Fraternity raising money for transgendered pledge's surgery

BOSTON (AP) - A fraternity at Emerson College in Boston has raised enough money to pay for surgery for a pledge who was born a girl but identifies as male.

Sophomore screenwriting major Donnie Collins wanted breast removal surgery, but his insurance wouldn't pay for it and he didn't want to take out loans.

So his brothers at Phi Alpha Tau reached out to the college community and posted a YouTube appeal, and raised $13,000, more than enough to pay for the $8,000 procedure. The excess funds will be donated to others who want similar surgery.

The 20-year-old Collins says he's moved, overwhelmed and surprised. The surgery is important because it removes "confusion and depression" from his life.

Chapter President John Allen says the fraternity sees Collins just as "a brother that we love."