As members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, one of America's most established sororities, we cherish the sisterhood and safe space it provides for women to connect and grow. Sororities offer a refuge from the pressures of college life, fostering genuine, lifelong bonds.
Our members represent a diverse range of backgrounds, academic pursuits, faiths, and sexual orientations. Title IX safeguards the right of fraternities and sororities to maintain single-sex memberships. However, this fundamental principle has been challenged within our own sisterhood.
Joining a sorority is a lifelong commitment, a promise of belonging to a supportive community of women. Kappa Kappa Gamma's core values emphasize truth, respect, and connection. We were drawn to these values and the shared understanding that we were joining a sisterhood of biological women.
In the fall of 2022, our chapter was shocked to learn that a biological male had been accepted into our sorority. We felt betrayed and unheard. Our attempts to address privacy and safety concerns with the national headquarters were met with silence or dismissive responses. We were even told to redefine our understanding of womanhood.
This situation directly contradicted the values of respect and truth upon which Kappa Kappa Gamma is built. It became clear that the national leadership had pre-approved this individual's membership. Feeling that our voices were not being heard, we pursued legal action as a last resort to protect the female-only nature of our sorority.
Our legal argument is straightforward: We were promised a single-sex experience, a right protected under Kappa's bylaws and Title IX. If the national organization wishes to admit men, they should follow the proper procedures to amend their bylaws and be transparent with all chapters and potential new members.
We believe in providing safe spaces for everyone. However, this should not come at the expense of the safety, privacy, and opportunities afforded by single-sex environments. We are not against transgender individuals, but we believe that prioritizing the feelings of one member over the well-being of others is not the right approach.
We are young women standing up for our rights and the rights of other women. We are fighting to preserve the integrity of female-only spaces. We encourage you to join us in this fight.
