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Sigma Phi Beta (fraternity)

Sigma Phi Beta (ΣΦΒ) was an American college fraternity for gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender men. It was founded at Arizona State University in 2003.

History

Sigma Phi Beta originated as the Beta chapter of a now-defunct fraternity with similar values, Alpha Lambda Tau at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.[1] Beta disaffiliated from Alpha Lambda Tau on May 11, 2003. Its members formed Sigma Phi Beta on September 28, 2003.[2]

Sigma Phi Beta's objective was to provide a "uniquely diverse safe space for gay men within the traditional Greek system."[3][4] It held a constitutional convention and organized a national parent organization on July 17, 2005, adopting a constitution and bylaws and electing its first fraternity council.[5][6] Sam Holdren was the fraternity's first national president.[6]

Beta chapter at Indiana University in Bloomington became a colony on November 13, 2009,[7] and a chapter in Fall 2010.[8][9][10] Gamma chapter at Ohio State University in Columbus became a chapter on March 22, 2014.

The fraternity's national headquarters was in Tempe, Arizona.[6] It went defunct sometime around 2017.

Symbols

Sigma Phi Beta's motto was "Believe...And none can hinder thee." Its colors were midnight blue and moonlight silver. The fraternity's flower was the green carnation.

The fraternity's mascot, the heraldic Griffin, was prominent on the member's pin, with two griffins facing each other in blue and green. Its pin was circular, with a white field, encircled in a blue border. The fraternity's logo exhibited the Greek letters ΣΦΒ rendered in white on a blue background, in three linked black circles.

Membership

The fraternity was open to all who identify as male; the first transgender member of Sigma Phi Beta joined in 2010.[11] Sigma Phi Beta required members to be full-time students with a GPA of 2.5 or better.[12] Sigma Phi Beta prioritized gender identity over assigned gender, allowing transgender men to join. By the fraternity's gender policy, members were not required to be legally male or assigned male at birth.[11]

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Sigma Phi Beta.[13]

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Status References
Alpha September 28, 2003 Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Inactive [2][14]
Beta Fall 2010 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana Inactive [8][9][10][15]
Gamma March 22, 2014 – c. 2017 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Inactive [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Choron, Harry and Sandra (2004). College in a Can: What's In, Who's Out, Where To, Why Not, and Everything Else You Need to Know about Life on Campus. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 25. ISBN 0-618-40871-1.
  2. ^ a b Atwood, April (2009-11-03). "Nation's first gay fraternity starting Indiana chapter". The State Press. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  3. ^ "Gay Fraternity Launches At IU". WRTV Indianapolis. November 13, 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  4. ^ Thomas, Brandon (July 19, 2012). "Being Queer, Going Greek". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  5. ^ "Gay fraternity creates national charter, hopes to expand". The Advocate. July 25, 2005. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  6. ^ a b c "About Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity". Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  7. ^ Goldman, Alyssa (2009-11-30). "Gay-allied Sigma Phi Beta becomes official colony". Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  8. ^ a b "Sigma Phi Beta". Indiana University Bloomington. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  9. ^ a b Bloom, Zachary (2010-11-11). "Gay Fraternity Initiates New Members in New State". EDGE Boston. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  10. ^ a b Hillhouse, Kirsten. "ASU gay fraternity expands to Indiana University". ASU News | The State Press | Arizona State University. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  11. ^ a b "College Fraternity Embraces Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Membership". GLAAD. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  12. ^ Brotherhood of Sigma Phi Beta at Middle Tennessee State University. "Constitution and Bylaws".
  13. ^ "Active Chapters & Colonies". Sigma Phi Beta. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  14. ^ "Sigma Phi Beta @ Arizona State". Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  15. ^ "Sigma Phi Beta @ Indiana". Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  16. ^ "Sigma Phi Beta @ The Ohio State University". Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2025-04-11.