LGBT fraternity, sorority earn charter designation at University of Iowa

IOWA CITY — Here's the truth for Hunter Gillaspie — typical fraternities exude masculinity.

'I had interviews with more traditional frats,' he said, 'and it definitely was an uncomfortable space for me to be in — just because of the vibe they gave off for someone like me.'

Gillaspie, an 18-year-old University of Iowa freshmen, is gay. Finding a community he could relate to and socialize with — such as a fraternity — was important to him as a new college student.

Fortunately, Gillaspie said, he quickly connected with one of UI's newest chartered Greek organizations — Delta Lambda Phi, listed with the university's Multicultural Greek Council as 'a fraternity of progressive men, regardless of sexual orientation.'

'I'm definitely glad I joined,' he said. 'It's been a strong support system on campus, and it's accessible to me when I need it.'

That service — providing support, respect and camaraderie along with community service and a positive image — is central to the mission of both Delta Lambda Phi's UI chapter and its sorority counterpart, Gamma Rho Lambda, which also recently was chartered by its national organization.

'Some people from the LGBT community have negative connotations with frats,' Gillaspie said. 'They have an idea in their head of what a frat is, and it's our challenge to get that idea to change.'

Founding members of the Delta Lambda Phi UI chapter began gauging interest on campus in 2011 and — finding it — promptly organized a colony in 2012. After proving sustainable, the chapter earned its official charter from the national organization in January, and last month bestowed for the first time alumni status on several founding members.

Gamma Rho Lambda, which calls itself a 'sorority for progressive women of all identities,' received its charter in late April after starting similarly as an interest group in 2012 and graduating to a colony last year.

'We have had people come in who heard about us and sought us out because it's a space they wanted and needed,' said Crystal Terman, president of the Gamma Rho Lambda UI chapter.

Although Delta Lambda Phi and Gamma Rho Lambda are not associated, Terman said, they share similar visions and missions.

'We also are fighting the negative stereotypes of Greek communities and what it means to be Greek,' she said. 'We definitely challenge that in a lot of ways.'

'Safe and supportive' environment

As a UI freshmen, Terman — who identifies as queer — said she essentially 'stumbled' into the first meeting to discuss the possibility of a Gamma Rho Lambda chapter on campus.

'I was very much on the outskirts the first year,' she said.

But, as a 21-year-old UI junior who now heads the group, Terman said it was a lucky accident that has been central to her time here.

'I went to that first meeting after a week and a half on campus, and it has overarched my entire college experience,' she said.

The group today has 23 members, who Terman said she's careful to label. Instead of using the term sister or brother, as is traditional for fraternities and sororities, they call each other sorority siblings, Terman said.

'We want to create an environment that is safe and supportive,' she said.

The hope, she said, is that the group's message will expand beyond its framework to the entire campus.

'The visibility component has been really big,' Terman said. 'And it's been easier to see the value of that since we've had people coming to try and join us.'

The process of chartering has been a long one, according to Terman, taking years and 'a ton of work.' Earning the designation means the group is sustainable and fully integrated with the national organization — but Terman said the sorority has been driving its mission through philanthropy, community service and education with the UI Multicultural Greek Council for years.

'A very different experience'

The Multicultural Greek Council serves members of multicultural fraternities and sororities including those related to ethnicity. They do not have houses, as do some fraternities and sororities. But Trevor Leeper, president of the Delta Lambda Phil UI chapter, said they're very active with social events, community service projects and fundraising activities.

'For me, this was an organization that filled a niche of helping to further the queer identity on campus and within fraternity and sorority life,' Leeper said. 'As I've gotten more and more into fraternity and sorority life, this has become a passion of mine.'

Leeper said each Greek organization has its own 'unique and wonderful' strengths and focus, and adding a fraternity and sorority specifically open to all sexual orientations and identities enriches the student experience.

'Ours brings into it different backgrounds and cultures,' he said. 'It's a very different experience from others I have seen.'

Earning charter designation makes both groups more permanent entities on campus and removes that as a primary goal, according to Leeper. That allows for more time to focus on the vision of broad inclusion.

'Our mission is to expand that attitude across campus,' he said. 'The chapter is about seeing what we can do to make sure everyone feels welcomed and included and have that affirmation piece.'