Gay men’s ‘frat’ offers alternative- If You Are A Delta Man STAND UP!

For those rejected by traditional fraternities, DPhiU provides true brotherhood

Delta Phi Upsilon National Membership Chairman Adrian Homer, left, and members Jarod Moore and Timothy Jackson at the DPhiU national conference in Miami, Fla. last week. — SUBMITTED BY DARRYL WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DPHIU

Fraternities and sororities put much emphasis on their ideals of community service, sisterhood and brotherhood. So when Anthony Fluellen, a Lincoln University graduate, wanted to join a fraternity, he was confident that his morals matched those of the fraternity he was interested in.

“I just knew if not anybody else, I knew that I would make that line for my qualifications alone and my social spirit,” he said. Fluellen was an A and B student, a student ambassador, the 2009–2010 Mr. Lincoln University, and president and founder of the Gay Straight Alliance at Lincoln. But Fluellen’s confidence only got him as far as an interview.

“I deeply believe that because of my sexual preference, I was denied not once, not twice, but three times,” said the 22-year-old. Fluellen continued to search for an organization that would give him that fraternal bond he wanted and would accept every aspect of him.

Two months ago, Fluellen officially became a member of Delta Phi Upsilon (DPhiU) Fraternity, Inc., the first international fraternity for gay men.

Fluellen’s story is very much like other members of DPhiU who say they were rejected based on their sexuality.

“I did everything I was supposed to do. I made the connections. I went to an interest meeting,” said David Butler Jr., who was actively involved at Towson University. “I thought if they wanted anybody to be a member, it would be me.”

Butler was upset when he then got a Facebook message saying the organization’s members would not want him to represent them on campus.

“The reality was I was an openly gay man,” said Butler, who is the North Atlantic regional director for DPhiU.

Butler said that the man who sent him the Facebook message is gay himself, but assimilated to be in the fraternity.

“The issue that we are facing in Black communities between gay men and heterosexual men has to do with notions of hegemonic masculinity to which many heterosexist institutions such as fraternities ascribe,” said Lee Carson, president of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council. “The reality is there are lots of gay men in mainstream fraternities, but the homophobic nature of most frats keeps these men closeted.”

Both Butler and Fluellen blame ignorance in the Black community about homosexuality as the underlining cause of the discrimination they faced in Greek life.

“This is not a Divine Nine thing, it’s a community thing,” said Butler about the nine national Black fraternities and sororities. “The Black community created the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.”

“Black folks are seriously behind the times when it comes to LGBT acceptance and understanding,” wrote Chris Alston, president of Philadelphia Black Gay Pride, in an email. “We need to tear down that wall currently surrounding some of the ignorance in the African-American community. … Unfortunately we have a long, tedious task ahead of us to get this city where we need to be concerning the LGBT communities of color.”

Fluellen is the second member to join DPhiU in the Philadelphia area. George Banks joined in November 2010 and is helping to develop community service projects, and a chapter in Philadelphia.

“Philadelphia has a huge population of gay men of color. I think it’s extremely important to have our organization here so we can continue to be positive role models for gay men of color,” said Banks.

The organization is not currently affiliated with any universities, but has regional divisions throughout the country. The North Atlantic region has 37 active members.

“Young men are coming out earlier these days, and they don’t have any positive role models to support them,” said Kendrick Clack, president of DPhiU.

The organization’s five principles are brotherhood, friendship, loyalty, justice and temperance.

There currently are no straight men in DPhiU, but Clack said the organization would accept straight men. In the North Atlantic, prospective members must have at least college or technical training to join. For more information on the organization, visit dphiu.org.

Representatives from Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi said their organizations do not allow or encourage member discrimination based on sexual preference. Representatives from Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta could not be reached for comment.