Experiences of Transgender Men Who Joined National Pan-Hellenic Council Sororities Pre- Transition" (2020)
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School November 2020 Experiences of Transgender Men Who Joined National Pan- Hellenic Council Sororities Pre-Transition Sydney Epps Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Educational Sociology Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Organization Development Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, and the Work, Economy and Organizations Commons Recommended Citation Epps, Sydney, "Experiences of Transgender Men Who Joined National Pan-Hellenic Council Sororities Pre- Transition" (2020). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 5425. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/5425 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. EXPERIENCES OF TRANSGENDER MEN WHO JOINED NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL SORORITIES PRE- TRANSITION A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The School of Education by Sydney A. Yvonne Epps B.A. Ohio University, 2012 B.S. Ohio University, 2012 M.A., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2016 Ed.S., Louisiana State University, 2018 M.S., Louisiana State University, 2019 December 2020 © 2020 Sydney A. Yvonne Epps ii Dear self, Let me tell you something It's okay to cry Whether it be joy or sorrow Allow yourself to feel for a better you tomorrow If you're only loving on one woman at a time you don't have to lie You don't have to pretend you do things that you don't The point of this transition wasn't to lose but instead gain Not just changed names But instead, find peace And feel sane You don't have to conform to the heteronormative ways Aid in eliminating toxicity I want my Queens to love me Instead of steering clear of me -Tashan Lovemore - In Memory of Jaylow McGlory, 29, Alexandria Vontashia Bell, 18, Shreveport Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28, Baton Rogue Chyna Gibson (Chyna Doll Dupree), 31, New Orleans Ciara McElveen, 21, New Orleans Jaquarrius Holland, 18, Monroe Milan Boudreaux (Williams), 36, Metairie Akeem Boudreaux, 22, Metairie This is but a short list of people killed in Louisiana due to anti-trans* violence while this study was in progress. We must not wait any longer. iii History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities. -- Marsha P. Johnson iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my Ancestors: Thank you for your resilience, despite the greed and ignorance of fools undeserving. We won. To the members of Tau, Epsilon, Mu, and Lambda Sororities who made this study possible: This is not my work. These are your lives. I am honored you trusted me with your narratives. To my family – Above all, my celestial guides, Yvonne M. Gregory-Epps (my maternal grandmother) and Allen Brown (godfather AKA Dad!): Who knew you two could be so loud from so far away? Perhaps, you never left. Aṣẹ. Judy, my amazing godmother: You loved me when others forgot it was necessary. You have saved my life and affirmed my passions more than you will ever know. Tynita White, Basia Howard, Lyndsay Lampley, Torin Allen, and Chris Williams; Shad Williams, my godbrother; Dr. Cory Stiner, my future godbrother-in-law; and the rest of my chosen family: You have filled my goblet with positivity through the worst of situations. I think it is time for us to have a toast. To my advisor, Dr. Jackie Bach: You saved me from the academic orphanage. The slew of unanticipated faculty departures was a hammer to what I saw as my greatest development! You helped me realize this was just the foundation for my future masterpieces. I did not know how much I needed you. To my committee members – Dr. Elaine Maccio: I was a fool to drop SW 7406! Who knew you would find a way to pick my brain regardless. Iron sharpens iron. You have been so demanding of me, and for that, I am immensely grateful. Dr. Yoshinori Kamo: Thanks for serving on my committee. You have v shaped my dissertation writing experience with your thoughtful feedback and support. Dr. Roland Mitchell… DEAN Mitchell: You are the ultimate mentor! You are one of the many reasons why I know my research matters, my presence in higher education matters, and I matter. I hope I am able to give back as much as you continue to do. You transcend all. To my mentors in education – “Uncle” Kevin Hankins and the Germantown