Wednesday, February 25, 1998
Delta Lambda Phi returns to UCLA
LGBT: Reactivated fraternity seeks student support, greater
visibility
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
Although the words gay fraternity may sound like an oxymoron,
the organizers of Delta Lambda Phi are here to prove otherwise.
Delta Lambda Phi, UCLAs resurrected gay fraternity, was
recognized by the office of fraternity and sorority relations on
Friday.
The organizers of Delta Lambda Phi hope for widespread student
support, as they begin rush next quarter.
We have a lot of support from faculty and staff; all we need is
students, said external co-president Ron Carranza.
The organizers of Delta Lambda Phi dont seem to believe the
stereotype that fraternities tend to be homophobic.
I honestly dont think thats true. There are people who are
openly gay in many fraternities, though there may be those who are
not out, said internal co-president Larry Lawrence.
When asked whether he would have joined another fraternity,
Lawrence replied no.
Scott Carter, the fraternitys advisor, said he supports the
students effort and is looking forward to having Delta Lambda Phi
back.
To become recognized by the university, a student group must go
through a specific procedure, which includes having a constitution,
at least three student members and accepting university
procedures.
At first Delta Lambda Phi is looking to gain membership without
having a house on fraternity row, which might take a few years.
Although they are not part of UCLAs inter-fraternity council,
Delta Lambda Phi is a nationally recognized gay fraternity, with
branches in UC Davis, Long Beach State and San Francisco State,
among others.
In fact, Delta Lambda Phi was active in UCLA a few years ago.
The national fraternity started around 1987, and a year later, UCLA
became the first university in the nation to have a gay
fraternity.
However, a few years later, in 1992, it became inactive.
According to Carter, there was no one reason why; it may have
simply been a decline in membership due to students graduating.
The reason for restarting the defunct fraternity at UCLA was to
get a group together to support all the events going on in UCLAs
gay community, which seems to be somewhat fractured, Lawrence
said.
I hope that by organizing this fraternity, we will make the gay
community more visible, and people who are questioning their
sexuality will see that its not that hard to be gay on campus, said
Ryan Thomson, a second-year biology student.
Any male student can join Delta Lambda Phi. They do not have to
be gay, providing they show support for the gay community, said
Carter.
A lot of what UCLA stands for is promoting diversity. Hopefully
well do that, said Lawrence.
The purpose of a fraternity, among others, is to provide service
to the community. Delta Lambda Phi has already been active in
serving the gay community this quarter.
On Tie the Knot Week, in the second week of February, they
distributed flyers and ribbons to UCLA students in support of gay
marriages.
In general UCLA students tend to be very responsive (to the gay
community), in a good way, Carranza said.
People have been becoming very accepting of the gay identity,
Lawrence added.
There is widespread interest in UCLAs lesbian community for a
sorority, although there have not been any concrete steps towards
organizing one.
I know there is definitely interest. Just imagine the
possibilities, said Stevi Benton, a first-year engineering
student.