Omicron Epsilon Pi () 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 A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexu ...

women.

History

Omicron 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. It was the first Greek letter organization catering to the needs of

women."What a rush: a lesbian sorority"
Curve magazine, December 1, 2004 Its founders or Sapphires were Lakisha Goss, Michelle McCallum, Janiece Smith, and Stefany Richards. 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. 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''."'' On February 5, 2005, Kalicia Fresh and Danielle Guess were inducted as additional founders for their work and support of the sorority.

Symbols

Omicron Epsilon Pi's colors are royal blue, platinum, and

viridian Viridian is a blue-green pigment, a hydrated chromium(III) oxide, of medium saturation and relatively dark in value. It is composed of a majority of green, followed by blue. The first recorded use of ''viridian'' as a color name in English wa ...

. Its flower is the white

camellia ''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in East Asia, eastern and South Asia, southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are ...

. Its jewel is the

opal Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silicon dioxide, silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3% to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6% and 10%. Due to the amorphous (chemical) physical structure, it is classified as a ...

. Its mascot is the lioness. The sorority's motto is "Not for ourselves, but for all in diversity." The sorority Platinum Elements or pillars are Achievement, Diversity, Leadership, Pride, Service, and Sisterly Love.

Membership

Omicron Epsilon Pi is a sorority with an emphasis on lesbians of color. It welcomes women of integrity and moral standing into its memberships. It is community-based, rather than a collegiate organization; its members are not required to have attended a university or college.

Philanthropy

The sorority created Omicron E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment as its charitable nonprofit. Omicron E.M.P.O.W.E.R.ment was incorporated in the State of Georgia on February 1, 2018. Its activities include serving the community, empowering youth, and helping to develop future leaders. Its current priorities are domestic violence, equal rights, homelessness, LGBT parenting, and suicide prevention. 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. It provides seminars and collaborates with community organizations during National Suicide Prevention Week. It provides support and education about LGBT parenting each February. The sorority also works to address

domestic violence Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...

each October during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In November, it works with local service providers to help address

homelessness Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...

for National Homelessness Month.

Governance

Omicron Epsilon Pi is managed by an executive board. It is organized into six regions of the United States. * 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

References

External links

*
My Space page
{{Fraternities and Sororities , collapsed LGBTQ fraternities and sororities Lesbian organizations based in the United States 2000 establishments in Florida Organizations for LGBTQ people of color Organizations for women of color Student organizations established in 2000