Lavender Graduation

The Lavender Graduation marks an important milestone in the lives of LGBTQ+ students

Posted Friday, May 25, 2018 @ 12:25 PM

The Lavender Graduation marks an important milestone in the lives of LGBTQ+ students. It is an annual graduation ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the University. Most importantly, it provides honorary recognition of LGBTQ+ survival of tremendous culture shock and pressures. At the University of Central Florida (UCF), this event is monumental for the LGBTQ+ population.

Held on May 2^nd this year, the event commenced with a story on why the Lavender Celebration began and was followed by special guest speakers. Each spoke on the importance of supporting the LGBTQ+ community and the celebration of making it through the hardships commonly faced by those who identify as members of this community. Students are applauded for their bravery and courage. The presentation emphasized safety and security for members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially in light of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

The second worst American mass shooting in the past 25 years, the Pulse nightclub shooting was a tragic reminder of the discrimination and hate members of the LGBTQ+ community face daily. Simply being true to their biological nature is sometimes met with hatred and terror to the point of bodily harm or verbal guilt shaming. Creating an inclusive community transcends simply recognizing hatred, and begins with allyship.

UCF’s CREED, Community in particular, emphasizes the need for inclusive support. If diversity and inclusion values are to be upheld, students must take responsibility for the actions they take or lack thereof which affect minority communities.  For more information on being and LGBTQ+ supporter: hrc.org/resources/straight-guide-to-lgbt-americans

As the event came to a close, there was an undeniable feeling of pride in the room. The Divley-Dupuis Scholarship was awarded to UCF student Cody Kennedy, and the new LGTBQ+ Scholarship announced was from the Farrante Family. Starting in the fall, LGBTQ+ services will be hosting the Lavender Lunch event as an opportunity to discover important resources for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies located across the UCF campus as well as community partners within the Central Florida community. Open to students of all genders and sexual orientations, the PRIDE office is located in Ferrell Commons, 171 across from Marketplace.