For the wellbeing of a 19-year-old transgender student, you might think that all-male fraternities would be best avoided. However, not only was Donnie Collins never subjected to the hazing or the homophobia sometimes associated with Greek life, the brothers at Phi Alpha Tau at Emerson College in Boston embraced him when he rushed the fraternity last year and have even gone one step further – raising the money Collins needed for “top surgery” to remove his breasts.
The fraternity launched a campaign to help Collins’ out when they heard that the insurance would not pay for such sexual-reassignment surgery. The surgery costs $8,100, but thanks to a video posted by the brothers on fundraising site IndieGogo.com, they’ve raised over double that amount. Now with the funds at nearly $17,000, Collins has asked that the additional money be donated to the Jim Collins Foundation (no relation), which provides financial assistance for sex-reassignment surgeries.
Collins has been so overwhelmed by the media “fire storm” that he cannot talk by phone, but he released a statement saying ‘It’s been such a long road, and it has been life-altering to find support and brotherhood. … The support I have received has made such a difference in my life.’ Jason Meir, director of student activities at Emerson, commented, ‘It wasn’t the least bit surprising to me that Donnie was admitted going into the pledge, and that they would take him as a member. Our fraternities are very open and affirming, and really are just accepting of all people and all types.’
When Collins first heard what his brothers were planning, he didn’t realise the huge impact that it could have on the wellness of other people like him. ‘I was just like, “Oh that’s such a Tau thing to do,” and I didn’t even think it was that weird,’ he said. ‘But then I started sending [the indiegogo link] out to people, and they were like, “Oh my god, that’s amazing! See, Greek Life isn’t bad; it’s amazing.”’
According to fraternity brother Christian Bergren-Aragon, who made a plea for funds to help Collins in the IndieGogo video, the situation is about more than money. ‘We are here … to tell a story. The story of transformation, the story of self-discovery, and the story of brotherhood, he said. He added, ‘have conversations with your family and friends, sit down and talk with them.’
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