Lavender Graduation

I am sorry to report that Lavender Graduation has been cancelled. We have been working on postponing options, but the logistics of moving the event to sometime during Prep or Finals week was not feasible for our team.

Lavender Graduation is the celebration of our LGBTQ+ graduates, many of whom are currently advocating for union recognition, even though they wouldn't see the benefits of their activism personally. LGBTQ+ Western supports students' free expression and we know that community is critical our mission: to advance the holistic thriving of diverse LGBTQ+ students. 

We cannot host an event without the community that helps create LGBTQ+ Western. Our student staff, tabling clubs and orgs, and drag performers are all in various ways participating in the work stoppage, or in solidarity with it. This message is in support of our students, and we hope the Operational Student Employees can come to a resolution with the university. Western's student employee work is critical, and we celebrate our students expressing and advocating for themselves and their peers.

I want to thank and celebrate the 130 (and growing) Lavender Graduates this year. I am so proud of you all. Many of you have gone through incredible transformations during your time at Western, and I have been honored to be with some of you along the way. Some of you have created or continued LGBTQ+ clubs like the Out in...  Clubs (Science, Business, Education, and now Law!), to Royal Gambit Drag Club and their monthly shows, to our revitalized LGBTQ+ Advocacy Club. Many of you have explored your sexualities and gender identities and found community here at Western. Some of you I met at Queerientation three years ago, and I am delighted to know you made it through to graduation. I have read about what you all hope to do with your degrees, including making an impact in other LGBTQ+ people's lives. You are inspiring, and I cannot wait to hear what you will do next. 

LGBTQ+ Western is a lifelong service. Graduates can contact us to process issues that occur after college—such as coming out to your employer, seeking gender-affirming care outside the Student Health Center, and building queer community. You are always welcome at Generations of Pride, and we would love to keep in touch for future alumni gatherings, panels, etc.

We are working on ways we can still celebrate our graduates. We will be in touch soon with possibilities but cannot promise anything at the moment.

In the meantime, graduates can come pick up their cord and certificate in VU 723 next week, M-F 10am-4pm (certificates limited to students who signed up in time). We will be in the multicultural center each weekday next week from 10am-4pm. If you are unable to come to campus during business hours, we can arrange special pick up or delivery. Your friends are welcome to pick up materials for you as well—though we would love to give you your cord directly. 

Missed signing up? You can still pick up a cord!

We will be announcing our Pride Award winners sometime soon, and we hope to record our keynote speeches.

We deeply appreciate all campus and community stakeholders who have been engaged with planning or supporting our Lavender Graduation. Thank you.

If you have any questions or would like to process, I will be in my office or student staff office all day tomorrow, besides the 1-2pm hour. You can email me to schedule a virtual meeting as well, or with Ayanna Phillips our Program Manager. You can schedule future meetings using our bookings pages found on our website.

In gratitude, appreciation, and solidarity,

JoeHahn

LGBTQ+ Director