Gay allied fraternity finds IU home

Some 1,600 miles from its founding chapter at Arizona State University, Sigma Phi Beta has found another home at IU.

The gay-straight allied fraternity initiated its first class of 12 students for the IU colony
Saturday.

“It was really validating,” senior and member Jake Porter said. “It’s been almost two years in the making.”

Since its inception at ASU in 2003, the fraternity’s national president Nathan Arrowsmith said campuses across the country have shown interest in starting chapters, though IU is the first actual colony.

“The students reached out to us,” Arrowsmith said. “But (IU) has a very large greek system. They’re really connected, and they do a lot on campus, so having Sigma Phi Beta here will be a great thing.”

Following Saturday’s traditional initiation activities, the new members and national representatives celebrated with a dinner at a local restaurant.

“We’re kind of breaking bread with members of the Alpha chapter and alumni,” Porter said. “It’s a way to get to know each other in less of a formal setting.”

All 12 members identify as gay, bisexual or transgendered, but the fraternity is open to any male.

“It’s a safe place for everyone,” said Josh A. Thomas, colony president and junior. “No matter what their sexual orientation is, people can bring different things to the table. And we’re now able to bring the values of Sigma Phi Beta into other areas.”

Thomas, Porter and three other men first approached the national chapter during summer 2009 to push for representation at IU.

After approving the colony application, the national fraternity created an inaugural pledge education program for the IU students in order to teach the history and values of the fraternity to interested students.

“Today was important because it put brothers on the campus,” Thomas said. “It makes it more official to have brothers who have been initiated.”

But with the first initiation completed and celebrated, there is more work to be done. The members must now establish bylaws and recruit new pledges to help the colony attain chapter recognition.

For more information on the fraternity, visit www.sigmaphibeta.org.