While Greek life may be an amazing experience for many students, it can also be an unwelcoming and unsafe one for gay students on some college campuses. Sigma Phi Beta, which claims to be America's first gay fraternity, aims to change at least a small part of that.
Started at Arizona State University, the fraternity's mission is to "[promote] equality and respect by providing Queer and Allied men in college with a uniquely diverse safe space within the traditional Greek fraternity system. [They] strive for integrity and professionalism, and uphold high standards of scholarship and excellence." The State Press is also reporting that at least one other chapter of the fraternity is being chartered. For more information, you can check out their website or contact them directly.
Hi Kelci. Just to inform you, Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity, Inc. is not America’s First Gay Fraternity. Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1985. Even so, there have been numerous gay fraternities that were formed prior to September 2003, the month when Sigma Phi Beta was founded.
Thanks for the heads up! Do you know of any sites for good information if readers want to learn more about Delta Phi Upsilon or the other fraternities you mention? I’d love to be able to refer folks to places for more information.
(And thanks for your comment! I really appreciate it!)
Actually I am a member of Sigma Phi Beta and I would like to amend the previous comment. Delta Phi Upsilon was founded before Sigma Phi Beta, however Delta Phi Upsilon states that it is the “First Black International Fraternity for gay men of color.” And yes, there have been other fraternities that have identified as gay, but some of them have not been strictly collegiate and we are the first fraternity to have adopted a policy on gender. Our fraternity is the first collegiate gay fraternity that accepts transgendered college students. We have a Policy on Gender that dictates how we go about accepting transgendered members into our fraternity and that, no matter how their gender identity changes throughout their membership, they are still considered a member. If you have any questions feel free to ask me at rmshowel@asu.edu