First featured with his personal story in the book Brotherhood: Gay Life in College Fraternities, Chris Ho has experienced a fraternal roller-coaster ride since the beginning.   Now as the story continues to unfold, he ends up on top--not only as an out and proud member of Alpha Tau Omega but also as the first openly gay Interfraternity Council President elected to office at University of Nevada Las Vegas. And for the record, according to Lambda 10, he's among the first, if not the first, openly gay elected IFC President throughout the United States.   Read more about Chris in our exclusive online interview.

Lambda 10:   Thank you for being with us today, Chris.  

Chris Ho:   It is my pleasure to be here to share my story with your readers.

Lambda 10:   First off why not tell our readers a little about who you are.

Chris Ho:   Well, my name is Chris Ho and I'm a Senior at the University of Nevada Las Vegas working on completing my second bachelor's degree in Psychology.   I have been active in my school since I started attending back in 2001.   Since then I have been involved in everything from resident life, orientation, and being an ambassador for the President of the University to my final piece of involvement, Greek Life.   I joined my chapter, Alpha Tau Omega, back in the Fall of 2003.

Lambda 10:   It seems as though you have done a lot for your school.   What prompted you to join Greek Life after all that you have done for the University?

Chris Ho:   It is funny that you ask that.   I was involved with a program called the Leadership Advisory Board and was asked by our advisor to attend a leadership conference in Illinois.   LeaderShape, as many know it, is the nations premiere leadership conference for all students.   Here I was able to mix and mingle with my fellow students from across the nation and learn more about being a stronger leader in my community.   I did not know however that this is also a conference for many Greek Life students.   I met some of the most inspirational people to this day who have influenced my life on so many levels.   It was one person in particular who spurred my interest in being a member of Greek Life.   He has and will continue to be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life in the choices that he has made since LeaderShape.   Upon leaving LeaderShape with a renewed sense of belonging to my University and a thirst for acceptance in the Greek Community I began my trial of attaining brotherhood in one of our chapters on campus.

Lambda 10:   Tell us about how you came to be a member of your chapter.

Chris Ho:   First I would like to say that I have the utmost respect and love for all the chapters on my campus, and while many were willing to share their time and principles with me only one accepted me for who I am.   After returning from LeaderShape I was confronted with the issue of choosing a chapter to join.   I have many friends in almost every chapter on our campus and to choose just one didn't really seem fair.   I opted to look into Pi Kappa Alpha as my leading choice.   Through many events and discussions with the Brothers the President notified me that their chapter "wasn't ready for someone like me".   To my dismay I was completely in shock as to their choice to look not at the merits of the person but whom they choose to love.   After this critical first blow to my esteem I was determined to become a member of the Greek Community at any cost.

Lambda 10:   That must have been a difficult issue to deal with?   You obviously kept going.   Did you choose ATO next or was there another chapter you looked at?

Chris Ho:   Actually it was not as difficult as one would think.   I actually anticipated there being a problem with my sexuality when I decided to join a Fraternity.   Being a predominantly heterosexual grouping of men I was about to shatter the mold of the typical Fraternity man by being an openly homosexual pledge.   I looked next at another chapter with many of my friends, Phi Delta Theta.   While many of my friends where in this chapter I also realized in time that I also had a lot of enemies within the chapter.   Following their preference dinner I was notified that the chapter had come to a split decision on my bid and that one of the brothers had decided that could not have a gay guy in his chapter.   Once again I was left out of the Greek Community because of my sexual preference.   I was just about to give up when I received a call from a good friend of mine, Brandi.   She told me the next evening the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega were going to have the preference dinner and I was invited to attend.   I did not know anything about these guys nor had I really met any of them.   Determined to be Greek I attended the dinner.   Needless to say I am a Brother of the greatest chapter in the Nation and completely proud of all my Brothers and my Fraternity.

Lambda 10:   WOW!   That is quite the story of determination and willpower on your part.   Now you are a brother in your chapter where did you go from there?

Chris Ho:   The semester after I became a brother in my chapter I was awarded "Greek New Member of the Year" by the Greek Life Community.   I decided there was no way I was going to let those chapters who did not want me as a Brother to deter me from my goal of acceptance and now that I'm a member I was determined to give it my all.   I took on many positions within my chapter and organized our chapter's first appearance and participation in the AIDS Walk in Las Vegas.   You don't understand the power of 20 men in their letters walking along side drag queens, transgendered, lesbians, and many of other people within the gay community until you walk the path with your Fraternity Brothers.   Since my acceptance by my chapter I have done many things I can say that I am completely proud of.   I was the Pledge Educator of one of the largest pledge classes our chapter has seen in many years.   You never know how amazing your chapter is until you can educate those who are seeking to join your brotherhood.

Lambda 10:   You seem to have a sense of pride and love for your chapter.   We have heard that you are now the President of the Interfraternity Council at your school.   How did you accomplish that?

Chris Ho:   The year prior to my election to the President of IFC I was on the Executive Board as the Vice President of Judicial and Risk Management.   During that time I created the new Judicial Policy.   This was the greatest accomplishment for me to date with the Greek Community because it gave the chapters the opportunity to hold each other accountable for their actions.   During my time in this position I was actually gifted by being the first and only VP Judicial/Risk Management to date that has had no Judicial cases brought before him during my time in office.   As I said earlier on in the interview I am working on my second bachelor's degree.   I have always wanted to be the President of IFC and actually graduated with my degree before I was able to run for the position.   I had no doubt in my mind that I would be elected to the position so I opted to go for a second degree.   The election process was nerve racking and at one point during the election I actually doubted whether I was going to be elected.   It came down to a tight race for the position and I was elected by a vote of 10-9 in my favor.

Lambda 10:   That is a very close race.   What do you think were some of the factors to the chapters voting for you and against you?

Chris Ho:   I have many friends through out the Greek Community and they all have seen how dedicated to Greek Life I am.   I strongly believe that my sexuality did not have anything to do with the election.   I might be living in a make believe world but I would just like to continue to believe that.   I have put a lot of time and love into the Greek Community for my school and all of my hard work has finally paid off by my election to the top position within Greek Life.  

Lambda 10:   How did you get so motivated to become such a strong advocate for Greeks?   Was there anyone who motivated you to become such a great ally?  

Chris Ho:   The connections I made at LeaderShape and through my University gave me the strength and drive to become the person that I am today.   If I could pin point a person or persons who have touched my life I would have to say my mother, a young man by the name of Ken, and my fraternity brother Nick.   These individuals have lent me their strength and determination through constant reminders that I cannot let someone put me down and that I have the inner strength to achieve anything as long as I don't ever give up.   The one person I learned the most from about being a great ally would have to be my Big Brother, Nick.   He was there for me from day one and never gave up on me.   He showed me the power of being an ally for those who cannot speak or are afraid to do so.   He has left an impression on me that I will carry with me through out the restof my life.   To him I am eternally grateful.  

Lambda 10:   You seem to be a motivated and determined young man with many good things ahead for you.   We would like to take this time to thank you for your time and wish you all the best in your future adventures.   If our readers have questions or comments for you how can they get a hold of you?

Chris Ho:   I thank the staff of Lambda10.org for being there for people like myself and those who are still trying to find themselves.   It is great to know there is someplace for people to turn to for help.   I am honored to be a part of this and should anyone have any questions or comments for me they are welcome to contact me at IFC.President06@gmail.com.   Thank you again Shane Windmeyer and the folks at Lambda10.org for everything that you have done and continue to do!   God Bless!

LEARN MORE:

Read Chris Ho's story in the book Brotherhood: Gay Life in College Fraternities available in the Shop.