Events
Lavender Graduation 2024
Date and Time
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Pere Marquette (2204 Kirkhof)
Description
Mission: Celebrating the personal and academic achievements of LGBTQIA+ and allied students and recognizing their contributions to our campus.
Program: Welcome and remarks, awards, keynote address, recognition of graduates, reception with hors d'oeuvres and music.
If you are interested in attending Lav Grad as a graduate or would like to reserve a rainbow tassel, please complete the Lav Grad Interest Form.
To nominate an outstanding LGBTQIA+ graduate for Lavender Graduation 2024, complete the nomination form here.
Cultural Context
Lavender Graduation is a cultural celebration that recognizes
LGBTQIA+ students' contributions to the university and acknowledges
their achievements during their college experience. Students are
officially recognized by the institution for their leadership,
success, and achievement.
Historical Context
Lavender Graduation began in 1995 at the University of Michigan
to honor the accomplishments of LGBT and allied graduates. Ronni
Sanlo, the director of the resource center at that time, believed LGBT
students needed their own graduation ceremony like that of other
racial and ethnic minorities on campus. Since 1995, campuses across
the country have hosted their own Lavender Graduations to honor the
accomplishments of LGBT graduates.
The color lavender is important to LGBT history and culture as it is a combination of pink and black: the colors of triangles gay men and lesbians, respectively, were required to wear as prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. The LGBT rights movement reclaimed these symbols of hatred to create a color symbolizing pride and community.
This event also appears on the main events calendar tagged as awards, celebration, culturalgraduation, food, graduation, lgbtqia, and trans.
Contact
Email [email protected] or call 616-331-2530 with questions or for any accommodations.