| Omicron Epsilon Pi | |
|---|---|
| ΟΕΠ | |
 | |
| Founded | February 7, 2000; 25 years ago (February 7, 2000) Tallahassee, Florida |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Feminine Lesbians of color, non-collegiate |
| 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 |
Omicron Epsilon Pi (ΟΕΠ) is a non-collegiate American women's sorority with an emphasis on lesbiansof color. Founded in 2000, it was the firstGreek letter organization catering to the needs oflesbian women.
Omicron Epsilon Pi has its origins in a group calledIota Lambda Pi, a sorority for Lesbian women of color that was formed on February 7, 2000.[1] It was the firstGreek letter organization catering to the needs oflesbian 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]
Omicron Epsilon Pi's colors are royal blue, platinum, andviridian.[6] Its flower is the whitecamellia.[6] Its jewel is theopal.[6] Its mascot is thelioness.[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]
Omicron Epsilon Pi is a sorority with an emphasis on lesbiansof 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]
The sorority createdOmicron 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 ofSakia 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 duringNational Suicide Prevention Week.[12][10] It provides support and education about LGBT parenting each February.[13][10] The sorority also works to addressdomestic violence each October duringNational Domestic Violence Awareness Month.[14][10] In November, it works with local service providers to help addresshomelessness for National Homelessness Month.[15][10]
Omicron Epsilon Pi is managed by an executive board.[16] It is organized into six regions of the United States.[17]