The brothers of Phi Alpha Tau at Emerson College are really there for each other. So when Donnie Collins, a transgender member, shared that his insurance company wasn’t going to pay for his top surgery, they banded together to help raise the necessary funds.
“Donnie means a lot to us, and this surgery really means a lot to him,” Phi Alpha Tau member Andy Schlebecker told Queerty. “He is one of those guys who goes out of his way to make everybody feel comfortable, and we just want to allow him to feel comfortable in his own skin, too.”
The brothers have launched an IndieGoGo page, which has already garnered more than $8,000. “We care deeply about each and everyone,” reads a statement on the fund-raising site, “and rely on the entire active brotherhood to stand behind any one individual when they are in need.”
How amazing are these guys?
Below, Donnie shares his story
hephaestion
Bravo Phi Alpha Tau at Emerson College!
And bravo to Donnie! What a wonderful story!
Dixie Rect
Is this some sort of prank so they can buy more beer?
Sorry, not buying this farce.
peacenik52
As the proud mother of a very successful trans man, I wish you the best in all
of the triumphs and challenges you will face. Peace and love.
johnconroy5
Great work , Hope more cases like this start sweeping the globe
Alan down in Florida
Nearly 40 years ago I graduated Emerson College. Even back then Emerson was the home of the New England Gay Alliance and one of my professors was Elaine Noble who would become one of the first openly lesbian office holders in the US.
Congrats to the brothers of Phi Alpha Tau for your unselfish acts. You make an alumnus very proud.
celticskeptic
@Dixie Rect: Why are you on this site if you’re obviously choosing to be ignorant about trans issues?
barefootbill
@Alan down in Florida:
I am a former Emersonian too (class of 1974) and also knew Elaine Noble. Although I never joined a fraternity, Tau always stood out as a caring team. Stories like this make me proud to say I went to Emerson
hyhybt
@Dixie Rect: What’s farcical about it?
longpastdue
Ok while this is still an amazing story a few issues should probably be cleared up. First and foremost Phi Alpha Tau is not a fraternity, it is a local professional organization that happens to have greek letters. The fact that they call themselves a fraternity does not matter. In order to be recognized as a fraternity your organization must be recognized by the North-American Interfraternity Conference or the National Pan-Hellenic Convention. I’m not taking away from what I am sure is a very good organization to be a part of but calling it a Fraternity paints a very different picture of who they are and what they do.
SkeeterVT
You’ve gotta check out the announcement of this on Phi Alpha Tau’s national Website!
http://www.phialphatau.com/news/brothers-of-phi-alpha-tau-at-campaign-for-trans-brother
DarkZephyr
@Dixie Rect: Troll.
DarkZephyr
God he is cute. Probably straight. *sigh*