Gay frat unique

A young fraternity brother sits on a lumpy old couch and hands out small cards to prospective pledges as each one enter the room.

"Ever thought what it would be like to have a gay brother?" the cards read.

Welcome to Delta Lambda Phi's info night at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Resource Center. Delta Lambda Phi -- a fraternity in the traditional sense --is comprised of gay men.

Bisexual and progressive heterosexual men who are interested in joining are invited to pledge. Members, however, are mostly openly gay male students.

David Nguyen, 30, a Cal State Long Beach alumnus, and current vice president for Delta Lambda Phi, said his fraternity is unique.

"Other fraternities are trying to mold people," Nguyen said. "We're letting people be themselves."

Nguyen added that Delta Lambda Phi is a social club not a sex club, making the purpose of the fraternity clear to dispel any potential assumptions or stereotypes that might arise about a fraternity of gay men. There is no dating permitted between pledges or members and pledges, he said.

"The fraternity is a good chance to form some social bonds and friendships," said Mathew Black, 39, a communications major at CSULB. "It's a chance to make friends that last a lifetime."

Delta Lambda Phi prides itself on the absence of hazing practices. Instead of forcing pledges to look and act alike while performing demeaning stunts, they encourage diversity.

"We don't try to demoralize our members," Black said. "That certainly sets us apart from other fraternities."

Delta Lambda Phi is a national fraternity with 20 chapters. It is not a member of the intra-fraternity, or Greek, council. This means they do not receive funding from the national organization, but they do not have to follow its strict rules either.

The CSULB chapter currently has 10 active members and four pledges. The only requirements for joining are that pledges have an open mind, attend at least three rush events, demonstrate commitment, and pay a $100 fee.

Delta Lambda Phi participates in community events, including AIDS Walk Los Angeles. They also help out the Red Cross and organize workshops for youth, among many other community services.

Social events include parties, movie nights and beach barbecues. A Halloween party  opened the holiday season for the brothers and their fraternity.

Delta Lambda Phi's emphasis is on brotherhood, life-long friendships and the celebration of diversity, Black said. It is about providing a forum for social interaction and a place for like-minded people to share.

"The fraternity is not about breaking people down," Black said. "We want people to bring in what is unique about them."