Omicron Epsilon Pi (ΟΕΠ) is a non-collegiate American women's sorority with an emphasis on lesbians of color. Founded in 2000, it was the first Greek letter organization catering to the needs of lesbian women.
| Omicron Epsilon Pi | |
|---|---|
| ΟΕΠ | |
 | |
| Founded | February 7, 2000 Tallahassee, Florida |
| Type | Social, non-collegiate |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Feminine Lesbians of color |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "Not for ourselves, but for all in diversity'" |
| Pillars | Achievement, Diversity, Leadership, Pride, Service, and Sisterly Love |
| Colors | Royal Blue, Platinum, and Viridian |
| Flower | White Camellia |
| Jewel | Opal |
| Mascot | Lioness |
| Philanthropy | Project E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment |
| Chapters | 6 regions |
| Headquarters | P.O. Box 55352 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 United States |
| Website | www |
History
editOmicron Epsilon Pi has its origins in a group called Iota Lambda Pi, a sorority for Lesbian women of color that was formed on February 7, 2000.[1] It was the first Greek letter organization catering to the needs of lesbian women.[2][3] Its founders or Sapphires were Lakisha Goss, Michelle McCallum, Janiece Smith, and Stefany Richards.[1] Eventually Iota Lambda Pi's members decided to become a fraternity that would focus on aggressive or dominant women, also known as butch or stud women.[1][4]
Gross and Smith then established Omicron Epsilon Pi as a sorority to focus on feminine lesbians. One of the goals of the sorority is to "create a haven for lesbian women where they are fully accepted without the fear of being ostracized or stereotyped."[5]
On February 5, 2005, Kalicia Fresh and Danielle Guess were inducted as additional founders for their work and support of the sorority.[1]
Symbols
editOmicron Epsilon Pi's colors are royal blue, platinum, and viridian.[6] Its flower is the white camellia.[6] Its jewel is the opal.[6] Its mascot is the lioness.[6] The sorority's motto is "Not for ourselves, but for all in diversity."[6] The sorority Platinum Elements or pillars are Achievement, Diversity, Leadership, Pride, Service, and Sisterly Love.[7]
Membership
editOmicron Epsilon Pi is a sorority with an emphasis on lesbians of color.[2][3] It welcomes women of integrity and moral standing into its memberships.[8] It is community-based, rather than a collegiate organization; its members are not required to have attended a university or college.[8]
Philanthropy
editThe sorority created Omicron E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment as its charitable nonprofit.[9] Omicron E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment was incorporated in the State of Georgia on February 1, 2018.[9] Its activities include serving the community, empowering youth, and helping to develop future leaders.[9] Its current priorities are domestic violence, equal rights, homelessness, LGBT parenting, and suicide prevention.[10]
Annually in May, it events nationwide to remember the life and death of Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old feminine dominant lesbian who was murdered after she turned down the advances of Richard McCullough.[11][10] It provides seminars and collaborates with community organizations during National Suicide Prevention Week.[12][10] It provides support and education about LGBT parenting each February.[13][10] The sorority also works to address domestic violence each October during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.[14][10] In November, it works with local service providers to help address homelessness for National Homelessness Month.[15][10]
Governance
editOmicron Epsilon Pi is managed by an executive board.[16] It is organized into six regions of the United States.[17]
- North Western: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming
- South Western: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah
- North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
- South Central: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas
- North Eastern: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
- South Eastern: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "About". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "What a rush: a lesbian sorority" Curve magazine, December 1, 2004
- ^ a b Choron, Harry and Sandra (2004). College in a Can: What's In, Who's Out, Where To, Why Not, and Everything Else You Need to Know about Life on Campus. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 25–26. ISBN 0-618-40871-1.
- ^ "Iota Lambda Pi Fraternity flyer | DigiNole". Florida State University Digital Repository. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Why A Strictly Lesbian Sorority". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Symbols". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Home". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Membership". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Omicron E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment is a non-profit 501(c)(3) incorporated in GA". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Project E.M.P.O.W.E.R". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Equal Rights". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Suicide Prevention". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "LGBT Parenting". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Domestic Violence". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Homelessness". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Leadership". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Regions". Omicron Epsilon Pi. Retrieved July 1, 2024.