Transformative LGBTQ+ Growth and Leadership Within Greek Life

Abstract

Departing from extant deficit models, the present study qualitatively explored 50 LGBTQ+ college students’ development within Greek Life from a Transformative Intersectional Psychology (TIP) approach. Amidst the heteronormative and gendernormative challenges of Greek Life, participants actively pursued an authentic self, friendship, leadership and transformative social change. Sixty-six percent of participants characterized their Greek Life experiences as positive, with 88% of participants reporting that their overall Greek Life engagement positively contributed to their college experience. Moreover, 74% of participants served in Greek Life leadership roles. Of the participants in leadership roles, 46% reported that their Greek Life experiences positively connected to their LGBTQ+ identity. Participants’ dynamic Greek Life engagement required no external research prompt, illustrating LGBTQ+ emerging adults’ agentive efforts to actively, collaboratively and transformatively direct their own development and create institutional change. Research, counseling and administrative recommendations on how to foster LGBTQ+ campus leadership and Greek Life inclusion are discussed.