| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΘΕ |
| Kappa Theta Epsilon | |
| Motto: | Reach New Heights. |
| Crest: | Official Crest of Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, Incorporated.png |
| Alt: | The official crest of Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority. |
| Scope: | National |
| Affiliation: | Independent |
| Status: | Active |
| Emphasis: | LGBT and women's rights |
| City: | Houston |
| State: | Texas |
| Country: | US |
| Zip Code: | 77057 |
| Nickname: | Kappa Theta, KTE |
| Colors: | Plum Rose Sterling Silver |
| Homepage: | KappaThetaEpsilon.com |
| Publication: | Beacon magazine |
| Chapters: | 5 |
| Colonies: | 3 |
Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΘΕ) is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated for LGBT professional and entrepreneurial women.[1] Membership is exclusive to lesbian women, and primarily college-educated. The sorority was founded February 24, 2009, in Houston, Texas. The organization's founding tenets are sisterhood, fidelity, accomplishment and service.[2]
The political climate of the early 21st century played a large role in the founding of Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, Incorporated.[3] Negative media portrayal of lesbians and gays, and the emergence of same-sex marriage as a recurring political issue, inspired the Sorority's Founder to consider a Sorority as a medium for creating change.[4]
From the year 2000 to 2009, LGBT rights took a leading role in both politics and the justice system. Legally, the issue of marriage equality began to gain momentum, and laws criminalizing homosexuality were being overturned.[5] Kappa Theta Epsilon's founder believed that a group of young leaders could advocate for more equitable policies in both the legislative and judicial arenas.
The sorority was founded on the morning of February 24, 2009, in Houston, Texas. After researching existing organizations, it was decided that the group would adopt the letters Kappa Theta Epsilon (ΚΘΕ) to reflect its fundamental ideals. On February 25, the sorority's official colors and mascot were finalized.[6]
Other symbols adopted in the early stages of the sorority were the founding tenets, flower and jewel. It was agreed in September 2009 that, for the first two years, development of infrastructure would take precedence over the initiation of new members.[6]
Kappa Theta Epsilon states that through its philosophy of "servant leadership", members have a direct impact on the conditions of their community and world. The sorority follows a five target platform for philanthropy, designed to address problems affecting women globally, with emphasis on lesbian women of African descent.
The sorority focuses its efforts on five philanthropic target areas:
| Leadership Development | The Academy | |||
| Educational Advancement | Plum Goes Green Campaign | |||
| Holistic Health and Wellness | Life 360 Wellness Symposium | |||
| Economic Empowerment | Lesbians in Business Incubator | |||
| Social Impact and Policy Awareness | The For Eudy Project |
Every two years, KTE selects a focus area and members devote the majority of their community service efforts to projects related to it.
| Chapter | Chartered/Established | City | State | Status | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | February 24, 2009 | Houston | Texas | Active | [8] | |
| Beta | February 2019 | Atlanta | Georgia | Active | ||
| Les Bons Temps colony | June 2016 | Lake Charles | Louisiana | Active | ||
| SDC colony | September 2018 | San Diego | California | Active | ||
| Heartland colony | November 2018 | Wichita | Kansas | Active | ||
| Kappa Epsilon | April 2022 | National | United States | Active | ||
| Gamma | September 2022 | Oakland | California | Active | ||
| Flutters | January 2023 | Florida, Illinois, Missouri, and Texas | Active |