Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Regarding Transgender Inclusion in Sorority
Drinking by underage individuals, bass-heavy music, and an unusual outfit choice—it’s a glimpse into the future of Greek life, perhaps around 2025.
US District Judge Alan B. Johnson has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former student from the University of Wyoming’s Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. The lawsuit contended that recognizing “transgender women,” according to Johnson, posed an issue.
To put it bluntly: a man, claiming to be a woman, is asserting his right to be part of a space traditionally reserved for women.
Darrin “Artemis” Langford, who identifies as transgender, gained entry to the sorority. KKG members alleged that he stared at women, and, at times, “saw an erection through his leggings”… https://t.co/eowu2lxhfr
– GenevieveGluck (@womenreadwomen) March 31, 2025
Judge Johnson’s ruling suggested that, as a private organization, sororities hold the discretion to define what “woman” means for them, meaning they are not required to exclude trans women.
Furthermore, he noted that Kappa’s bylaws don’t necessitate a strict definition of “female.” This reasoning raises questions about the implications of such definitions in legal contexts. Plaintiffs in cases of sex discrimination might find it wiser to focus on terms like “women” or “man” to strengthen their positions.
In a somewhat bizarre twist, representatives from Kappa claimed their organization is entirely female-operated but acknowledged the absurdity of their definitions. They loosely define “female,” creating confusion around the term.
Kappa’s own documentation from 2022 described women as individuals who identify as such. Yet, the statement seems to escape the essence of the term.
Update: The lawsuit by the Sorority Sisters seeking to block transgender women from joining was rejected by US District Judge Alan Johnson. Members claimed the 6’2 trans woman was caught staring through leggings… pic.twitter.com/0mfdwiexny
– dom Lucre | Story Breaker (@dom_lucre) August 30, 2023
Language is meant for communication; for instance, if there’s a pride of lions approaching, it’s useful to know when to run. Similarly, categorizing “men” and “women” serves a purpose by pointing out significant differences.
Kappa seemed to recognize this distinction, noting that their criteria included a mix of both cisgender women and trans women. Initial complaints suggested that the sorority misleadingly promoted itself as solely for women.
The plaintiffs claimed that if it had been disclosed that men claiming to be female would be admitted, they wouldn’t have joined Kappa Kappa Gamma. They argued this misrepresentation made them victims of fraud.
Judge Johnson countered, stating the plaintiffs could not identify a false claim made by Kappa. In essence, the sorority never denied accepting transgender women.
The underlying question becomes: What does it mean to call a man a woman? This blurring of categories may render both terms meaningless. Language and identity hinge on clarity, and if you strip people of their ability to articulate their realities, you risk diminishing their agency.
