A group of alumnae from the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma have filed an appeal in federal court seeking to revive their lawsuit challenging the organization’s decision to permit a local chapter to admit a transgender woman. The appeal was submitted on Monday, reigniting legal debate over membership policies regarding transgender individuals in single-sex private organizations.

The plaintiffs contend that the national leadership of Kappa Kappa Gamma overstepped its authority by allowing the chapter to admit a transgender woman without the approval of existing members. They argue this move contradicts the sorority’s longstanding single-sex membership criteria and undermines local chapter autonomy.

Allie Coghan, one of the lead plaintiffs, expressed to news outlets that the group’s goal is to establish a definitive legal precedent that protects spaces designated for a single sex, while limiting the ability of national organizations to override decisions made by local members. She emphasized the importance of maintaining control over membership standards in private associations.

The details of the initial lawsuit and the reasons for its dismissal have not been specified in the court filings. However, the appeal signals ongoing legal contention surrounding transgender inclusion policies within private, gender-specific groups, raising broader questions about how these organizations balance inclusivity with their traditional membership rules.

Kappa Kappa Gamma has not publicly commented on the appeal as of this writing. The case is expected to proceed through the federal court system, where judges will determine whether the previous ruling should be overturned and the lawsuit reinstated.