Brian Golden, Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s LGBT Liason.

It wasn’t until Brian Golden’s last chapter meeting of his senior year that he came out to his fraternity brothers.

“They were really supportive,” Golden said of his brothers in Delta Sigma Phi at Virginia Tech University, where he received his bachelor’s degree. “They embraced me and said they were very glad that I could share that information and then hopefully, that opened the door for other people to feel comfortable.”

If Golden didn’t help other LGBT members of Greek life then, he is now as the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s LGBT liaison, a title he added to his resume this past summer.

In June 2012, Golden came to this university as the Interfraternity Council’s advisor for DFSL.

As IFC Advisor, Golden counsels 24 fraternities. Matt Supple, DFSL director, said the connections Golden has established within the Greek life community are helpful to his new liaison position, as is his passion and experience with LGBT issues.

“It’s an issue that Brian feels strongly about and has a lot of experience and insight and energy,” Supple said. “It’s a position that we see as valuable to fraternity and sorority life in being able to ensure that we are able to provide good resources and services to our students.”

Luke Jensen, LGBT Equity Center director, said the duties of a LGBT liaison vary depending on the unit they work for. For Golden, Jensen said his job included making sure the department’s staff, as well as members of Greek life, are aware of issues in the LGBT community and creating safe and welcoming environments.

Golden said he plans to utilize his position both within the Greek life community and externally.

“I definitely want to be publicizing opportunities to the Greek community of how to learn more about LGBT issues … and just be more inclusive as a community,” he said. “But also, to be a face to people outside of the Greek community that either might be interested in joining or learning more.”

Golden said he wants to show LGBT students who are interested in joining or already are members of Greek life that they can be themselves and still find a home in a fraternity or sorority.

“I think fraternities and sororities are supposed to be developing members and allowing people to find themselves, be themselves and have a supportive group, so I hate the idea that someone might feel that they have to suppress their identity or suppress who they are because they’re a member of the organization,” he said.

This year, Golden has promoted the LGBT Equity Center’s Speakers Bureau to chapters as possible guests for their meetings, and he said students have responded enthusiastically.

Golden also said he would be interested in leading an alliance of LGBT students and allies within the Greek community if there was interest among students.

Jensen said Golden’s position has the power to bridge the gap between groups of students.

“Some fraternities and sororities have stereotypes about LGBTQ people that aren’t true, and LGBTQ people have some stereotypes about fraternities and sororities that aren’t true,” Jensen said. “So, I think part of this is also breaking down barriers, breaking down stereotypes.”