New fraternity geared toward gay, bisexual men
 

New fraternity geared toward gay, bisexual men

By Dax Thomas
September 18, 2003

In a few days, a new fraternity will be rushing campus -- Delta Lambda Phi will hold its fall rush from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11.
The difference between this fraternity, which was first founded in 1986 in Washington, D.C., and others on campus is that it is geared towards gay, bisexual and progressive men. The Penn chapter of DLP was founded in July.

Currently, DLP is not associated with any of the Greek organizations on campus.

However, "Delta Lambda Phi may apply for dual membership to the Bicultural [Inter]Greek Council and the InterFraternity Council," Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said.

The BIG-C is the umbrella group for minority fraternities and sororities on campus.

Reikofski went on to say that DLP is currently under the jurisdiction of OFSA.

According to Wharton junior and DLP President Carlos Sanchez, becoming a member of a recognized organization is one of his biggest priorities.

"It gives us legitimacy in a way," Sanchez said. "We're a real fraternity, and without that affiliation, we're kind of like just another group."

The chapter is open to Penn students, students from other area universities and people of college age, which Sanchez defined as "18 to 25 years old."

The Penn chapter currently has five members from Penn, one from Neumann College in Ashton, Pa. and one non-college student.

The fraternity holds many of its meetings at Civic House and will hold some in Penn's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center.

According to Sanchez, holding meetings in Civic House reminds people of the community service aspect of the fraternity.

One of DLP's goals is "to show that gay people are here, and the best way to do that is through community service," Sanchez said. "Through community service, we establish a presence, and people see gay people in a very positive light."

DLP plans to partner with other community service groups in the Philadelphia area, such as the Philadelphia Community Health Alternative and The Attic Youth Center, to provide support and services for gay youth in the area.

The PCHA is a center that gives free testing for sexually transmitted diseases to gays and bisexuals.

Together, DLP and The Attic -- a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender center -- will aim to help queer youth from ages 13-24 in their "coming out" process and with housing and school services.

"It provides a whole bunch of services so queer youth don't feel as discriminated against," said Chris Grabski, a Neumann College sophomore and vice president of DLP.

He continued to say that they do this "because a lot of gay youth aren't as privileged as we are."

According to the guidelines set by their national office, in order for the colony to become a chapter, it has to rush a beta and gamma class, draw up a list of by-laws and raise enough money to support itself.

The colony already plans on rushing its beta, or second, class next week and will rush its gamma, or third, class during the spring.

The colony's list of by-laws needs to include a no-hazing policy and a hands-off policy. The hands-off policy, required by the DLP national office, does not allow dating or sexual relations between brothers and pledges or between pledge classes.

According to Sanchez, this is done to emphasize that DLP is not some sort of "sex club."

Sanchez mentioned that the colony is in the process of fundraising, but did not specify from where the colony plans to draw funds.

"One of the main reasons why we have to fundraise is because we are the first class," Grabski said. "For everything to follow through, we have to have money and support from as many people as possible."

Sanchez is confident that Penn students will want to join the fraternity.

The fraternity has already received requests to join from about eight to 10 people in the freshman class.

"I don't think interest is going to be a big [problem] in getting people," he said.

I think there are several chapters of this fraternity now. Ohio University's IFC was the first in the nation to grant the group full status as a member.

(If I'm thinking of the right group, there was a thread on them -- maybe last year.)

I know San Diego has a metro chapter here. One of their guys was in one of my Journalism classes.

I'm pretty sure there was a chapter or a colony (or at least an interest group) at the University of Minnesota when I was there two years ago. I never heard much about them, though.

I believe there is a chapter at Boston University - they had a bunch of flyers around last year, and I saw a couple guys with their letters on riding the T a few weeks ago. They were not a member of IFC last year though, and I'm not sure if they have official university recognition as even a club.

I've seen a few guys on the T wearing DLP letters, too. I'd assumed they weren't part of BU's IFC since they weren't mentioned on the big posters for fraternity and sorority recruitment that are up by Warren Towers and the GSU. I was wondering if maybe they were MIT students, but I stand corrected. :)

there is a chapter at NC State, i believe

As of last weekend, we have the newest colony of Delta Lambda Phi at SIUE, and the first in the state of Illinois! They are associate members of our Greek Council (they won't be full members until they charter), and are receiving awesome support from the Panhellenic women.

They definitely weren't part of IFC last year - I went to most of those meetings, and they were not sitting members.

I don't know if that's changed this year.

Also...are you a BU student/grad student?

Grad student. :) I just started my MA in psychology.

There is a chapter at my school, University of Minnesota.

okay...now if i am wrong, someone please correct me. two years ago i went to kent state (ohio) and this chapter caused a whole problem. they were trying to gain acceptance by IFC and were having huge problems. the vote kept getting turned down by just 1 vote. i will not reveal what fraternity refused to grant them the vote but when they were asked to provide a reason why this chapter couldnt be one kent's campus, the XYZ chapter could not give a valid reason. XYZ chapter got kicked off IFC for at least one full year and got a lot of critism for voting against them. as of right now, i think that XYZ may just be getting IFC recongition again and things are back to normal. someone please correct me if i am wrong or if what i said makes no sense :)

***dances a dance***

I'm kindof offended by that. It's like saying my fraternity automaticly wouldn't accept gay people.

So, who caused the problem?

yeah, for real. that's kinda like saying Steinway killed a man because one of their pianos fell on his head.