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What is the history of Gamma Rho Lambda?
Does GRL have a mission statement?
Where are the chapters and colonies of Gamma Rho Lambda located?
Are there other LBT sororities? If so, how are you different, and why start your own instead of expanding an existing LBT org?
How did you choose the Greek letters Gamma Rho Lambda?
To what degree is your membership diverse in regards to sexual orientation?
What kind of social events/exchanges does the sorority do?
How would you (or your members) respond to those who think that LBT sororities are a form of self-segregation and your members would be better off joining "straight" houses and inspiring change from within as opposed to creating your own separate entity?
What's the interaction/dynamic between you and Sigma Phi Beta?
What kind of struggles or instances of homophobia have you faced or are you facing?
Is there any sort of rule against dating within the sorority?
Where are you located?
What are the misconceptions people have regarding your sorority?
What benefit does a student derive by joining your sorority?
Did Alpha Chapter have any hardships becoming not only a group but a part of the Greek system on your campus?
How do other students and groups react to your organization?
What different events are GRL involved in?
Do you accept straight people in to your organization?
How can I support GRL even though I’m not a student?
What is the history of Gamma Rho Lambda?
Gamma Rho Lambda, Alpha Chapter, was founded in the Fall of 2003 by 12 original members at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The sorority was established as a social support system for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and alternative lifestyle-friendly female students. Embodying an open and diverse environment for all of its members, the sorority strived to break down barriers between the LGBTQ community and the greater community. For more information, visit GRL History.
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Does GRL have a mission statement?
Gamma Rho Lambda is an all-inclusive women's social sorority exemplifying the qualities of tolerance, diversity, unity, and trust, which provides a network of assistance in the areas of scholastic guidance, emotional support, and community service while ultimately developing the lifelong bonds of sisterhood
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Where are the chapters and colonies of Gamma Rho Lambda located?
We have two active chapters at Arizona State University and San Diego State University. We have one colony at the University of Missouri.
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Are there other LBT sororities? If so, how are you different, and why start your own instead of expanding an existing LBT org?
Yes, there are other LBT sororities in the US. All but a few of them meet one of the following characteristics:
- Exclusive to women of a particular race.
- Exclusive to Lesbian women or women of a particular sexual orientation.
- Community based, not exclusive to college women.
- Limited to being associated with a specific council mandated by the national sorority (such as the Multicultural Greek Council or the Panhellenic Council).
- Not a social sorority.
Gamma Rho Lambda distinguishes itself because it is open to all women of all races. It is an organization that is tailored to meet the needs of women in the collegiate setting. Gamma Rho Lambda is not a political organization; it is a social sorority.
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How did you choose the Greek letters Gamma Rho Lambda?
The Lambda symbol was adopted by the New York City's Gay Activists Alliance in the 1970s during the Stonewall Revolution. Since then, the Lambda has spread as a symbol for the gay liberation movement. Because of its history, the Lambda was chosen to be a letter in the sorority’s Greek name. The Gamma and Rho symbols were chosen because with the Lambda symbol, they spell GRL (“girl”).
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To what degree is your membership diverse in regards to sexual orientation?
Our membership is open to women of all sexual orientations, and our membership reflects this diversity.
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What kind of social events/exchanges does the sorority do?
On the local level, each Chapter participates in the following types of activities:
-Social events with other sororities and fraternities
-Athletic events
-Bowling nights
-Barbeques
-Board game nights
-Movie nights
-Birthday lunches
-Senior night
-Annual Banquet
-Camping trips
-Alumni Events
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How would you (or your members) respond to those who think that LBTA sororities are a form of self-segregation and your members would be better off joining "straight" houses and inspiring change from within as opposed to creating your own separate entity?
When GRL began with Alpha Chapter at Arizona State University, as an associate member of the ASU Panhellenic Council, the organization was integrating into the traditional Greek system and developed positive relationships with other established sororities. ASU and the ASU Panhellenic Council went above and beyond to help Alpha Chapter fit into the traditional model. Our long term national vision was to become a sorority that accepted anyone regardless of their sexual orientation or identity.
As an organization, we love to hear from individual lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied women who have become members of the existing sororities on our campus and on campuses across the country. We have heard many positive stories about how these sororities have been accommodating and supportive. If young women feel comfortable taking that route, we support their decision one hundred percent. Each sorority on campus offers a unique environment for young women to develop. GRL recognizes the specific challenges that lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied women face in our development. Our organization helps them meet these challenges.
The ultimate end of the coming out process involves integration and acceptance, openness and non-defensiveness about one’s own sexual orientation. In order to achieve that end, most women benefit from socializing with other lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied women. Straight allies experience a parallel coming out experience that necessitates socializing with other lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied women. This is one of the unique opportunities that we provide for women.
We are not a political organization. We are an organization that is focused on social environments and social growth. Ultimately, some women may be better off joining another sorority, but there are many women who are better off joining Gamma Rho Lambda. It all depends upon each individual’s specific needs and interest.
