Donnie Collins is a proud member of Phi Alpha taw a fraternity at Emerson College Donnie was born a female but lives as a male well I came out as transgender when I was 17 years old I spent years suffering with gender identity problems not knowing what was wrong Donnie’s fraternity brother said
This was never an issue when joining the frat Donnie’s status as a trans student really was a non-issue it wasn’t even an afterthought we just thought he was an outstanding man coming out was a huge relief to me and I knew right away that I wanted a name change I wanted hormone
Replacement treatment and I wanted Top surgery but when he found out his insurance company denied his claim for surgery he was overwhelmed with the support from his fraternity brothers it really is about a sense of community the fraternity started a campaign to raise money for Donnie’s surgery we wanted to
Show him in an act of solidarity that we supported him they set a goal to raise a little over eight thousand dollars to cover Donnie surgery now they’re at 12,000 if at times are changing and if you’re someone who feels like you don’t belong because of something that’s
Different about you that you know wait it out it gets better there are people out there who will love and value you for who you are you’re the one who puts your head down on the pillow at the end the night like you have to be able to
Look in the mirror live with yourself every day for us your life so make choices for you first and then other people a second it’s not about raising the money it’s about telling a story a story of transformation self-discovery and brotherhood
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