HOW CAMPUS FSL PROFESSIONALS CAN SUPPORT QUEER (LGBTQ+)-FOCUSED FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES Bryan Guffey | Delta Lambda Phi Alex Young | Delta Lambda Phi Christopher A. Miofsky | Delta Lambda Phi Douglas N. Case | Delta Lambda Phi

History of Queer-Focused Fraternities & Expansion Procedures Sororities There currently are three organizations that Fraternities and sororities have a long history in operate on a national or international basis: Delta the United States and, throughout time, have had Lambda Phi, , and Theta Pi queer members. However, it is only since the latter Sigma. half of the 20th century that these members have become more outwardly visible, but not always Delta Lambda Phi welcome. As such, it made sense that queer folx For Delta Lambda Phi, students interested in would carve out spaces of their own. establishing a chapter can fill out an online form and the fraternity’s Interest Group Coordinator In 1986, the first of many organizations, Delta will follow-up. Once the interest group has at Lambda Phi, was founded as a fraternal least ten members, with the permission of the organization for “, bisexual, and progressive Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) Office, they can men.” Following in 2003 was Gamma Rho petition to become a Provisional Chapter. As a Lambda, an “all-inclusive social sorority,” and member of the NIC, Delta Lambda Phi chapters Theta Pi Sigma in 2005, an “all-gendered Greek are eligible to join the IFC, although on many organization” with a focus on queer inclusion. campuses the chapter elects to join a multicultural Other local queer-focused organizations exist on fraternity/sorority council. If the Provisional a few campuses. Chapter petition is approved, the group will be assigned two alumni Mentors who will guide the While many traditional organizations are more chapter through the expansion process. welcoming now than previously, queer-focused fraternities and sororities play a vital role in student In order to progress from a Provisional Chapter engagement on campuses across our country and to a full Chapter, the group must successfully internationally. As with any organization, students educate a minimum of three new member classes look for a place to belong. In joining one of the (two per academic year), show continued growth many queer-focused Greek-letter organizations, and sustainability, meet the expansion guidelines they can find a place that fully understands and and standards of the fraternity, and demonstrate celebrates their identifies. These organizations good leadership. At that point the Provisional can provide unique, queer specific programming Chapter can petition to become a Chapter. for members which considers the unique needs of students with minority identities and, in doing Gamma Rho Lambda so, creates safe, equitable spaces. It is our hope Gamma Rho Lambda has a somewhat similar that this article will provide greater context into expansion process, but as of this writing (May these organizations to determine if one of us is 2021), the sorority is not currently accepting right for your campus. expansion applications. They can be contacted here.

1 Theta Pi Sigma practice inclusion and cultural competence for Theta Pi Sigma’s expansion process is more queer people. informal, and they do not have a national structure. The founding Alpha Chapter at the University of Recommendations for Campus Advisors California, Santa Cruz coordinates expansion and with Queer-Focused Chapters in Their FSL networking with chapters. If an interested group Community of students demonstrates a commitment to the For campus advisors with queer-focused organization’s values, they can apply for a license chapters on their campus, we offer several to become a chapter. The Alpha Chapter can be recommendations with the goal of ensuring the contacted here. best possible experience for all involved: 1. Ensure strong relationships between FSL Benefits of Having Queer Focused and LGBTQ+ Student Services. Queer- Organizations in Your FSL Community focused chapters do best when they The benefits of campuses having queer-focused have culturally competent support from organizations on their campuses are plentiful. campus professionals. This requires that First, and most obviously, college campuses campus advisors develop and maintain often remain challenging and unwelcoming an understanding of the particular needs places for queer students and the potential for a of LGBTQ+ individuals and how that robust mutual support group for these students may affect the dynamics of a chapter. may be beneficial to help students navigate such Developing and maintaining strong cross- environments and enhance the campus climate. departmental partnerships between FSL and LGBTQ+ Student Services ensures Second, these organizations regularly provide both departments have the requisite students who fall outside the gender binary domain knowledge in order to effectively the opportunity to experience the traditionally support LGBTQ-oriented chapters and gendered structures of fraternity and sorority their members. communities and the benefits that come with it, which in turn enhances a sense of belonging 2. Work proactively with the FSL community and identification with their campus, especially to create a visibly welcoming environment for campuses who do not have robust LGBTQ+ for Queer-focused chapters. Most queer- programming already. focused chapters are created because the founding members were not fully accepted Third, though there has been a noted increase into other chapters on campus. Additionally, in the number of organizations that, at least most students who join queer-focused in policy, welcome queer individuals, these chapters will have negative perceptions of organizations provide alternative fraternal wider Greek life, even though they have experiences for students, LGBTQ+ or not, chosen to join a Greek organization. This who may not feel comfortable or safe in more can often lead to queer-focused chapters traditional organizations or do not feel as though isolating themselves from the rest of the those organizations meet their needs. FSL community out of a fear of negative experiences. Creating a visibly welcoming Finally, these organizations, by their nature, offer environment for LGBTQ+ individuals an organizational culture which serves as a locus across the campus FSL community as well to challenge hegemonic gender performances. as swiftly and appropriately addressing any Just as Delta Lambda Phi has led by example discrimination or bigotry against LGBTQ for other NIC organizations to become more individuals, will help to ensure the chapter inclusive, chapters can serve as role models for can integrate successfully into the wider their peer organizations to demonstrate how to FSL community.

