Currently in the U.S., there are a lot of potential policy changes surrounding rights of LGBTQ individuals and speculation about what those policies should be. The Trump administration is looking to narrow the definition of gender in the U.S.to be determined strictly by biology or gender assigned at birth as shown on a birth certificate. This potentially creates changes for the rights of individuals who are non-binary, genderfluid and transgender, including many opportunities and regulations for these individuals.
On a college campus, one of the potential effects could be seen in greek life policy. In 2015, Title IX and the Department of Education clarified their role in greek life organizations surrounding specifically the rights of transgender individuals in the college community. As stated in a letter from the department, Title IX has no control over the policies of greek life organizations, but does encourage leadership to become educated on the topic of LGBTQ membership. This means that on a federal level, there are no regulations on the admittance of individuals into these groups at this time.
This being said, fraternities and sororities on their individual campuses have the liberty to decide on the policies for their chapter. Due to the policy changes that are in the air at this point, it is important to know what is currently available for individuals in the LGBTQ community. Specifically at DU, available information from the official chapter statements conclude that fraternities include anyone who is male identifying where sororities are open for anyone who is female identifying. Although these policies do apply to the individual greek life chapters on DUs campus, they are not applicable to the Multicultural Greek Councils including the Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council.
Not much information is available on specific policies from within the chapters as this topic has been one with many interview refusals on campus. The main gray area within the policies of chapters, that have been disclosed, is with individuals who are non-binary and genderfluid, as no clear policies are stated. Although this issue is not one that has had a clear solution thus far, the fraternity Beta Theta Pi has had discussions on the topic, as well as many individuals in leadership within sororities on campus.
The biggest common thread through all policies so far has been that there are no bars on any individual based on sexuality, in any chapter of greek life at DU.
