Merced College Hosts Inaugural Lavender Graduation Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Students' Achievements

Merced College recently hosted its first Lavender Graduation to honor the achievements of its LGBTQIA+ students. This event, led by Lukas Hammett, a transgender sophomore, took place on April 26. It marked a significant step in the college's efforts to support diversity and inclusivity.

Twenty students, wearing blue gowns and lavender stoles, participated in the ceremony at the college's Equity Hub. The stoles symbolize their unique experiences and achievements. The event included speeches from Hammett, college president Chris Vitelli, and keynote speaker Kat Fobear, a women’s studies professor from Fresno State. Fobear has contributed to LGBTQIA+ academic programs and the preservation of queer history in California’s Central Valley.

The Lavender Graduation tradition was started in 1995 by Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian professor at the University of Michigan. It provides a space for LGBTQIA+ students to be recognized and celebrated. The lavender color of the stoles is historically significant, combining the pink and black triangles that were once used to persecute gay individuals in Nazi Germany.

Cimmaron Ruiz, the EOPS Coordinator and Equity Counselor at Merced College, noted the academic achievements of the graduates, who earned 27 transfer degrees and five associate degrees. These graduates are referred to as 'Pride Scholars,' a term that acknowledges their identity and academic success. The event celebrated their resilience and the challenges they have faced.

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