By: Marina Cimarusti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lexi Bergeron, 20, relaxes on a couch in the Science Library, Mountain Dew in one hand and a leather-bound planner in the other. Her laptop proudly displays three stickers from Kappa Alpha Theta. “I had four but this one fell off,” she said, pointing to the bottom left corner of her computer. The junior is not only a member of Theta’s newest pledge class, Bergeron is historically the first openly transgender woman in Greek life at the University of Oregon, and one of five in Greek life nationally.

Bergeron initially had no intention to join Greek life. Her freshman-year roommate rushed a fraternity, and encouraged her to as well. After making to the last night of the process, Bergeron dropped. Even before she began understanding her identity, she wasn’t comfortable joining a fraternity. After coming out as transgender she moved into Carson’s Gender Equity Hall. Bergeron became involved with LGBT groups on campus; for two years she’s facilitated the Gender Equity program as the Academic Resident Community Assistant. Jessica Miller is the former OUTreach Coordinator for the LGBT Education Services and Bergeron’s prior coworker. Miller worked for two years with Bergeron in improving the program. She is constantly amazed by Bergeron’s work ethic, “Since she’s come out, her confidence has doubled, and then tripled in growth.”

Bergeron had gone through four informal processes to attempt to join a sorority. Fall of 2016 was her first formal recruitment. Every sorority dropped her after the first day. She’d all but written off Greek life until a friend told her to try out Kappa Alpha Theta’s continuous open bidding recruitment, or COB. “I went. Didn’t really care. I sat in the corner and only talked to two people,” She said, “And I got in.”

Since her initiation, Bergeron has worked tirelessly to earn the respect and trust of her sisters. Upon joining, all of Theta’s members instantly realized Bergeron was not a cisgender woman. This caused tensions within the organization; many of the women viewed her as a frat boy in a sorority. Bergeron has since dispelled that belief and is campaigning for gender and sexuality education in Greek life. “A good step for the university is, across the board, inclusive policies for sorority life,” Bergeron is excited about Greek future. She’s befriended the president of the Interfraternity Council, who is onboard with her plan to require a comprehensive cultural competency course for all Greek chapters on the University of Oregon’s campus. Miller recognizes Bergeron’s activism, “It’s incredible to see her resilience and persistence grow. She’s accomplished so much more than I believe she ever thought she would two and a half years ago. I’m not sure what to expect from her next.”