In a landmark decision at the University of Wyoming, U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson ruled in favor of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority's right to define its membership, dismissing a lawsuit filed by former members over the admission of a transgender student, Artemis Langford, in 2022. The case, which has captured national attention, was dismissed with prejudice on Friday, prohibiting the plaintiffs from refiling the same claims.
The lawsuit was initiated by three former sorority members—Hannah Holtmeier, Allison Coghan, and Haley Rutsch—who argued that Langford's admission violated the sorority's all-women membership policy. However, Judge Johnson's ruling underscored that the sorority's internal bylaws granted it the discretion to determine its membership criteria.
In his written opinion, Judge Johnson addressed the plaintiffs' reference to an executive order by former President Donald Trump, which defined "woman" in a biological context. The judge clarified that such definitions were limited to the executive branch and federal policy, not applicable to private organizations like Kappa Kappa Gamma.
The controversy surrounding Langford's membership had far-reaching personal implications, as Langford experienced significant public scrutiny and reported daily struggles with anxiety and panic attacks during the ordeal. Despite the personal toll, Langford's case has become a touchstone in the broader conversation about transgender rights and inclusion in private institutions.
Cheryl Tuck-Smith, a Kappa alumna who was expelled for supporting the plaintiffs, maintained that the sorority's founders had a clear understanding of gender identity. At a rally in June 2024, she stated that there was historically no confusion about the definition of a woman within the organization. Despite such assertions, Kappa Kappa Gamma's leadership issued a statement in 2022, indicating that their community was inclusive of "women and individuals who identify as women."
Judge Johnson's decision reiterated the limitations of judicial intervention in the affairs of private entities, emphasizing that the court must refrain from dictating how the sorority interprets its bylaws, barring instances of fraud or other legal violations. This ruling aligned with a previous dismissal of a similar case in August 2023, where the court found no bylaw violations in Langford's admission.
Former Wyoming State Rep. Mark Jennings expressed his disappointment with the ruling, criticizing the judiciary and suggesting that legislative oversight might be necessary to address such issues. The University of Wyoming, however, stated that it had no involvement in sorority membership decisions and was not a party to the lawsuit. While the plaintiffs' attorneys have declined to comment, an appeal at the circuit court level remains a possibility for the plaintiffs.
