First fraternity to welcome transgender members

According to an article on the Arizona Republic, Arizona State University's first and only gay fraternity, Sigma Phi Beta, has become the first frat to welcome and recognize transgender members. They are in support of welcoming those who are FTM transsexuals and support welcoming back those MTF transsexuals that were once "brothers" in the frat.

I think this decision is one of the first baby steps in transgender equality. Hopefully next time we will have a frat that isn't specifically set for gays welcoming transgender individuals into the frat, but until then we should celebrate this decision and work toward more trans-inclusiveness in everyway possible.

Here is the article.

------------

Sigma Phi Beta has redefined what it is to be a man.

The Arizona State University fraternity is the country's first to allow members who identify themselves as male regardless of their birth or legally recognized gender.

Even those who decide later to become female may remain members, said Sam Holdren, the fraternity's national president and chairman. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2004 and helped establish Sigma Phi Beta as ASU's first gay fraternity in July.

Holdren emphasized Sigma Phi Beta is for men.

But "students develop best in environments where they feel valued, protected, accepted and socially connected to their peers."

Jamison Green, a national transgender activist, said the decision fulfills "the Greek life values of self-determination, self-actualization and brotherhood." - Mike Cronin

Original Source