Federal judge allows sorority to admit transgender women.
A Victory for Sorority Autonomy: Court Upholds Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Right to Choose Members
A federal court on Friday delivered a significant ruling, affirming the freedom of a college sorority to select its own members. The case revolves around Artemis Langford, a transgender woman who joined the all-female Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority at the University of Wyoming. Seven KKG members filed a complaint against the sorority, arguing that admitting a transgender woman violated their charter and bylaws.
“Under the Sorority’s bylaws, every new member must be ’a woman,'” the sorority sisters argued in their complaint. “A woman is an adult human female. An adult human male is not a woman, no matter how he chooses to describe himself.”
The plaintiffs claimed that KKG had disregarded its own rules by following a guide that allowed for the inclusion of individuals who identify as women. They sought to revoke Langford’s admission and challenge the legality of the guide’s implementation.
A Victory for Sorority Autonomy
District Judge Alan Johnson, recognizing Kappa Kappa Gamma’s right to define its own membership criteria, dismissed the complaint. He emphasized that private organizations have the authority to interpret their governing documents and determine who qualifies as a member.
“Defining ‘woman’ is Kappa Kappa Gamma’s bedrock right as a private, voluntary organization—and one this Court may not invade,” Judge Johnson stated.
The judge also rejected the claim that KKG breached housing contracts by allowing Langford to reside in the chapter house, as the contracts did not explicitly prohibit such arrangements.
Judge Johnson underscored the potential consequences of ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, cautioning against burdening the courts with disputes over private organizations’ interpretation of their bylaws.
Transphobia Allegations and Unveiling Identities
Langford’s attorney, Rachel Berkness, criticized the lawsuit as “transphobic” and argued that the case targeted her client based on her transgender identity. The plaintiffs initially filed the lawsuit anonymously, but Judge Johnson denied their request for anonymity, citing the public interest in the case. Eventually, six of the women revealed their identities.
In an interview, one of the plaintiffs, Hannah Holtmeier, expressed her discomfort living in the KKG house. However, the court’s ruling affirms the sorority’s right to determine its own membership and maintain its autonomy.
This decision sets an important precedent, safeguarding the autonomy of private organizations and their ability to define their membership criteria.
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