A U.S. appeals court in Denver is set to hear arguments in a lawsuit brought by six members of a University of Wyoming sorority challenging the admission of a transgender woman into their local chapter. The lawsuit was initially thrown out by a judge in Wyoming, ruling that he could not override the private organization’s definition of a woman. The case has sparked widespread attention as transgender individuals advocate for acceptance in various aspects of society, while others resist.
The six sorority members are disputing Artemis Langford’s admission by questioning whether sorority rules permitted a transgender woman, stating that Langford’s presence made them uncomfortable. Despite their concerns, sorority leaders approved Langford’s admission after a vote by local chapter members. Last summer, a U.S. District Court Judge in Cheyenne sided with the sorority and Langford, stating that the sorority’s bylaws do not specify who qualifies as a woman.
The case has now been taken to the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, with the sorority sisters arguing that the judge’s ruling gave too much deference to the organization’s leaders in defining membership requirements. The appeal does not include Langford but focuses on the national Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and its president as defendants. This case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding transgender rights in educational institutions, sparking plans for a “save sisterhood” rally at the courthouse before the hearing.
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