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What's the interaction/dynamic between you and Sigma Phi Beta?
Sigma Phi Beta was instrumental in helping us in the initial stages of founding our sorority. They served as advisors to us when we were starting out, and we had a few social events together as well. Having their success right in front of Alpha Chapter at ASU was a daily reminder of the fact that our goal was achievable.
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What kind of struggles or instances of homophobia have you faced or are you facing?
Our individual members face homophobia within their families, work environments, and classrooms every day. It is the goal of Gamma Rho Lambda to support our members in the face of these intolerances, and also help the community better understand tolerance and diversity in all of its forms. By our mission and growth, our organization strives to be part of bridging the gap between the LGBTQA community and the greater community.
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Is there any sort of rule against dating within the sorority?
The national and local bylaws ban dating between pledges and also between pledges and sisters. Once the members have achieved the status of sisterhood, the organization does not have any dating policies.
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Where are you located?
Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority
PO Box 24695
Tempe, AZ 85285-4695
Most members of Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority are located in Arizona because our founding chapter is located at Arizona State University. We currently have one active chapter at Arizona State University. We have two colonies: one at San Diego State University and one at University of Missouri, and we are always exploring opportunities to develop chapters at other institutions.
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What are the misconceptions people have regarding your sorority?
Some people have expressed misconceptions about the acceptance of our sorority within the local Greek system. We are very lucky that our Alpha Chapter is able to benefit from the extraordinarily supportive ASU Panhellenic Council and ASU administration.
We have also heard misconceptions about what Greek Life is all about. We have an extremely diverse sisterhood and strive to nurture this diversity. The organization is designed to promote a well-rounded college experience with community service, social, athletic, educational, risk management, and campus events.
Finally, some people have referred to the organization as a dating service. Our organization is geared toward promoting a well-rounded college experience, not dating.
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What benefit does a student derive by joining your sorority?
Our members join for a variety of reasons. Life-long friendship, scholastic assistance, social events, and professional growth are just some of the benefits that come with being a member of Gamma Rho Lambda. Each member of our sisterhood has an opportunity to invest her time and efforts to gain whatever she wants out of the experience. For more information, visit Membership Benefits.
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Did Alpha Chapter have any hardships becoming not only a group but a part of the Greek system on your campus?
With respect to the alternative-lifestyle focus of our sorority…
The challenge of becoming a student organization on the ASU campus was not different than any other student organization. Any and all obstacles that we faced were our own fears. We certainly had an added benefit of following in the footsteps of Sigma Phi Beta, the gay-bisexual-transgender-queer fraternity at ASU. Sigma Phi Beta, the ASU administration, the Student Development Office, and the Greek Life Office were very excited about our organization from day one. The Panhellenic Council was also very supportive. Honestly, we were overwhelmed by support from ASU and the Greek community. One of our biggest challenges was effectively utilizing all of this support to help solidify or foundation.
In general…
Developing a student organization is a challenging endeavor. Developing a Greek sorority in a collegiate setting is a bit more complicated. One big challenge we faced was looking at other sororities to nurture our vision, and then coming back to our own table and trying to create a similar atmosphere with a fraction of the people.
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How do other students and groups react to your organization?
We've experienced overwhelming support from the students and Greek organizations. At ASU we've also had tremendous support from the LGBTQ Student Coalition and the Women's Coalition.
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What different events are GRL involved in?
Each chapter is different. As a social sorority, we have many social events, but we also do contributions work. Alpha Chapter sponsored a child in Vietnam, hosted a blood drive on campus, volunteered at a homeless children's school, and volunteered for the Phoenix Pride festival. Fundraisers included car washes, bowl-a-thons, etc. Alpha chapter had bi-monthly social events with another sorority on campus, and scheduled joint events with Sigma Phi Beta once a semester.
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Do you accept straight people in to your organization?
We welcome all women to join our organization. We encourage lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, and questioning women to join.
We received a great deal of press when Alpha Chapter first started at ASU. We were painted in a positive light in everything from the Arizona Republic and the school papers to the local new channels and radio shows. The local LGBTQ-friendly businesses, the greater phoenix LGBTQ community, and ASU were excited about GRL. We know that we have been very lucky to experience such a positive response, and we are well aware of the fact that there are schools out there that won't be as supportive of the idea of having a GRL chapter on their campus. It truly is a credit to ASU.
Higher education environments are one of the greatest venues to build these types of organizations due to the potential to impact other people and the values of diversity and tolerance inherent in most institutions.
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How can I support GRL even though I’m not a student?
There are always ways to contribute even if you're not an active member of Gamma Rho Lambda. We have honorary membership for people who contribute greatly to the goals and mission of the sorority. Also, positive media, articles, and news reports help greatly. If you are not a student, and you would like more information on how to contribute to our organization, please contact us.
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