While the University of Idaho Lavender Graduation may seem as if it is designed for LGBTQ students, Lysa Salsbury said the event is intended to be all inclusive.
Lavender Graduation is an annual celebration that recognizes the accomplishments of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally students who are graduating.
It’s a way to get together and honor the people who have been a part of the LGBTQA community, said Julia Keleher, coordinator of the University of Idaho LGBTQA Office.
The event is organized and funded by the LGBTQA Office.
Lavender Graduation will include a keynote speech from Harvey Katz. Katz is a transsexual comedian who has been touring nationally since 2003.
Salsbury, coordinator of Women’s Center programs, said the keynote speaker is usually someone who is prominent in LGBTQ activism..
“Lavender Graduation really meant a lot to me because I knew that in the bigger commencement ceremony I wouldn’t have a lot of time to talk to everyone, so it really meant a lot that I could invite my professors mentors and friends to a more intimate event where we could celebrate and talk, without the chaos of graduation,” Paige Davies, a UI alumna, said.
Davies is an AmeriCorps Women’s Mentoring and Service Learning Coordinator.
Lavender Graduation dates back to 1995 when Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the University of Michigan LGBT Resource Center, decided LGBT students need their own graduation ceremony, to honor their accomplishments and contributions to the university.
“It’s no different than any other group on campus that has an award ceremony, or end-of-year banquet,” Davies said. “Almost every group or office has their own end of the year ceremony or celebration.”
However, the LGBTQA Center assures that this is not just for LGBTQ students.
“It’s an opportunity for others who also support LGBTQ individuals to be a part of that celebration,” Salsbury said. “I think it opens up opportunities for people to stand up and say ‘I support this community, I welcome this community, I welcome the interactions I have with this community and this community has enriched my college experience.'”
Keleher said it’s an open and inclusive event.
“The idea behind Lavender Graduation is to recognize graduating LGBTQA students because the set of circumstances that they face at college, I think, often bring an additional challenge to getting through school,” Salsbury said.
The event is 7 pm. April 23 in the Commons Clearwater/Whitewater Rooms.
Aaron Bharucha can be reached at [email protected]