Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) has revoked the memberships of two prominent alumnae, National Review reports, after the women supported six women’s suit against the sorority for allowing a man to join.
Former KKG national foundation president Patsy Levang and alumni association founder Cheryl Tuck-Smith were excommunicated by the sorority’s Fraternity Council for alleged policy violations, which occurred when Levang and Tuck-Smith were advocating for a lawsuit against KKG for initiating Artemis Langford, a man who identifies as a woman.
Six women from Langford’s chapter claimed KKG had broken its own bylaws by allowing a man to join, and they further alleged Langford sexually harassed and intimidated them in their sorority house, causing them emotional damage.
Levang and Tuck-Smith used the sorority’s mailing list to advertise the women’s fundraiser, and to “try to educate other Kappas on what was happening in our beloved organization for sisters,” Tuck-Smith told National Review.
KKG’s Fraternity Council claimed this was improper use of the mailing list, which should reportedly be used only to conduct sorority business. Tuck-Smith disagrees, saying,
I thought, “That’s nonsense, this IS fraternity business.” We’re dealing with our bylaws, violations of our bylaws by the leadership, and our members need to know that [emphasis in original].
The sorority also took issue with the women’s unapproved media interviews and op-eds, characterizing them as, “speaking about the ongoing litigation in a manner that is injurious to the organization and perpetuates harmful stereotypes and false information.”
Accordingly, the Fraternity Council also accused the women of treating a “transgender person” poorly.
Levang and Tuck-Smith are the latest casualties in a series of shadowy, sweeping changes made by KKG higher-ups. In their initial suit, the women from Langford’s chapter claimed KKG officials had unilaterally changed the sorority’s definition of “woman” without putting it to a vote.
Levang similarly noted,
What we found out is that so many (KKG members) did not have a clue what was going on. (KKG leaders) have not been very transparent in this whole process.
The six women have appealed a judge’s ruling allowing Langford to stay in the sorority. The case is ongoing. May Mailman, a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Law Center, who is helping the women with their appeal, told National Review:
The idea that [Levang and Tuck-Smith] are violating the purposes of the Fraternity when all they’re trying to do is fight for the existence of the Fraternity as defined by its own bylaws is crazy. Under their reasoning, they should dismiss themselves before they dismiss Patsy or Cheryl.
The case is Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma. The Daily Citizen will continue to report on latest developments.
Additional Articles:
Women File Appeal in Case of Man Joining Sorority
Anchor Calls Biological Male Accused of Sexual Impropriety ‘Very Brave Woman’
Judge Allows Man to Stay in Sorority
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