We share & remember the wonderful life of a sister called to Omega Chapter.
Photo by @tcst_kdchi
Growing up, my parents were adamant that I learned the languages of my ancestors, and understood my family history and background. It never occurred to me that one day I would be joining an organization that originated from completely different cultural roots.
During my junior year, I had just transferred to The University of Texas at Dallas. My need for a community led me to the area of Greek life. I was hesitant upon first meeting the women of Kappa Delta Chi. These women were leaders in every sense of the word: well-spoken, put together, academically inclined, and involved
on campus and in the community. However, I didn’t quite fit the standard definition of who an organization member was at the time. The chapter was relatively new to campus, and though they were excited to include me in their journey to grow, it was extremely obvious that I was from a different culture and ethnic background than the current members.
In retrospect, when I think about my New Member process, I remember it being very difficult. Not quite in the process itself, but more in the emotional and mental journey of adjusting to a new environment. Though I had high hopes when first becoming a New Member, it became difficult to fit in. It was difficult to be thrown into a culture that had a different language, different celebrations, and different traditions. I found it hard to adjust, and even harder
I felt nervous, and alone. I want to stress that accepting my child as transgender was not difficult for me. I believed him! I had experienced it with him, but I was very aware that there were many people who would not feel the same. This was what scared me about this journey. I was afraid for his future, and what types of discrimination or harm would he face! I was worried that the world would not change fast enough to allow him equal access to public spaces, or safety at school. I was worried about his ability to get a job, whether he would find LOVE!! How could anyone not love my sweet, extremely loving, and charismatic boy?! He was only eight, and I was already preparing for the worst! I felt massive guilt, and fear! I had given birth to this amazing child, and his future looked scary and out of our control. It felt so unfair to me!
We went the first eight months doing research on Google…boy, that can get messy! I read statistics that were horrifying. We felt alone and scared for our child. When we read that more than 46% of all transgender people have attempted suicide my heart sank. When I read that 75% of homeless youth were LGBTQ my heart sank even further. When I was pressed by a friend about what I was going to do about bathrooms, I knew that I was out of my scope of understanding. I just knew that I couldn’t go back on my support for my child. He needed me, and I needed to do more. It wasn’t until May of 2016 that I was introduced to another TRANSparent. I had written a comment on a friend’s Facebook post explaining what I had been going through, and they told me they had a friend that she wanted to connect me to. I immediately
"We thought we had a happy, healthy child and we were “winning” in the parent department…boy, oh boy was there a plot twist headed our way."
"I have always taken great pride in my Indian heritage."
Chaand Lakhani
Alumnae
Epsilon Class, Fall 2015
Beta Zeta The University
of Texas at Dallas
CUL-
TURE
34