LGBTQ+ Center
At the LGBTQ+ Center, we are committed to advancing knowledge about genders and sexuality through education, engagement, and advocacy.
More Events to come
Stay up to date with the LGBTQ+ Center.
Registration is open for Lavender Graduation 2026
April 19th
3:00-5:00
The LGBTQ+ Center is hosting the 13th Annual Lavender Graduation at West Virginia University! Adding to a rich and meaningful tradition celebrated on campuses nationwide, including several of our peer AAU Universities, we’re providing a complement to your academic success and celebrating with the community you’ve built. No matter what you’ve studied, how long you’ve been here, or where you’re going next, you have earned your degree; you deserve a moment to have everyone recognize and appreciate that you have achieved your goals. After years of passion, self-discovery, and tireless purpose-driven work, you’ve done it! You’re here; and we’re here for you.
All WVU students graduating in December 2025 and May 2026 are invited to bring their loved ones to this unforgettable ceremony on Sunday, April 19th in the Mountainlair ballrooms. Graduating students should arrive between 2:15-2:30 to rehearse for the recognition ceremony. All additional guests should arrive at 3:00, when they will be welcomed to enjoy time mingling, playing games with new and old friends, passing along wisdom from their journey to future cohorts, and taking some fantastic photos (backgrounds and props available). We will begin the ceremony with a group photo before guests are seated. Then, we will begin with an opening song and remarks from our keynote speaker. Graduates will be called by name to walk across the stage and receive a certificate of appreciation, a rainbow graduation cord, and a lavender rose. They will then have an opportunity for a professional photograph before returning to sit with the audience. After the ceremony, stick around for the LGBTQ+ Club’s Annual Gayla!
Graduates must register by 4/13 to be honored by name. Lavender graduation is offered in addition to, not as a replacement for, WVU’s Commencement. This event is made possible by collaborating with the LGBTQ+ Commission, the LGBTQ+ Club, WVU’s oSTEM, True Colors, Triota, the WVU Horticulture Club, Student Life, the Office of Graduate Life, and more.
The LGBTQ+ Center turns 10 years old in 2026!
In celebration of this amazing milestone, WVU Art in the Libraries will host a year-long exhibition highlighting the Center’s history, impact, and community, at the Evansdale Library.
This exhibition will center your lived experiences (with stories, objects, images, and ephemera) that reflect how the LGBTQ+ Center has shaped student life, fostered belonging, and advanced equity at West Virginia University.
Your experiences are invaluable, and we want to hear about them! So, if the Center has played any role in your life as a Mountaineer, please consider contributing to this display. Telling us your stories is what will paint the bigger picture of the Center's impact over the last ten years.
Upcoming Events
There are even more events to discover. View our calendar and stay up to date!
Calendar
Connect With Us