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The History of Lavender Graduation at Lawrence
2017: The idea for the first Lavender Graduation leapt into being -- Helen Boyd Kramer and alum Dakota Williams leapt into action, reserving the Diversity & Intercultural Ceremony, finding a pride flag or two for photos, and getting the invites out. Elizabeth Graber brought rainbow cupcakes. It was a small but intimate ceremony, with each student talking a little bit about what it was like to be LGBT at Lawrence, thanking friends who supported them. It was a lovely success, and was renamed "the First Lavender Graduation" in the hopes that many more would follow.
2018: The second Lavender Graduation honored 22 students. At this time, we figured out how and where to buy lavender stoles for the ceremony, and presented each student with one.
2019: The third Lavender Graduation honored 15 students.
2020: In mid March, all students were sent home - including those about to graduate. In a last minute plan, some LGBTQ+ faculty came together, in robes, to the Viking Room, and set up a small photo op so that students could get photographed in a cap and gown in front of the PRIDE flag of their choice. Here's a photo of four faculty from that event. Left to Right: Brigid Vance, professor of History; Helen Boyd Kramer, instructor of gender studies; Nancy Wall, professor of Biology; and Connie Kassor, professor of Religious Studies.
