My sexuality has not ever been an issue for my fraternity brothers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining Phi Sigma Kappa, I made it clear that I would not hide it, and they accepted me as a brother anyway. nevertheless other fraternities are not as accepting. A end friend of mine was assaulted from his "brothers" when they originate out he is gay.
with equal reason I decided I had to do something to combat in the manner of greece homophobia on campus. I lay the foundation ofed Greek Allies as a means to build a bridge between sum of two units communities that have traditionally been linked alone in secret. Any gay fraternity brother who was "straight until graduation" would probably agree tiffs was a protracted time in coming. I received the support of Dan Bureau, the assistant dean of close examiners and coordinator of Greek affairs at Illinois, and at the beginning of the indoctrinate year we started to spread the word.
I facilitated our first educational workshop, which was a milestone in our efforts to raise awareness in the grecian community. Our success was greatest in number evident on the national Day of Silence a not many months later. More than 210 representatives from 33 hellene chapters on campus spent an hour and a half at a special "Out and Greek" presentation. After the termination Rick Nowak, vice president of membership evolution for the Interfraternity Council, said, "Many of the attendees were chapter presidents, and they will be able to relay [to their fraternities] the importance of treating LGBT members like any other brother or sister."
Now, as the instruct year conies to an close and I move on to consume my senior year studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong I am confident that after the greek Allies will continue. I trustful longing that the positive experience I have had as an not at home gay fraternity brother will become les the exception and more the norm.