Women of the University of Wyoming Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter appeared at a courthouse on Monday for oral arguments in the 2023 lawsuit brought by plaintiffs against the sorority for allowing a biological male into the sisterhood. 

The arguments took place at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver, Colorado after a judge dismissed the case in August of 2025. Judge Alan B. Johnson ruled that the court “may not interfere with Kappa’s contractually valid interpretation of its own Bylaws,” and that “nothing in the Bylaws or the Standing Rules requires Kappa to narrowly define the words ‘women’ or ‘woman’ to include only those individuals born with a certain set of reproductive organs.”

In a statement to The Daily Signal, plaintiff Allie Coghan said, “They did change in their bylaws the wording to include men who identify as women. But where they went wrong is that they did not present it to the sorority, and they didn’t let members vote on it at convention.”

For the past three years, the Kappa plaintiffs have fought back after a transgender-identifying student was allowed into the sorority and moved into the University of Wyoming Kappa Kappa Gamma house to live with the women. Sisters reported feeling highly uncomfortable by his presence and even saw the male invading their space with a visible erection at one point when hanging around them.

On Monday, Kappa alumnae, as well as Riley Gaines, rallied in support of the plaintiffs. In a press conference afterward, Gaines asserted from the court steps, “It was two years ago [when] we stood right on these same steps here at the courthouse. … We listened to what the Kappa Kappa Gamma attorneys had to say. And here we are now. A lot has changed in the past two years. But you know what hasn’t changed since the Garden of Eden until current [times], and [what] won’t change until Jesus comes back and walks this planet again? Is the definition of the word ‘woman.’”

Family Research Council Director of Federal Affairs Mary Beth Waddell told The Washington Stand that she applauds the plaintiffs for standing up for what is right. “Sororities are meant to be a place of fostering sisterhood and deep bonds of female friendships that last a lifetime,” she remarked.

“When the organizations break the faith and trust of their members by refusing to use biological reality to interpret their bylaws, they are inviting lawsuits. The time when women could be pressured into silence is over; good on the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma, who are having none of this nonsense.” 

Coghan explained that she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma because she thought she shared the same values as the sisterhood. She recalled being perplexed when the sorority didn’t acknowledge biological reality. 

“And I remember my sorority telling me that because I felt uncomfortable, that my values didn’t align with Kappa and that I should just drop out. Which is confusing to me, because when I pledged, I thought my values did align with Kappa — three of which being truth, respect, and trailblazing,” she shared.

“And Kappa has completely neglected to even acknowledge the truth about what a woman is. They have shown a major lack of respect for anyone with differing opinions than them, and they packaged it all up and call it trailblazing. Well, I’m here to tell you the truth about what a woman is today — an adult human female.”

Cheryl Tuck-Smith, a Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna and a longtime supporter of the plaintiffs, called for clarity and morality at the press conference. 

“Why would we deny women safe places? Why would women give a membership to a man in Kappa Kappa Gamma?” Tuck-Smith asked. “In essence, denying a real biological woman a space in that sorority. Well, I urge everyone here today to have a spine like the Rocky Mountains and confirm that sororities are for adult females only with XX chromosomes.”