A sorority member at the University of Wyoming and her attorney argue that it is illegal for the national organization to allow a male student to join the women's-only group.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, a renowned national sorority, is facing a lawsuit brought by current and former members who allege that the organization has violated its own bylaws by allowing a male student to join. The suit comes amidst the ongoing debate over the definition of "woman" and the rights of transgender individuals.
The lead plaintiff, Allie Coghan, was a sophomore at the University of Wyoming when she discovered that a man, Artemis Langford, had been invited to join her Kappa chapter. Langford identifies as a woman, but Coghan and other members contend that his biological sex disqualifies him from joining the sorority.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Lawsuit Challenges Court to Define 'Woman'
"We joined Kappa believing it was an organization for women – not merely any person claiming to be one," Coghan said in a statement. "Not only would we be forced to acknowledge this male as our 'sister,' but this individual would also participate in residential activities, like slumber parties, in our sorority house."
The lawsuit alleges that Kappa Kappa Gamma's national leadership issued the invitation to Langford despite overwhelming opposition from the majority of the University of Wyoming chapter. The plaintiffs claim that the national organization is engaging in a strategy of "social justice" activism by disregarding the wishes of its members and redefining the concept of womanhood.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Lawsuit Challenges Court to Define 'Woman'
"This is not what Kappa Kappa Gamma's founders envisioned for our beloved sisterhood," Coghan said. "When it was chartered in 1870, women weren't welcome in men's organizations or on most college campuses. These female leaders hoped to form networks that addressed women's need for community as they strove for success in a 'man's world' full of its fraternities, secret societies, and country clubs."
The lawsuit argues that sororities like Kappa Kappa Gamma provide unique benefits to women, including the opportunity to form meaningful relationships, pursue academic goals, and develop leadership skills. However, these benefits are contingent upon the exclusivity of the organizations to women, the plaintiffs maintain.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Lawsuit Challenges Court to Define 'Woman'
"Research shows that females benefit tremendously from single-sex environments, like sororities and women's colleges, where women are free to be themselves in a secure and uplifting environment," the lawsuit states. "Here, women may 'dream boldly and live fully.'"
Kappa Kappa Gamma officials have defended their decision to allow Langford to join, arguing that the organization is committed to diversity and inclusion. They maintain that the sorority's bylaws do not explicitly define "woman" and that the organization has the right to interpret the term as it sees fit.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Lawsuit Challenges Court to Define 'Woman'
However, the plaintiffs argue that the organization's bylaws must be interpreted in light of their historical context and purpose, which was to create a space for women. They contend that allowing men to join the sorority fundamentally alters the nature of the organization and violates the expectations of its members.
The lawsuit is a significant challenge to the growing trend of transgender inclusion in women's-only organizations. The outcome of the case could have implications for sororities and other organizations nationwide, as well as for the broader debate over the definition of "woman" and the rights of transgender individuals.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Lawsuit Challenges Court to Define 'Woman'
