In a move that echoes the values of freedom and tradition, Republican Senator Jim Banks and Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego have come together to introduce a powerful piece of legislation aimed at maintaining the sanctity of women’s spaces on college campuses. This bipartisan effort, known as the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, is set to protect the rights of college students to form and join single-sex social organizations, such as fraternities, sororities, and off-campus clubs, without fear of discrimination or institutional backlash.
The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that any student participating in a single-sex social organization will be safeguarded by limiting membership exclusively to individuals of one sex. This initiative is a strong statement against the imposition of mixed-gender participation in these traditional institutions.
“Students should be free to form and join single-sex organizations like fraternities and sororities without facing punishment. This bill protects students’ freedom to associate, uphold tradition, and choose the communities they want to be a part of,” declared Senator Banks with conviction.
Backing this significant legislative effort are several leading organizations within the Greek life community, including the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). NIC CEO Jud Horras lauded Senators Banks and Gallego for their unwavering dedication to defending students’ rights, emphasizing that these single-sex organizations play a crucial role in helping college men “shape their futures” and build lasting communities.
This legislative push comes in the wake of a controversial incident in 2023, where six members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at the University of Wyoming filed a lawsuit against their national organization for admitting a transgender student. The sorority members expressed concerns over the student’s concerning behavior, including instances of being stared at upon exiting showers and the student often having “an erection visible through his leggings.” Despite these troubling behaviors, a federal judge ruled that the student could not be expelled from the sorority, highlighting the urgent need for this bill.
