Lavender graduation to honor LGBTQ+ graduates
April 1, 2019
UAF's first 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 . 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.