Under the lights at Spiral Video and Dance Bar in Lansing last Saturday, a group of young men in superhero costumes stood out amongst the crowd.
The MSU chapter of Delta Lambda Phi Social Fraternity began their rush week this past Saturday with volleyball and frisbee games followed by a fundraiser at Spiral.
DLP is known as a fraternity for gay men, but not all members identify as homosexual.
Unlike fraternities under the Interfraternity Council, DLP is for men who may not be be male-bodied but are male identified.
President of Delta Lambda Phi and women and gender studies senior Travis Lunsford, said he sees the fraternity as more open-minded than other fraternities on campus.
“Delta Lambda Phi was created at a time when there wasn’t a place for someone who was different to be welcomed into the greek community,” Lunsford said.
After closing in the 1990s due to unpopularity, the DLP Chi chapter rechartered at MSU in 2013 and is the only chapter in Michigan.
A history of brotherhood
Delta Lambda Phi fraternity was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1986 after a group of gay men saw a lack of social organizations for homosexual men.
The goal was to create a social fraternity for progressive men seeking to be involved in greek life without being singled out because of their sexual orientation.
DLP Chi chapter was one of the first to open after the original establishment in Washington, D.C. but was shut down due to lack of interest.
In 2008, the fraternity recolonized and later recharted as a chapter on Feb. 2 2013, giving them a second chance to make their mark on campus.
At one time, there were other DLP chapters within Michigan but they have all since closed.
To become a full chapter, a fraternity must undergo the colony “probationary” period and wait for official recognition from their national organization’s headquarters.
During this time, the colony must prove to the national organization it can operate in all chapter operations, which includes recruiting and maintaining members, philanthropy and payments.
Active DLP alumnus and director of programming and education for the national office Bishop Howard was president of the fraternity during part of the rechartering process and said it takes a lot of dedication, work and time.
“The process took about three years and the petition was about a 100-page document,” Howard said.
Howard is listed as one of the founding fathers of the Chi chapter because he assisted the colony to chapter crossover and helped write the petition to become a chapter.
In order to stay up and running, members are required to pay a $240-a-year fee in addition to $70 dues during the spring semester.
DLP is part of the Multicultural Greek Council and focuses on anti-bullying and pro-LGBT projects.
One organization, one family
Like many other greek organizations, the brothers of DLP see each other as family — someone to vent to, and someone to laugh with and a shoulder to cry on.
Media and information junior Khalil Speller said when he joined DLP, he felt accepted and welcomed by the brothers.
“My favorite part about Delta Lambda Phi is the sense of brotherhood – we’re always there for each other,” Speller said. “If I ever need anything, I can call on one of them.”
Even after graduation, DLP welcomes its alumni to be active and participate in events. Many alumni will attend to meet the new brothers and interact with the old.
Without DLP, Howard said he would not have had many of the experiences the organization has given him.
In December, Howard and Lunsford went on a road trip and traveled to different cities within the U.S., staying with past and present members of DLP along the way – even ones they had not met before.
“Not meeting someone doesn’t matter because you already have that bond, you’re brothers,” Howard said.
The pair took to Facebook asking for places to stay and brothers let them sleep on their couches.
“The funnest thing is to be able to go places and know you have someone there for you,” Howard said. “It makes you feel really good knowing you can lean on anyone.”
Not gay? That's ok
DLP has the reputation of being “the gay fraternity,” and while it was once for strictly homosexual and bisexual males, the organization has broadened to be more accepting of men of all backgrounds.
While he was at a meeting for a different organization, psychology senior Easton Fayolle said DLP “fell in (his) lap,” and he decided to look into joining.
Fayolle is the only straight member of the organization and said being active in DLP has helped him learn more about the LGBT community and himself.
DLP advertises welcoming progressive males, which Fayolle said he identifies as.
“Being progressive is being more open-minded and ready to accept,” Fayolle said.
Fayolle said hanging out with the guys, inside jokes and slang terms all come with being a DLP member and he is constantly learning the serious and fun aspects the gay community.
“They all do a hair flip, a metaphorical hair flip, when they’re being sassy to one another,” Fayolle said.
Director of the MSU LBGT Resource Center Deanna Hurlbert said some of the members in DLP are different than other men in fraternity life on other levels aside from sexuality.
“Many of the men are feminists, socially progressive, more liberal and committed to different social issues,” Hurlbert said.
Alumnus adviser Ian Duncanson said interested individuals should look into rushing DLP even if they feel they do not fit the greek or gay stereotype.
“We in particular occupy a niche of inclusivity, we don’t turn people away based on who they are,” Duncanson said. “We’re very open and accepting and bring in all types of people.”
