Transgender in Cincinnati: Big man on campus

Dark glasses shielding his eyes, T-shirt damp with a warm day's sweat, arms akimbo, the fraternity president planted his feet on a broad grassy oval at Northern Kentucky University.

In the past week, Daniel Ginn had endured a test of leadership. Soon the results would be charging right at him.

"This is one of those moments," he said, laughing, "when I learn how I can be the man I told everyone that I was."

For most people fortunate to go to college, the experience transforms the mind. But institutions of higher learning also recognize that at college, more young transgender adults like Ginn are finding the strength to align their bodies and spirits with the genders they have always known themselves to be.

"Danny has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the trans community in general," said Bonnie Meyer, in her third year as the first director of LBGTQ programs and services at NKU. "There's always that one person who puts his neck out there and is willing to share his story. Danny's courage – I'm just in constant awe of him."

The 48-year-old NKU has made inclusiveness a cornerstone of its offering to students. Later this week at a Baltimore conference, the university will receive the 16th annual Role Models Award from Minority Access, a national nonprofit pushing institutions to increase diversity.

Ginn, 21, grew up in Vanceburg, Kentucky, with the disorienting realization that he lived in a girl's body when he knew he was a boy. In that small, religious community, he said, he felt he had no language to explain the truth. "I had such a sense of shame. I thought: 'There's something wrong with me, and I have to fix it.' "

He wore boyish clothes in high school and found on the Internet information that opened his understanding about being a transgender man. But it wasn't possible to transition in high school. When time came for college, Ginn sensed that NKU, being close to the big city of Cincinnati, would give him space to grow, slowly. He cut his hair short and moved into the University Suites residence hall with three women roommates.

He threw himself into schoolwork, keeping to himself, budgeting his time with spreadsheets. In that first semester, though, his roommates flatly asked him: Do you want to be a boy?

Ginn took a long look in the mirror and finally said yes. He told his sister, who accepted him. He came out to his father, who was saddened and puzzled, certain "that school" had changed his child.

But it only was at NKU, Ginn said, where "I can be who I want to be," and the university administration, from the very top, encouraged him. He started seeing a therapist and taking the hormone testosterone. He grew a short beard. His voice deepened. He smiled a lot.

"Seeing Danny as he was going through the transition, I was always impressed with two aspects," said NKU President Geoffrey Mearns. "First, his spirits. This a major life event, and his spirits were always positive. The second thing was his attitude. It appeared to me, as an external observer, that it was effortless. Not because I believe it was effortless, to the contrary. I assume that it was difficult and challenging. But I would see him from time to time on campus. And it appeared effortless."

Ginn said at NKU, he has not once felt scorned or been subjected to ridicule. Any teasing is generally of his own making. He is but 5 feet tall, which he pronounces "a tragedy."

More than 200 universities have dedicated programs aimed at helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students. The LBGTQ-friendliness of a campus now is such an important factor in choosing a college that campuspride.org has engineered a rating system for prospective students and their parents.

NKU gets 3.5 out of five stars for its programming, and Bonnie Meyer said her office has already added staff. The number of queries from transgender students – for housing, for help with paperwork or changing gender markers on driver's licenses – has more than doubled this year alone.

The University of Cincinnati gets 2.5 out of five starts from the campuspride.org ranking. Leisan C. Smith, director of the LGBTQ Center at UC, said the center has expanded its training series to include awareness of gender identity and expression.

"Things are different than five years ago," she said, "because we are talking about this specific group of students more, and we are attempting to work toward systematic changes for them on campus. With that being said, we have a long way to go in ensuring that those systematic changes are implemented."

Daniel Ginn became a presidential ambassador at NKU, an elite role that recognized his academic record and his outreach to other students. He got an apartment off campus. He kept a 3.7 grade point average.

Over the Christmas holiday, Ginn went to London for a study abroad program. There, he read the news that had exploded all around the globe, of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teenager from Kings Mills, Ohio. In despair over what she felt as parental rejection, Alcorn committed suicide Dec. 28 by running in front of a truck on Interstate 71.

Ginn said that while he had never contemplated suicide in his own journey, he understood Alcorn's hopelessness.

