LGBTQ Pride Center to hold 14th annual Lavender Graduation

Abigail Ali News Editor

The LGBTQ Pride Center will hold its 14th annual Lavender Graduation, a ceremony honoring students identifying with the LGBTQ community this spring.

Lavender Graduation started at the University of Michigan in 1995 and spread to universities across the country. NC State started holding its own Lavender Graduation in 2008. According to the Human Rights Campaign, lavender holds significance as a symbol of pride within the LGBTQ community. It is a combination of pink and black, which were historically used to discriminate against gays and les- bians but have since been taken back.

Dr. Charla Blumell, the director of the LGBTQ Pride Center, said the ceremony is a way to celebrate students.

“It’s a way for us at the Pride Center, as well as the campus community, faculty, staff and other students to just congratulate and cheer on our LGBTQ+ students who have [graduated],” Blumell said. “We really just want to show them how proud we are, and how excited we are for whatever they’re going to do next, and it’s just a beautiful tradition and a wonderful way for us to honor our students.”

Grace Szigethy, a fourth-year studying psychology and women’s gender and sexuality studies, is an intern at the LGBTQ Pride Center. Szigethy is walking in Lavender Graduation and helping plan the event along with other employees at the center. She said the ceremony represents intersectional individuality.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the campus to honor all of the different intersectional identities that we have here,” Szigethy said. “I think typical graduation ceremonies are much more focused on the community and the collective as a whole when Lav Grad has a beautiful way of honoring each individual as they are.”

During Lavender Graduation, the center gives away three awards: the Stafford Lead- ership Award, Reiman Student Advocacy Award and the Spitz Community Advocacy Award. Blumell said she’s excited to recognize students for their hard work as part of the community.

“I’m just excited about the recipients who are going to receive those, because it’s just like icing on the cake,” Blumell said. “You’re graduating, you’re with your friends, you get to see other staff members and faculty and receive something else to take with you as a part of your experience. I think that’ll be beautiful.”