Providing a support system for transgender individuals is the primary focus of a new campus group established this semester.
Phi Tau Mu, the Greek letters FTM in English, stands for "Female to Male" and allows those in the transgender community to hold serious discussions about issues they deal with on a daily basis.
There are five members in the group who have formed a brotherhood and understand each other on levels other people cannot, said T.J. Jourian, graduate assistant to the Office of LBGT Concerns and a group member.
Although the members often spend time together, the meetings provide a comfortable setting to check up on each other and discuss internal feelings at length.
"(We) create a space where we can just talk with each other and not worry so much about being included all the time because you know it's us," Jourian said. "We are included - that's the one space that we know we're going to be included."
Issues commonly discussed at the meetings include relationships, depression and unease about body image, said Caiden Marcus a communication junior and group member.
"For me personally, it's really difficult because a lot of queer women want to date other queer women, which is valid, it's their identity," he said. "And there's straight women who want to date men, but who do the tranny boys date?"
This is the first visible transgender student-focused organization provided for students by students, said Phi Tau Mu adviser Brent Bilodeau, also the coordinator for the Office of LBGT Concerns. He said the peer-to-peer connection might make other students feel more comfortable to identify as transgender.
"Out peer role models send a very significant message to students about making it OK to be out and open about who they are," he said.
The group has promoted transgender awareness with T-Party, a discussion during National Coming Out Days that explored transgender issues. It also held a transgender remembrance event that focused on the murders of transgender individuals because of discrimination.
Phi Tau Mu also has held transgender awareness sessions at some lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender caucus meetings and a training session for the staff at Snyder and Phillips halls.
Group members said they often get tired of discussing transgender issues with others because they end up educating instead of being able to delve into deeper discussions. They said the group provides that opportunity.
"I can forego the 'Trans 101' education session," Marcus said. "I can just go to, 'These are my problems - what do y'all think?'"
Another problem the group has dealt with this year is individuals who think they are allies of the transgender community, but then proceed to make ignorant comments or act in an ignorant manner.
Group members also have expressed concern because transgender individuals are included in MSU's anti-harassment policy, but not in its anti-discrimination policy.
"You can fire a trans student on campus, you just can't harass them while you're doing it," Jourian said. "It's ridiculous."
More awareness needs to be provided at MSU in general, Marcus said, before the transgender community feels like it is welcome at the university.
For more information about Phi Tau Mu, visit www.msu.edu/~phitaumu.
