Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa) girls at the University of Wyoming have filed a lawsuit after their chapter was pressured to admit a biological male who often identifies as a woman into their all-female membership. In this case, the Plaintiffs are being represented by Attorney Cassie Craven, a member of Independent Women’s Network.
The women involved in the lawsuit made their first public appearance on the Megyn Kelly Show, followed by exclusive appearances on Fox’s Ingraham Angle.
Craven articulately addressed the issue of erasing the meaning of womanhood, saying of Kappa leadership: “They want everyone to believe that being a woman is nothing more than wearing lipstick and the pronouns that you use. We all know that it amounts to womanhood – a lifetime of experiences – and that’s what they seek to deprive these young women of and that’s what we intend to fight for.”
The Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa) Women’s Fraternity was founded in 1870 by six college women who bravely stood together to create a supportive and safe place for women to live, learn and together face the challenges of their university experience. Over the decades, sororities have heralded the benefits and values of a single sex environment to develop women’s life and leadership skills.
Kappa is a non-profit corporation “founded to unite women, through membership in the sorority, in a close bond of friendship, and to instill in them a spirit of mutual love and helpfulness.” Historically, Kappa has been a place of refuge from political stances, understanding and respecting that their membership is diverse in their personal beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences.
Craven said that attempting to include a biological male in the organization fails to abide by the values Kappa was founded on and erodes the importance of female-only spaces.
“There’s a misunderstanding that exploiting people somehow lends itself to compassion. Individuals like the one in question deserve their own spaces. They deserve to be safe, protected, accepted, and loved, but when you’re living in a tight environment with a clearly biological male, it’s just impossible for that individual to have compassion,” Craven said.
“We can’t let woke culture be the arbiter of what sisterhood is,” Craven continued. “It’s a shared experience, growth, and development. This experience is not doing this individual any justice whatsoever. That’s where I think the left gets it wrong.”
America is grappling with a fundamental question: What is the future of women’s only spaces?
Craven said, “It’s very disheartening that when you’re a six foot two, two hundred and sixty pound man you’re treated as the victim in today’s society. But the bylaws are very clear: this is an all-women’s organization. Kappa was formed over a hundred years ago to be that support system for women so that they could compete in the classroom against men. And now, we just cease to exist. We’re nothing more than an idea of self-identification.”
I had the privilege of meeting Riley Gaines while participating alongside her in a panel discussion on women’s sports, moderated by Speaker McCarthy. The event took place on National Girls and Women in Sports day, with Rep. Claudia Tenney carrying the Protection of Women’s Sports Act to the house floor. One of the key topics discussed was the negative impact on women when male athletes are allowed to compete on women’s teams.
Riley Gaines serves as the official spokeswoman for Independent Women, and her personal experience of competing against a male athlete garnered national attention in 2022. The NCAA permitted a senior athlete named Will Thomas to switch from the U Penn men’s team to their women’s team after he changed his name to Lia and began hormone therapy. Shockingly, Thomas went on to win an NCAA National title while being hailed by the media as a woman. Amidst the applause, Riley Gaines stood as the lone voice of dissent, bravely speaking the truth.
Riley, along with the Independent Women Network, is spearheading a nationwide movement which gained momentum thanks to Riley’s courage. Even Governor Burgum, who previously vetoed a bill protecting female athletes, has had a change of heart. Recently, he signed two women’s sports protection bills into law, both sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman.
Riley’s unwavering determination coupled with humility is a rare combination seen in those who are secure in their identity before their Creator. Her social media profile proudly states, “In Christ Alone,” indicating the source of her strength and courage. As North Dakotans, we eagerly anticipate hearing more from Riley when she visits our state this June.
On June 8th, the Independent Women Network’s Bismarck Chapter will be hosting a luncheon that will give out “The Riley Gaines Courage Award,” which recognizes extraordinary courage and perseverance in protecting women’s sports under challenging circumstances.
Riley’s speaking tour as an Independent Women representative will continue to Medora, ND, on June 9th, where she will be participating in an all-day educational forum. Day passes for the event can be obtained at www.betruthful.org.
