Fraternities and sororities are traditional institutions that have traditionally catered to male and female identities. However, this is not inclusive of those who don’t identify within the gender binary. To join these organizations, potential students must “rush,” or go through a rigorous application process. Unfortunately, one non-binary student at the University of Alabama experienced immense discrimination while they rushed all twenty sororities – only to be rejected by every single one!
Grant Sikes, a male student, decided to seize the opportunity of joining an all-female sisterhood by rushing every single sorority at his college. Although students usually join one or more fraternal organizations, Grant chose this route for its own rewards.
Grant is neither a transgender woman nor male – he identifies as non-binary. He does not feel confined to traditional conceptions of masculinity and femininity, instead embracing both aspects equally with his makeup and fashion choices.
In a recent TikTok, Sikes talks about his identity as non-binary—meaning they don’t identify with either gender assigned at birth. He clarifies that this doesn’t make him a transgender woman and hence ineligible for the University of Alabama’s sororities.
Existing members of fraternities and sororities have the right to choose which students become part of their organizations. Unfortunately, though Sikes identifies as a man – albeit one who is non-binary – the female members at the University of Alabama’s sorority houses rejected him for membership due to his identity.
When Sikes, a man, decided to pursue the possibility of rushing for sororities, many questioned his motives. Critics suggested that he should have applied to fraternities instead- yet Sikes refused and declared that he’d rather join one of the female groups as it would be more suitable for him.
Sikes said, “I do not fit in with a fraternity.”
He continued, “That’s not my scene. It’s not relatable.”
Although Sikes identifies as a male, as he himself acknowledges, “I relate to girls.” He continued, “I am so much more social” around women.
After Sikes was rejected by all twenty sororities at the University of Alabama, he had resigned himself to never achieving his goal of being a man in an all-female group. He attempted to do something that seemed impossible – and while it didn’t end up as planned, this doesn’t mean the chapter is closed forever. He wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately, this chapter is closed. This recruitment journey is over for me.”
He added, “First and foremost, I would like to thank my family, friends, and everyone who has come along this journey with me. From the thousands of messages to meeting the funniest people, I had the best time… Being dropped from my last house this morning during primary recruitment at the University of Alabama doesn’t come as a surprise, considering out of almost twenty chapters, I was dropped by every single one except two before day one…”
“I’m hopeful of a future where everyone is welcomed for just being themselves – everywhere. If you are going through a hard time today, remember that life is too short to ponder on the things lost. Choose happiness and always look for the positive things throughout life.”
