Nonbinary honor student accepted into upstate New York college sorority Chi Omega

A nonbinary-identifying undergrad at an upstate New York college was kicked out of a sorority by its national headquarters, reportedly over the student's gender identity.

Fabián 'Fa' Guzmán, 22, said they were shocked and saddened when the Chi Omega national office informed them that their membership was being revoked earlier this month without an option to appeal the decision - a move they are calling gender-based discrimination.

The St. Lawrence University student said national headquarters relayed the message: 'The selection criteria in the policy on membership includes ‘females and individuals identifying as women,’ which, by the chapter’s own understanding and your indication through the process, it is clear you did not meet the criteria at the time of joining.'

Fabián 'Fa' Guzmán was shocked when the national Chi Omega headquarters revoked their membership earlier this month

The nonbinary 22-year-old was initially permitted to rush the chapter in the fall of 2022

Guzmán, who is biologically male and uses they/them pronouns, has said they do not identify solely as a man, so they do not understand why their membership in the sorority is an issue. 'I'm just here being both at the same time,' they said.

The term nonbinary applies generally to people who do not identify as male or female exclusively. But the term can also be applied to individuals who identify entirely outside the spectrum of male and female.

Guzmán's experience was especially confusing given that they were approved by the university and the national organizations of multiple sorority chapters - including Chi Omega - to rush as a nonbinary individual.

Guzmán pledged in the fall of 2022 and accepted a bid from Chi O, where they felt like they had previously been supported during a challenging period of college.

The first-generation college student made close friends in the sorority and was fast selected to become the chapter's recruitment chair for the upcoming semester.

Their success at tearing down barriers eventually caught the notice of the university, which wanted to write a feature about their sorority membership for the alumni magazine.

But when Guzmán reached out to the national office to clear using their name in the press, Chi Omega responded by saying they should never have been allowed to rush but would be permitted to remain a chapter member if they did not publicize the story.

'The national organization threatened to revoke my membership if we went public with the story,' Guzmán wrote in a petition about their reinstatement.

'They then required me to partake in a two-step process of gender-based eligibility process that I was never privy to prior, and in the end, the CEO of Chi Omega voided my membership without the ability to appeal.'

'Chi Omega’s reactionary void of my membership was blatant transphobia and bigotry,' they wrote. 

Guzmán launched a petition to have their membership reinstated ahead of their final semester on campus

Women in the sorority reportedly feel comfortable with Guzmán's presence in the house, a place they hung out frequently before officially joining the chapter

Guzmán is accusing the national sorority headquarters of gender-based discrimination

In an Instagram video, Guzmán shared their perspective on the saga and where things currently stand

Despite being deeply upset by what's transpired in recent weeks, Guzmán said they still wish to be back with their sisters for their final semester of college this fall before graduation.

Guzmán said they have no aspirations to make Greek life co-ed or invade spaces that are considered sacred for women. They just want to 'feel we belong' in an environment that will support and validate them.

'The times have changed and people like me, nonbinary people and trans people deserve to be part of an organization where they feel they belong - regardless of [where] society wants to put them,' they said in an Instagram video.

Chi Omega  defended its decision and noted that Guzmán ultimately failed to meet membership requirements. 

'In accordance with our governing documents, Chi Omega’s Executive Headquarters recently made the decision to void the membership of an Epsilon Kappa Chapter member at St. Lawrence University,' wrote the organization in a statement.

'By their own admission, this individual did not meet the criteria for membership at the time of joining.' 

The organization did not provide details on what exactly the criteria entailed.

'I never thought I was sweeping anything under the rug,' Guzmán said. 'I feel that this experience was abruptly taken from me for no reason whatsoever when they were the ones who allowed me in at the beginning.' 

Their chapter sisters at St. Lawrence University have been working to deliver a new proposal at the Chi Omega convention next year that would allow nonbinary people to join the sorority.