Lavender graduation to honor LGBTQ+ graduates

April 1, 2019

University Relations

UAF's first lavender graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 11, from 6-8 p.m. in the Wood Center multilevel lounge to recognize LGBTQ+ graduates and celebrate their achievements and contributions to UAF. All graduating LGBTQ+ students are invited to take part in this event and should RSVP on OrgSync. Lavender graduation participants will receive rainbow cords to wear during UAF's commencement ceremony May 4. 

Faculty, staff and student allies are invited to celebrate with UAF's LGBTQ+ graduates by attending the ceremony and enjoying the refreshments served at a reception following the ceremony.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, the first lavender graduation ceremony was held at the University of Michigan in 1995 to recognize LGBTQ+ graduates. Since then, lavender graduation ceremonies have been held at more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide to celebrate and acknowledge the challenges that LGBTQ+ face as they earn their degree. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reports that 20 percent of LGBTQ+ college students fear for their physical safety on their college campus. Nationally, Campus Pride has found that more than a third of LGBTQ+ students consider leaving higher education because of their campus climate. LGBTQ+ students face disproportionately high rates of sexual violence and according to the Ali Forney Center, 25 percent of LGBTQ+ youth are rejected from their families after coming out.

For more information about UAF's lavender graduation ceremony, contact Ronnie Houchin at rshouchin@alaska.edu.