"I felt so sad for her," Ginn said, "because she never had the opportunity to be herself."

In February, his peers at NKU elected Ginn the school's homecoming prince. His spreadsheets turned rainbow colors to keep track of his schoolwork and extracurriculars. He was busy all the time. But another activity appealed to him.

Greek life has surged at NKU, even though the fraternities and sororities do not have separate houses – the traditional draw for potential members. Earlier this year, several national fraternities made appeals to NKU to establish chapters, and Ginn was recruited as a student adviser to the selection process.

"The idea of a brotherhood was very appealing to me," he said. "But I was worried at first that maybe I wasn't 'guy' enough. So I made it clear to everyone that it is very important that we have to make it inclusive and welcoming. I have a lot of trans friends who'd like to be Greek."

Representatives of Alpha Sigma Phi explained that their organization would meet the criteria. The fraternity's motto is "To Better The Man."

Danny Miller, senior director of Alpha Sigma Phi's undergraduate engagement, said that in 2004, the fraternity instituted inclusiveness as a foundation. Last month, the national fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon also announced it would accept transgender men as members.

"When we go to a site to recruit, we look for men of high character," Miller said, "and if we find individuals who meet those values, that's what matters."

In the spring, NKU allowed Alpha Sigma Phi to plant a chapter. The recruiters from the national headquarters selected 14 charter members, including Daniel Ginn.

Ginn spent part of the summer at The Ohio State University in an internship at the student-affairs office. He decided on his career path.

"Because I've had such a good experience here at NKU, I know that I want to have a career on a campus somewhere," he said. "This place has made me realize what's possible for me to help other students be the best and achieve the highest goals that they set for themselves."

At some point, Ginn said, the possibility exists of "going stealth," in effect dropping "transgender" from his personality resume. "But for me, I see people struggling even as I'm open with myself. People out there need to hear these stories. I think I could help others."

Once back on the NKU campus in August, Ginn welcomed not just his classmates but a partner. NKU freshman Cayley Potter, 19, also is from Vanceburg. "I knew him a little bit back in high school," Potter said, "and watching him grow is inspiring to me."

Ginn's spreadsheets rapidly filled. The brothers of Alpha Sig chose Ginn as membership education director, to help with the Rush Week recruitment of new members.

But just as Rush Week got under way in late August, the chapter president resigned for personal reasons. To replace him, the chapter elected Ginn and, "I told everyone that we have to be on our A game. Especially me. I don't want to let anyone down."

Competing against the more-established fraternities, Ginn and the brothers of Alpha Sig emphasized to prospective members the fraternity's to-better-the-man dynamic. At the end of Rush Week, Alpha Sig invited 18 students to join. Bid Day would reveal who would follow Ginn's lead.

On the Friday before Labor Day, the sun baked the dry grass on the oval outside Griffin Hall at NKU. The Greek houses set up their 10-foot letters so pledges could find them. The brothers of Alpha Sig wore navy-blue T-shirts that on the back carried the hashtag #TBTM.

While pledges heard a presentation on hazing in the nearby student union, the fraternities lazed about the oval, waiting. Ginn put on dark glasses and led his brothers in an Alpha Sig song. They knew it was possible that no one would pledge Alpha Sig. It was new. It was small.

A large class of pledges emerged from the student union and ran toward Tau Kappa Epsilon, and the fraternity members barked and chanted their joy. Another 20 pledges headed for Alpha Tau Omega. More jubilation filled the air.

Minutes passed under the hot sun. Ginn grabbed a rolled-up sign that he and another brother unfurled to display their Greek letters and the words: "Leave Your Legacy."

Then amid the happy chaos, eight young men came running, in Alpha Sig T-shirts. Ginn and the chapter whooped as the pledges tore through the sign. In that instant, membership in NKU's newest fraternity grew 60 percent. Ginn shook hands all around, smiling, relief in his face at the impressive showing.

"This is great," he said. "It's a good turnout, for our first rush week."

Later, the pledges would learn the secret handshake and receive the Alpha Sig pin. But as the sun set on Bid Day, Daniel Ginn executed one final task, and the fraternity president led his brothers to a restaurant to celebrate.