YMCA; Pat Hansbury, Jonathan Fabrey, and the late Joseph Putro from Central High School (founded in 1836; the only high school in the nation that can declare a Bachelor’s degree from an Ivy League institution); Akil Houston, Tiffany Bowden, and the late Dr. Najee Emerson Muhammad (who built my understanding of ancestral knowledge long ago); Char Kopchick, Elizabeth Gordon-Canlas, Kristina Canfield, Alden Waitt, Bryan Gibson, Ron Ransom, Starletta Watson, Sujit Chemburkar, Dr. Ryan Lombardi, and Dr. Kent Smith; POWER, Hip Hop Congress, and SHADES; as well as Dr. Andrea Adams-Manning and the late Dr. Collins Annin (life-changing supervisors) from Ohio University; Dr. Melanie Wilson, Kai Lee, Suzie Braslawsce Roth, Kelly O’Brien, Jerald Monahan, and Dr. Matthew Earnhardt from Embry-Riddle; and finally, Lois Stewart, Dora Ann Parrino, Joyce Stevenson, Amber Salvadras, Danielle Sule, Rachanda Wilson-Smith, and Marvin Broome,; as well as Drs. Carlos Lee, F. King Alexander, Solimar Otero, Eric Mayer-García, F. Neil Mathews, Keena Arbuthnot, Imre Emeric Csaszar, Jennifer Curry, Eugene Kennedy, Michelle Masse, Kristin Gansle, Elecia Lathon, Richard Baker, and of course, Margaret Weston Piccoli: Without each of you, my educational and professional journeys – and ultimately my life – would have been very different. To the friends made on the PhD journey – vi Sakiya Gallon, Soror Loryn Taylor-Johnson, Franklin Soares, Marvin Dupiton, Patrice Palmer, Relius Johnson, Max Magaña, Terrance Johnson, Jibri Douglas, and Derrick Lathan; Drs. Micah Glenn, Michael Seaberry, David Julius Ford, Mark Barnes, Jonathan Paul, Van Bailey, and Vernon Dunn; ACPA, NASPA, AERA, Project PHinisheD and BGPSA: Thanks for the love, support, study sessions, and feedback. I’m rooting for everybody… To my Amazing Family within *thee* ONLY Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. – The Great Kelly Davidson, my advisor (Eta Psi ‘til I die); my most dedicated prophytes Dr. Natasha Aduloju-Ajijola, Dr. Simone Savannah, and Jazmine Tero; my ace (Pat), tre (Rosalyn), and tail (Cierra) of FA09 Trans4mers; Tracy, Alicia, Alpha Eta Sigma (Philadelphia), Kappa Chi Sigma (Montgomery County, PA), Theta Nu Sigma (Pee Dee Region, SC), Beta Mu Sigma (Phoenix, AZ) Alumnae Chapters; my mighty Mu Sigma (Baton Rouge) home, and LSU’s Gamma Pi Undergraduate Chapter: Time and time again, I thank the ancestors for guiding me to greatness. The support I have received from every soror – no matter where I have lived and no matter how short my stay may have been – has lifted the spirits of our Founders to heights we can only see from our unique vantage point. I cannot believe I have been a member for ten years and I am still strolling and leaning like a neo. I had to finish my seventh educational certificate, in Higher Education Administration, because our seven founders were educational leaders, and each deserved yet another accolade for her sacrifice. To Brooklyn Gillette, I thank you for trusting me as your advisor as you held down Gamma Pi on your own. I hope I have inspired you as much as you have inspired me to complete what we started. Jamira, Tanesha, Theresa, Meoni, Dr. Lakesha… Much like this degree, we are the… Last Created, Best Designed! To Baton Rouge activists – vii Gary Chambers, Myra Richardson, Donnie Rose, Kirk Boutte; JB; the late Sadie Roberts-Joseph and Justin "JT" Thomas; and countless other fighters for freedom: Thank you for speaking truth to power; the sacrifices you have made to for the future of this amazing city and state are embedded in the soul of all who live and visit these lands. To all of the members of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC); Monica Roberts, founder of TransGriot, Sir Knight and Tashan Lovemore, founders of Black Trans TV; Braxton Fleming and Mehkhi Hardy (my gracious flier models): The friendships I have made with and through you, all are incredible and priceless. Onward! To those who provided any support: I needed it. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE. OVERVIEW OF STUDY ................................................................................. 2 Explaining Terms........................................................................................................................ 2 Other Key Terms....................................................................................................................... 13 Significance of the Issue