Gay fraternities

“I love the fact that within our brotherhood, we can form bonds and connections without worrying whether a space is safe. “Homophobia, heterosexism and transphobia still exist, and they’re even more prevalent in single-sex organizations. As students become more diverse and inclusive, the organizations that will thrive will be the ones that truly live their values of brotherhood and sisterhood.”

DePauw’s inclusion statement is a sign of progress across the Greek system.

After transferring schools, I was given the opportunity to participate in greek life in a way that would be supportive and uplifting.

And that’s not a bad thing, but sometimes people want a little bit more,” says Brosnan Rhodes, who joined DLP in 2017 and currently serves as its trustee. Life never goes perfectly as planned but knowing I have my brothers gives me the extra confidence to take risks and experiences I never thought I would take. Because we have a shared experience, I know that my brothers in every situation are going to treat me with the same kindness and respect that I’m going to give them.”

Nearly 40 years after DLP’s founding, other fraternities and sororities are carrying its torch of inclusion.

This leads to exposure to new groups, hobbies, interests, and cultures. At the time, that really affected me,” Mason says. “As someone who is both gay and a member of a fraternity, I know that these spaces can be welcoming of students who are both figuring out and fully living their LGBTQ+ identities … I also know there’s a business case for this.

At Indiana’s DePauw University, for example, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association recently drafted a joint statement of inclusion to which all fraternities and sororities have committed themselves, says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students John Mark Day. The statement reads: “The best version of Greek life is a community where everyone feels not just tolerated but welcomed to exist as their authentic self.”

“This is deeply personal for me,” Day says.

He changed his mind when he overhead members of another frat laughing at him.

“During winter recruitment, I was walking through the student center and heard a comment about me rushing. “That’s not true anymore.”

What about trans and nonbinary students?

Clearly, organizations like DLP are no longer necessary for some LGBTQ+ students.

Lean into the DLP network. Both externally and internally, no two of us are the same. “Delta Lambda Phi offers a built-in community of lifelong friendships and bonds that you can plug into at any time in your life, anywhere you go.”

And because DLP is Queer, the relationships its members create — for purposes of friendship, mentoring or professional networking — are inherently benign.

They thought it was funny. “More organizations are accepting, but they may not be wholly accepting,” notes Rhodes, who says DLP membership among individuals who are gender-nonconforming, nonbinary and trans has “dramatically increased” in recent years. By 2007, 79% of LGBTQ+ participants in Greek life said they were out.