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LIBERTY PRESS - SPECIAL PRIDE EDITION

JUNE 2012

Lavender Graduation at KSU is states first

By Cole Anneberg
MANHATTAN - There is
scant literature that describes
celebratory experiences within
LGBT culture. Indeed, there
is little that describes LGBT
culture at all.
The LGBT community
of Kansas State University
celebrated its first Lavender
Graduation on May 6 at the KState Alumni Center. Lavender
Graduation is an event in which
graduating LGBT students are
officially recognized by the
institution for their leadership
and their successes and
achievements; something that
is very important to the LGBT
community at KSU.
The tradition of Lavender
Graduation began at the

University of Michigan in
1995 with only three graduates.
By 2001, there were over 45
institutions holding Lavender
Graduation ceremonies and
the tradition continues to
expand to other colleges and
universities across the country.
This is the first year weve
done this, K-State LGBT
Resource Center Coordinator
Brandon Haddock said. Its
a really great way to show
our graduating seniors that
we appreciate and recognize
them for their hard work. It
solidifies the overall feeling
of the LGBT community.
Haddock went on to state that
the graduating LGBT students
are unique because they dealt
with everything other graduates
dealt with, and on top of that
they dealt with the constant
knowledge that they may not
be welcome in some places
because of their sexuality.
They survived the college
experience, Haddock said.
Its an achievement just
to be graduating, and their
community here at K-State
is recognizing them for that.
One of those seniors
who was recognized was

Architectural Engineering
student Amy Northcutt.
To me, this event is a
matter of recognition for the
achievements and hardships
of graduating LGBT seniors.
College can be a really difficult
time for some people. My
major s department, both
faculty and students, were fairly
conservative, and by coming
out I instantly connected and
made friends with others in the
LGBT community who shared

President and event coordinator,

Simone Dorsey agreed
with Northcutts statement.
This is extremely important
t o o u r c o m m u n i t y, s h e
said. Lavender Graduation
brings a sense of unity and
pride to the community by
recognizing the seniors for
their achievements here.
Dorsey ultimately hopes
that Lavender Graduation
will help the K-State LGBT
community progress.

The tradition of Lavender Graduation began

at the University of Michigan in 1995.
the same experience I had, and
found a sense of identity while
here at K-State, Northcutt said.
Northcutt served this
year as the LGBT Resource
Center Graduate Assistant to
Haddock and helped plan the
Lavender Graduation event.
By bringing it [Lavender
Graduation] to K-State, it is
another way for the LGBT
community to expand and meet
new people as well as recognize
the efforts of its graduating
seniors, Northcutt said.
Newly elected LGBT

With everything weve done

this year such as things like the
pride parades and the Day of
Silence, Lavender Graduation
is a great wrap up for this year,
and is a great step for the KState community, Dorsey
said. When I came to KSU, I
noticed that it had such a large
LGBT community, but had a
lack of pride. This [Lavender
Graduation] will help unify our
community by recognizing all
of what its students do here at
K-State.

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