Seventy-three graduating students donned rainbow stoles May 8 at Elon University's 14th annual Lavender Celebration run by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center. The ceremony honored LGBTQIA students for their contributions to inclusion on campus ahead of commencement later this month.
The celebration, held in Alumni Gym, recognized both undergraduate and graduate students. Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, has coordinated the event for the past six years and said the ceremony has grown significantly.
“We have outgrown the space,” Garay said. “When I first started at Elon, we were actually in McKinnon Hall in the Moseley Student Center, and we just kept growing.”
At the beginning of the celebration, four awards were presented to recognize two “Outstanding Graduates,” an “Outstanding Scholar”, an “Event or Initiative of the Year,” and an “Employee Champion for LGBTQIA Inclusion,” all of which were nominated and voted on by the graduates.
The tradition began at Elon in 2012, but nationally, it was founded by Dr. Ronni Sanlo at the University of Michigan in 1995. Since then, the celebration has been adopted by more than 100 colleges and universities.
Garay said the event aims to honor that history.
“We really want our event rooted in queer and trans joy and honoring the history and legacy of LGBTQIA communities at Elon and beyond,” Garay said.
Alexa Citrin receives a pin on her stole from LGBTQIA Alumni Network Leadership's Alex Xouris at the Lavender Graduation ceremony May 8 in Alumni Gym.
This year, the event has a new name, Lavender Celebration. Garay said the change was intended to foster a more inclusive space for students.
"As we approach our 15 years of having this event, we wanted to have an event that not only fits the mood of what this event is about, but also has it be focused on the fact that it is a stole ceremony, where graduates get honored, who are committed to inclusion."
Graduate and GLC student manager Janeeta Smith said the celebration gave her a chance to reflect on her time at Elon.
“I worked here my sophomore year, so I was able to see it helping, like a worker, and then to be the one actually walking, it's like ‘Wow, this is a big difference,’” Smith said.
Smith said walking in the ceremony gave her a new perspective on the LGBTQIA community at Elon.
"Having this celebration has allowed me to see how diverse our community is, and how happy they are, and the joy that they bring, and just seeing how they're involved in so many aspects of campus."
Seniors who are members of the LGBGTQ+ community are recognized at the annual Lavender Graduation in Alumni Gym on May 8.
Graduate Nailah Ware said the event reinforced a sense of belonging on campus.
“It's definitely relieving to just know that you have inclusivity around you, people that accept you for just who you are naturally,” Ware said.
Jonathan Monti’08, and president of the LGBTQIA Alumni Network, addressed the graduates during the ceremony. Monti said in an interview with Elon News Network that he hopes graduates carry community with them beyond Elon.
“Success is number one, but most importantly, I hope that they find community and that they can thrive,” Monti said.
Even though Monti did not experience this celebration as a graduate, he said that he comes back year after year to experience the special celebration.
“It's so meaningful because it's an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate each other in a way that was authentically us and a way that allows us to be supported by each other,” Monti said.