Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Protect Single-Sex Sororities and Fraternities on Campus
In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Republican Senator Jim Banks (IN) and Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ) have introduced the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, aimed at preserving students’ rights to form and join single-sex social organizations on college campuses across the country.
Protecting Women’s Spaces, Defending Tradition
The bill is designed to protect fraternities, sororities, and off-campus clubs from institutional retaliation when they choose to remain single-sex. It affirms the constitutional right to freedom of association, shielding organizations from policies that would otherwise force them to admit members of the opposite biological sex.
“Students should be free to form and join single-sex organizations like fraternities and sororities without facing punishment,” Senator Banks stated. “This bill protects students’ freedom to associate, uphold tradition, and choose the communities they want to be a part of.”
Backed by National Greek Life Organizations
The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)—two of the most influential Greek life organizations in the U.S.—have thrown their support behind the legislation.
NIC CEO Jud Horras commended the senators for their leadership:
“Fraternities and sororities are vital institutions that help young men and women develop leadership, service, and lifelong friendships. This legislation is about ensuring students retain the right to form those communities on their terms.”
A Response to Recent Controversies
The bill comes in response to a wave of legal and campus controversies surrounding transgender inclusion in single-sex organizations. A high-profile case at the University of Wyoming sparked national debate in 2023 when six Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters sued their national organization for admitting a biologically male student who identified as transgender.
The women alleged disturbing behavior, including being leered at while undressing and the individual’s visible erections, which made them feel unsafe in their own sorority house. Despite these concerns, a federal judge ruled the sorority could not remove the transgender individual, citing anti-discrimination policies.
What the Bill Does
If passed, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act would:
- Affirm the legal right of college students to form and join single-sex organizations.
- Prevent colleges and universities from punishing or de-recognizing student organizations that maintain sex-based membership criteria.
- Provide legal recourse for students and organizations that are targeted by university administrations or third-party groups.
Cultural Flashpoint
The legislation marks a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about the intersection of gender identity, Title IX protections, and women’s rights in academia.
Critics argue that the inclusion of biological males in traditionally female-only spaces undermines women’s safety and privacy, while supporters of broader inclusivity say exclusion based on gender identity is discriminatory.
What’s Next?
With support from both sides of the aisle and powerful campus organizations, the bill is expected to advance to committee in the coming weeks. Whether it becomes law will depend on how forcefully the Senate leadership prioritizes student rights and the protection of women’s spaces in the face of intense cultural pressure.
In an age where tradition and biological reality are often pitted against ideology, this bill represents an attempt to reestablish clear boundaries and affirm that students should have the right to define their communities without institutional interference.