California State University East Bay

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California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

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LGBT Students Should Have a Graduation Ceremony

Students are nearing the completion of their college careers, sealing their future with a diploma at the long-awaited graduation ceremony.
In universities across the United States, such as here at CSU East Bay, graduations are celebrated by colleges as well as by ethnicity.
More recently, a new form of celebration has made its way into the line of college graduation ceremonies. The Lavender graduation, which celebrates the graduation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, has slowly emerged in the college graduation landscape.
Beginning in 1995, the Lavender graduation does not separate students by ethnicity, but rather celebrates students who have historically had difficulty graduating, such as LGBT students. With proponents of Lavender graduations citing a 37 percent attempted suicide rate before reaching college, it is essential to celebrate the accomplishments of these students.
According to the U.S. National Center of Education, there are nearly 4,500 degree granting universities in the U.S. In 2004, 43 colleges held Lavender graduation ceremonies, roughly a 0.09 percentage of U.S. colleges. This percentage is pathetic.
Some people may or may not agree with separatism amongst college graduations in regards to ones ethnicity or sexuality, but the people who want to participate in a ceremony such as the Lavender graduation should have the option.
The issue is not in whether or not we agree with segregating graduation ceremonies. Rather, it is discriminatory and insensitive to a growing and increasingly present population to not allow this option.
Even if only one person wanted to participate in a Lavender graduation ceremony, they should be able to have the option. Black, Latino, Asian and other ethnic ceremonies go on even if the number of participants is small; the same should be true for Lavender ceremonies.
Although the Lavender graduation is obviously not well known, both the university and the students must voice their desire for one.
Let’s express we believe in equality and freedom to choose, and if graduating amongst a group of LGBT students is important for some students, then they deserve to have that option.
At CSUEB, Associated Students Inc. provides funding for Black Graduation and Latino Graduation ceremonies. LGBT students and those who support them need to work together to obtain access to these types of funds.
It is up to the students to speak up on this issue if they are interested in having an LGBT graduation ceremony and force their school to provide the option to their students.
From a personal standpoint, I do not agree with separating graduation ceremonies by ethnicity or sexual orientation. I wouldn’t participate in one myself, but I do believe in equal opportunities, especially at an academic institution where we appreciate one another’s differences and diversity.
If we have one, we should have all.
If it is important to celebrate the graduate who is a Black person, Latino person or Asian person, then it is just as important to celebrate the graduate who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered.
If college is the great equalizer, then let’s embrace that and begin a new era of Lavender graduation ceremonies.

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LGBT Students Should Have a Graduation Ceremony