2 3. Pay particular attention to mental health, Bryan Guffey (they, them, theirs) serves as the group dynamics and personal conflicts. executive director and CEO for Delta Lambda LGBTQ+ students are six times more likely Phi Fraternity. Bryan grew up in Kansas and Ohio to experience symptoms of depression and is an alumnx of Kent State University where and four times more likely to attempt they pursued their bachelor’s degree. Bryan suicide than heterosexual students. They previously served in multiple board and staff roles are also more than twice as likely to report in DLP, including chief alumni services officer, barriers to accessing appropriate mental deputy CIO, vice president of chapter services, health services. Ensuring members of and president of the DLP Alumni Association. queer-focused chapters have access to Bryan also previously served on the board of the quality, accessible mental health services Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity, is crucial to ensuring the chapter functions and they advise several nonprofits and queer well. Additionally, for many members, the organizations in differing stages of development. chapter is the first place they have been able to be their full selves. Due to the Alex Young (he, him, his) serves as the chief heightened responsibilities and community chapter support and education officer for Delta insularity of FSL life, members may be less Lambda Phi Fraternity. Alex grew up in Iowa prepared to deal with conflict inside the and is an alumnus of chapter than cis-heterosexual students who where he pursued his bachelors and master’s are just as likely to build strong community degrees. During his masters, Alex advised their outside the chapter, allowing them to IFC, coordinated activities for military-affiliated weather internal division more easily. students, and conducted healthy masculinity Finally, individual interpersonal romantic programming on campus. He now works in relationships are more likely to occur in higher education at the University of Nebraska queer-focused chapters. Helping students at Omaha advising student organizations and to navigate the formation and dissolution Student Government. of such relationships with a focus on the health of everyone involved, including the Christopher A. Miofsky (he, him, his) serves chapter, is very important to ensuring the as the director of outreach for Delta Lambda chapter is successful on campus. Phi Fraternity and is the associate director for fraternity and sorority life at the University of Although fraternities and sororities have Denver. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois become much more welcoming and inclusive in University Edwardsville and the University of recent years, there remains a need felt by many Missouri - St. Louis. queer students to be a part of a queer-focused organization where they can be themselves Douglas N. Case (he, him, his) serves as the Delta and share, learn, and grow from the common Lambda Phi director of university relations. He experiences of other LGBTQ+ members. Queer- retired from State University in 2015 focused chapters add value to an FSL community where he worked in fraternity and sorority life by promoting opportunities for diversity and for over three decades. He is the coordinator of LGBTQ+ education. As noted above, queer- Campus Pride’s Lambda 10 Project/Out & Greek focused fraternities and sororities have unique Initiative and is a past AFA president (1991). An needs, and campus FSL professionals should work initiate of , he graduated from San to ensure that these groups have the support and Jose State University and completed graduate resources they need to flourish. work in business administration at San Diego State University.

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