Gay and Greek: Ten years ago, the doors of fraternity and sorority closets weren’t just shut, they were deadbolted — and if anyone knew where the keys were, they weren’t talking.

Fast-forward to today. No less than 18 national fraternities and sororities have added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination statements. More and more students are coming out, and a small but growing number are rushing openly gay, with varying degrees of acceptance. Increasing numbers of fraternities, sororities and college campuses are getting educated on issues of sexual orientation.

Ask just about anyone who has witnessed the changes, and they’ll point to the Lambda 10 Project (http://www.lambda10.org) as a catalyst. Since 1995, the organization has served as a clearinghouse for educational resources and materials related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in the college fraternity and sorority experience. To celebrate a decade of advocacy, Lambda 10 will unveil a redesigned Web site on September 1, 2005.

Also in association with its ten-year anniversary, Lambda 10 will begin a follow-up to the study conducted in 1995 by Douglas N. Case, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life at San Diego State University. The new study will examine how things have changed over the last decade for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) students within the college Greek system.

“Ten years ago, few people felt safe coming out to their college fraternities or sororities, and virtually none rushed openly gay. Closeted GLBT Greeks had no one to turn to for advice,” explained Shane Windmeyer, co-founder and coordinator of the Lambda 10 Project. “We have worked hard to change that, and the new study will show us how far we have come as well as highlight where we have to work even harder.”

Windmeyer was a student at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, when he came out to his own fraternity in 1995. He was met with overwhelming acceptance from his Phi Delta Theta brothers. It was one of Windmeyer’s most rewarding undergraduate experiences — one he wanted other students to have. Inspired, Windmeyer co-founded the Lambda 10 Project with Pamela W. Freeman from Indiana University.

Since then, the Lambda 10 Project has established Lambda10.org, a comprehensive online resource full of information, fellowship and support for GLBT Greeks and allies; designed training programs for college organizations and professionals working with fraternities and sororities; and created numerous educational resources, starting with Windmeyer’s first book, “Out on Fraternity Row: Personal Accounts of Being Gay in a College Fraternity,” co-edited with Freeman in 1998. It was the only book of its kind and quickly became a national gay best-seller. Two other books followed, along with the only anti-homophobia training manual designed for fraternities and sororities.

Windmeyer has become the nation’s foremost expert on issues of sexual orientation and campus Greek life. As a popular speaker on campuses throughout the country, he has raised awareness of GLBT issues within the Greek system and helped to educate the staff of universities and national fraternity and sorority organizations on nondiscrimination and support of GLBT students. His fourth book, “Brotherhood: Gay Life in College Fraternities,” will be released October 1, 2005, by Alyson Publications.

“The Lambda 10 Project has brought about real change, but real challenges still exist,” cautioned Windmeyer. “Not every campus is progressive in this area, and students are still dealing with issues like homophobic hazing. So while we are excited about how far the Lambda 10 Project has come, we continue to advocate for GLBT issues and have a long way to go.”