Senators Jim Banks and Ruben Gallego Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Single-Sex Organizations on College Campuses
In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, Republican Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) and Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have introduced the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, a bill designed to protect single-sex organizations such as sororities, fraternities, and gender-specific clubs from institutional penalties and forced inclusion of opposite-sex members.
Safeguarding Freedom of Association
The bill specifically aims to uphold students’ rights to form and participate in single-sex social groups without interference from college administrations. It asserts that colleges and universities cannot penalize or deny recognition to student organizations that limit membership based on biological sex.
“Students should be free to form and join single-sex organizations like fraternities and sororities without facing punishment,” said Sen. Banks. “This bill protects students’ freedom to associate, uphold tradition, and choose the communities they want to be a part of.”
Senator Gallego echoed the sentiment, framing the legislation as a defense of both personal freedom and student safety in a rapidly shifting cultural environment.
Backed by Greek Life Leaders
The legislation has received widespread praise from the Greek life community. The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), which collectively represent thousands of Greek organizations across the country, have thrown their support behind the bill.
NIC CEO Jud Horras lauded the measure, stating that fraternities and sororities are critical institutions for students seeking community, leadership development, and identity. He emphasized that gender-specific organizations must be allowed to preserve their historical and cultural identities.
Legal Controversy Rekindles Debate
The renewed push for legal clarity follows high-profile campus controversies—including the 2023 lawsuit filed by six University of Wyoming students against their sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. The lawsuit centered on the admission of a biologically male student who self-identified as female. According to court documents, the plaintiffs described repeated incidents of invasive behavior by the male student, including lewd staring and visible physical arousal in communal spaces.
A federal judge ultimately ruled in favor of the transgender student, stating that the sorority’s national bylaws did not provide a clear legal basis for exclusion. The decision triggered a backlash and raised broader concerns about women’s safety and privacy in sex-specific spaces.
A Legislative Response to Cultural Clashes
The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act would seek to prevent such scenarios in the future by codifying the right of student organizations to remain single-sex, providing legal reinforcement for institutions to respect those boundaries.
If passed, the bill would represent a significant shift in the national conversation around gender identity, freedom of association, and institutional neutrality in higher education.
What’s Next?
With support from both sides of the aisle, the bill could garner enough traction to advance through committee and reach the Senate floor in the coming months. For now, it remains a defining flashpoint in the ongoing debate over gender, safety, and freedom on college campuses.