greek organizations are a little different than our hundred and something other organizations (in that) they’re very selective in who they choose and that’s regardless of who they are.”

Should a transgender student choose to join a Greek organization, the response of the group reflects their education, said student and LGBT ally Corey Gray.

“I would hope with our unlimited access to information, people are either educated or want to educate themselves when presented with the opportunity,” Gray said. “I realize we aren’t completely past the times of willful ignorance, but surely most would embrace the diversity.”

While there are no known cases of transgender students voicing interest in joining Greek life at UNA, they are encouraged to do so, Jacques said.

“If a transgender student came to us and said ‘I’m interested in going Greek,’ we’d begin having some of those conversations with some of those chapters and see if they’re interested,” she said. “If both parties don’t think it’s the right fit, there are actually national organizations that are Greek that are for LGBT students.

“If they wanted to start a Greek organization they could also do that,” Jacques said. “We would make sure to work with the chapters and make sure they’re following their national policies, as well as our federal policies, and make sure there’s an open communication and education with that.”

Greek organizations are just as important for non-heterosexual people, Gray said.

“They have a similar background or interests,” he said. “I do think (LGBT Greek organizations) offer a safety and understanding that a completely heterosexual sorority or fraternity cannot.”

Living in a conservative state makes accepting transgendered people difficult, but not impractical, said student and LGBT ally Anthony Leggett.

“I expect [acceptance] to be rough,” Leggett said. “Especially here, being that we live and go to school in the highly conservative parts of the south. I don’t think Greek life is necessary for anyone, but if anyone wants to join or start one specifically for LGBT associates, then that shouldn’t be a problem.”

There is no doubt this phenomenon is occurring nationwide and organizations are learning how to address it, said Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs Julie Fletcher.

“My national organization is preparing others like me to create an environment for students just to find a support group — whether that’s in a Greek community or in an RSO,” she said. “I think there’s baby steps being taken to it. They are educating advisers to have those types of conversations and encourage their students to just be more educated on (transgender involvement), so it is happening all over the country in different forms or types of discussions.”

In the event that a student is already involved in a sorority or fraternity and then transitions, the response is dependent on the individuals within the organization, Jacques said.

“Nationally, organizations are revising (policies), educating themselves and looking at those non-discrimination clauses and are being open to it, but I don’t know what the response (on campus) would be,” she said. “They are single-gendered organizations, but when a person goes through the change, they become the other gender so I don’t know how people would respond. We would respond accordingly and try to be educational, and my hopes are that they would be very open. If it became a major problem or issue then we probably would be involved with it and the chapter national headquarters to talk about education, being open (and) making sure that student is supported and gets all the support that they need.”

Between one-fourth and one in 100 people is transsexual, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality. Given those statistics and last semester’s enrollment numbers, there are between 173 and 693 transsexuals on campus.

“Throw any preconceived notions out,” Gray said. “Do research if you want. Get to know a trans person. Realize that being trans doesn’t describe someone’s personality or interests, (and) realize you probably already know trans people.”

The best way to encourage transgender students to engage in Greek life is to begin educating those who question, Leggett said.

“Educate yourselves,” he said. “I often find that those who are opposed to people of the LGBT community are opposed because they fear what they don’t understand. And they don’t understand due to a lack of knowledge.”