[8][3][5] A fellow student on his university campus had been denied fraternity membership due to the presumption that he was gay.

When Strickland became aware of other examples of this, he began organizing a fraternity with a more welcoming model[3] that would not discriminate based on sexual orientation.

[2] According to a fraternity member, a progressive male is "a person willing to accept the virtues, ideals, and truth that gay, bisexual and transgendered people feel.

[13] Strickland traveled to college campuses across the United States for eighteen months, working on expanding the fraternity.

[5] In April 1988 a group of gay men at UCLA were recognized as the first Delta Lambda Phi chapter to be affiliated with a university.

Delta Lambda Phi's membership is open to all men, whether gay, bisexual, transgender, or straight.

[22][12][2] Campus and multi-campus chapters are generally open to male college-aged students who live in the area.

[5][6] Pledges are required to memorize the Greek alphabet, know the fraternity's mission, and learn the parliamentary procedure from Robert's Rules of Order.

[5] Delta Lambda Phi strictly prohibits hazing, and it adheres to an extensive, fraternity-wide Risk Management Policy.

[27] At the top of the shield to the left, the inverted triangle is a reminder of the Nazi's persecution of gays and ongoing modern challenges.

[27] At the top of the shield to the right, a lowercase letter Lambda (λ) stands for the gay liberation movement.

[27] Below the chevrons, three stars symbolize the first three chapters and the three founding purposes of the fraternity, while a burning lamp at the bottom represents ancient justice and enlightenment.

And won the prince's heart that night[30][5]Delta Lambda Phi is governed by its convention, which is officially the highest authority in the fraternity.

The convention is held annually and, as a body, comprises two members from every active chapter, as well as alumni representatives and the fraternity's board of directors.

The policy aims to ensure that bid distribution remains fair, that pledge education is focused on platonic fraternal bonding, and that the risk of sexual harassment is minimized.

Founded in 2003, the Delta Lambda Phi Alumni Association (DLPAA) is governed by an elected board of directors.