SINCE TikTok launched in 2016, several creators have used the platform to speak out about their personal life experiences.
Among the users who have gone viral after sharing their stories is Grant Sikes, who was rejected from every University of Alabama sorority.
Who is Grant Sikes from Bama Rush TikTok?
Grant Sikes is a non-binary social media influencer who is attending the University of Alabama.
They first went viral during Alabama Rush Week in August 2022 by documenting the recruitment journey on TikTok.
Sikes is often seen posting about their life on Instagram and TikTok to thousands of followers, but details of their personal life are unclear.
Why was Grant Sikes rejected from University of Alabama sororities?
Fraternities and sororities are popular amongst college students and are often used as a way to make friends and form brotherhoods or sisterhoods.
These were among the reasons why Sikes wanted to join a sorority, but they were ultimately rejected by all of them on campus, which is home to almost 20 chapters.
“Unfortunately, this chapter is closed. This recruitment journey is over for me,” Sikes wrote in an Instagram post.
“Being dropped from my last house this morning during primary recruitment at the University of Alabama doesn’t come as a surprise considering out of the almost 20 chapters – I was dropped by every single one except 2 before day 1.
“I’m hopeful of a future where everyone is welcomed for just being themselves – everywhere,” they continued.
“If you are going through a hard time today, remember that life is too short to ponder on the things lost. Choose happiness & always look for the positive things throughout life. Move on. See the good. See the bad. Hope for the best. Brave the worst.”
While it is unclear why they got rejected from every sorority, many believe it is because they identify as non-binary.
When asked by TikTok users why they didn’t rush a fraternity, they explained that it’s simply not their scene.
“That’s not my scene, that’s not relatable,” Sikes said in a TikTok video, where they clarified that they are non-binary and not transgender as previously reported by several news outlets.
“I definitely relate to girls, I’m comfortable and so much more social, [sororities are] just my scene versus a fraternity,” Sikes continued.
What does it mean to be non-binary?
For years, being part of the LGBTQ+ community has simply meant being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
However, there are several other gender identities out there that people use to help express who are truly are.
Among those gender identities is non-binary, also known as genderqueer.
Basically, when someone identifies as non-binary, it means that they do not solely identify as either male or female.
Sikes previously discussed their gender in a TikTok video after the media labeled them as transgender.
“I am not transgender, all of the media and news and press on this has labeled me as transgender, but this is not correct,” they said.
“I’m just non-binary … I just live my life as Grant. I don’t really like labels. I think people are so quick to literally slap a label on everything.”
While Sikes did not mention their preferred pronouns, they explained that their sex is male and that they were born male but simply identify as non-binary.