Our History

Gamma Rho Lambda, Alpha Chapter, was founded in the Fall of 2003 by 12 original members at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The sorority was initially created because the founding president and members wanted an organization similar to the GBTQ-focused fraternity on campus, Sigma Phi Beta.

2005 to 2010

In 2005, Gamma Rho Lambda began the daunting task of expanding nationally, as Alpha Chapter had been approached by several interested women on other campuses in the United States. Over the course of the next year, Gamma Rho Lambda worked to expand to these campuses, functioning in a local and national capacity at the same time.

In 2006, with enough alum members to support a national council, Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority became independent of Alpha Chapter. Since then, the National Sorority has been working on expansion, adjusting to the needs of its chapters and members, and bettering the community overall through these efforts.

The sorority expanded to San Diego State University and Georgia Southern University. University of Missouri became a provisional chapter. San Diego State University gained chapter status as Beta Chapter. Kansas State University became a provisional chapter. California State University Northridge, University of California Los Angeles, Purdue University, and SUNY Albany became provisional chapters. The University of Missouri provisional chapter disbanded from Gamma Rho Lambda to focus more on political involvement. Kansas State University gained chapter status as Delta Chapter and Purdue University gained chapter status as Eta Chapter.

2010 to 2015

Gamma Rho Lambda rapidly expanded during this time. Northern Arizona University, SUNY Albany, University of Houston, UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, Ball State, Tulane University, Iowa State, American University, and University of Iowa became provisional chapters, and later full chapters. Additionally, UL Lafayette and UT Austin were inducted as provisional chapters.

2016 to present

UL Lafayette and UT Austin were initiated as Sigma and Tau chapter, respectively. Longwood University, University of Arizona, and Missouri S&T were initiated as provisional chapters in the spring of 2016 and became chapters in early 2017. Also, Bowling Green State University and Ohio State University were inducted as provisional chapters in the fall of 2016 and became chapters in late 2017. Virginia Commonwealth University was inducted as a provisional chapter in 2018.

In January 2021, Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority opened its membership to people of any and all gender identities, thereby including cisgender men in their siblinghood.

The provisional chapter at University of Nevada, Reno was inducted as Alpha Delta chapter in February 2021. Today, Gamma Rho Lambda active membership (including Alum & Collegians) consists of over 400 active members, and we have embarked on a National Roster project that has collected information from over 1500 members.

Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority's main philanthropic efforts are to benefit The Trevor Project, but many of our chapters also work with local non-profits and philanthropic organizations, collectively raising thousands of dollars and creating awareness in their communities.

As with many organizations, Gamma Rho Lambda struggled during the COVID pandemic. As campuses shut down and Greek organizations were unable to recruit, our chapters fought to stay connected, involved, and active.

However, many of our smaller chapters were unable to weather the storm. Members graduated or left school, and without new members, the chapters were forced to close. We went from 20 chapters to 8 between 2020 and 2023. 

Gamma Rho Lambda’s focus now, as a national organization, is on strengthening our foundations and building up our current chapters. We’re opening expansion up as of Fall 2023 to 1-2 interest groups a semester so that we can provide the stability and support they need to be successful.