Columbia College Chicago recently held its first-ever Lavender Graduation ceremony, honoring the achievements of LGBTQ+ graduates. The ceremony, hosted by the Student Diversity and Inclusion (SDI) office, featured a keynote address by Dr. Nancy B. Ruff, an educator and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
A History of Lavender Graduations
The tradition of Lavender Graduations began in 1995 when Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian, was denied attendance at her children’s graduation due to her sexual orientation. Sanlo went on to found the first Lavender Graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan to honor LGBTQ+ graduates and to provide a safe space for them to celebrate their achievements. The color lavender was chosen as a symbol of LGBTQ+ identity and history, combining the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear and the black triangle that lesbians were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps.
Columbia College’s Efforts for Inclusivity
The SDI office at Columbia College Chicago has been actively working to create safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ students. The office has organized numerous events and programs, such as Queer Awareness Month and Trans Awareness Week, to raise awareness and support for the community. Lavender Graduation is just the latest effort to celebrate and recognize the achievements of LGBTQ+ graduates at the college.
Challenges for Queer Spaces
According to Dr. Nancy Rillie, Director of the SDI office, creating and maintaining queer spaces is not easy. These spaces are often challenged and are not a given, which is why it is important to recognize and name them. Rillie hopes for more institutional support for LGBTQ+ students in the future and a concerted effort to make them feel less isolated.
Representation for Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
In addition to the Lavender Graduation ceremony, the SDI office also collaborated with Columbia’s Asian Student Organization and Latino Alliance to honor Latino and Asian and Pacific Islander graduates with their own stoles to represent their cultural backgrounds at graduation. This effort highlights the importance of inclusivity and representation for students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Lavender Graduation ceremony at Columbia College Chicago is a significant milestone in the school’s efforts towards inclusivity and diversity. The event serves as a reminder of the challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals face in society and the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who is Kaza and what is their work?
Kaza’s work in the city involves creating and organizing queer spaces and parties to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. They play an important role in recognizing the challenges faced by queer spaces and the effort required to create and maintain them. -
What is the history behind Lavender graduations?
Lavender graduations were started in 1995 by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian, who was denied the opportunity to attend her children’s graduation because of her sexual orientation. The color lavender represents the combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear and the black triangle that lesbians were forced to wear in Nazi Germany. -
What is the Student Diversity and Inclusion office and what services do they provide?
The Student Diversity and Inclusion office is an organization that aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. They provide support and resources for underrepresented and marginalized students, such as LGBTQ+ graduates who can register to receive cords and stoles to represent their identities and cultural backgrounds at graduation. -
What is the hope of Rillie for LGBTQ+ students in the future?
Rillie hopes for more institutional support and concerted effort from the college to create a less isolated environment for LGBTQ+ students.
