Lavender Graduation
The LGBTQ+ Center invites the University community to attend Lavender Graduation on Sunday, April 27 from 3 - 6 p.m. in the Mountainlair, Blue Ballroom.
Lavender Graduation is a nationally recognized and time-honored tradition where LGBTQ+ students and allies can come together as a community to celebrate graduates for their academic achievements and contributions to their campuses.
Now in its twelfth year at West Virginia University, this celebration provides a
warm, accepting, and joyful environment for students to be recognized and honored. All
undergraduate and graduate students graduating in May who wish to commemorate
their graduation with friends and family are welcome. Alumni are also invited to
attend.
Sam Green, trans justice organizer for the ACLU West Virginia, will deliver remarks to graduates during the ceremony.
Limited seating is available. All graduates and guests planning to attend should register by Friday, April 18. Register here.
For more information, email lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu.
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Information for Graduates and Guests
Graduates should arrive no later than 2:45 p.m. for a walkthrough.
Guests are asked to arrive and be seated by 3 p.m.
Directions:
The Mountainlair
1550 University Ave | PO Box 6437
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108
Free parking is available in lot ST-2: the upper level of the Mountainlair Garage
Additional parking information is available here.
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What is Lavender Graduation?
Excerpt from the Human Rights Campaign.
Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, queer, asexual/aromantic, and ally students to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the University. The Lavender Graduation Ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish Lesbian, who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation. It was through this experience that she came to understand the pain felt by her students.
Encouraged by the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan, Dr. Sanlo designed the first Lavender Graduation Ceremony in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation began at the University of Michigan in 1995, with three graduates.
By 2001, there were over 45 Lavender Graduation Ceremonies at Colleges and Universities nationwide. Graduating students, including undergraduates and graduates, are invited to take part in the celebration, which typically occurs each year the week prior to university-wide commencement events.
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About the Speaker
Sam Green is a trans West Virginian with a passion for advocacy and community building, using his background in social work to serve his community and challenge social injustices.
Sam recently graduated from Marshall University with their Bachelor of Social Work. Throughout their time as a student, they worked as Assistant Coordinator for the Marshall University Suicide Prevention Education Across Campus organization. In that role, Sam promoted education about mental health and suicide prevention, with a focus on young populations and the LGBTQ+ community.
Before starting his role as Trans Justice Organizer, Sam worked closely with LGBTQ+ people in West Virginia by supporting community members, leading mutual aid efforts, creating events to provide safe spaces for queer West Virginians, advocating for better policies at the Capital, organizing protests, and more. At sixteen years old, they helped start Rainbow Formal West Virginia, a dance that is held for LGBTQ+ high schoolers. He has previously served on the Fairness West Virginia board, and as vice president of Huntington Pride. Sam also co-founded and organizes the West Virginia Trans Coalition, a network for trans people in the state to support each other and work together on issues important to the community.
Sam wholeheartedly believes in the ACLU of WV’s mission to protect the civil liberties of all West Virginians and plans to use his role to continue building power and uplifting the voices of trans people in this state.
Bio courtesy of the ACLU West Virginia. Read more here.