Six Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters who sued their sorority for allegedly breaking its own rules to induct a transgender member into its University of Wyoming chapter are appealing the recent dismissal of their case.
Jaylyn Westenbroek, Hannah Holtmeier, Allison Coghan, Grace Choate, Madeline Ramar and Megan Kosar first sued the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and its president in March, accusing the sorority of changing its voting systems and pressuring members to induct Artemis Langford, the Wyoming chapter’s first transgender member.
U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson dismissed the case Aug. 25, writing that the sorority has a right to make and interpret its own rules, including how it defines the word “woman.”
Through their attorneys Cassie Craven and John Knepper, the women filed a notice to Johnson and the other parties Monday that they are challenging the judge’s decision before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Because Johnson’s order to dismiss the case concerned the sorority, its Wyoming-based housing company and President Mary Pat Rooney, the women are not taking any of their claims against Langford to the appeals court, the notice says.
Originally, the women included Langford as a party in the lawsuit because one of their requests was for Johnson to void Langford’s membership in the sorority and they did not want to do it behind Langford’s back, they argued in court documents.
The complaint included numerous allegations against Langford that weren’t tied to civil demands, including accusations of misconduct within the sorority house.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
