Sexual orientation and MS

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

In my fraternity, our "nationals" doesn't make the rules - we do. In 2002 we expanded our anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

It was proposed by undergraduates, promoted by undergraduates, submitted by undergraduates, and unanimously approved by the undergraduates.

We think for ourselves, and yes, we can let in whomever we want.

That's all well and good. It's just that when any member can deny membership to any person by writing "no" on a little piece of paper and turning it in anonymously, such anti discrimination clauses really aren't worth the paper they're written on or the ink they're written with.

Going around trumpeting how our organizations are so tolerant of this or that group doesn't really mean much. Do you think that because Sigma Nu voted to integrate back in the late 60's that all chapters are now racially diverse?

The bottom line, I think is that we are all the masters of our own chapters. It is none of our business who Texas at SAE will initiate or not. Personally, I really don't care.

As for my chapter, I really, honestly don't know whether or not we'd discriminate based upon sexual orientation. I'm an alum, I don't get a vote. I don't think I would have really cared. In my day, we had several candidates who I'm quite certain were gay -- none ever made it through. None of them ever made it as far as a vote (oddly, they all left school or dropped out of their candidate classes on their own accord). I wonder how things would have turned out..

At any rate, within my own chapter, when it came to membership decisions, I always respected everyone's choice whatever the reason.

That said, when we're talking about membership selection in another chapter or another organization -- who really even cares??? Some of you seem really bothered by this. Why would you want to ask an organization to accept members when other members don't to be forced to do so?

That's just not how (most) fraternities and sororities work folks. We're selective -- sometimes for some pretty absurd reasons. I figure that sexual orientation will be a big deal for some and not for others. What another organization/chapter does is really none of my concern.