Photograph of stoles from the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The purple stoles are laid out on a green surface. They have rainbow stripes at the top and bottom, as well as two triangles. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are open to all graduates, those within the Queer and Trans communities and their allies. The tradition is continued today at hundreds of institutions across the nation and the Pride Alliance is honored to add UNT’s name to that list.

Photograph of Alex Sylvester, of the UNT Pride Alliance, and guest embracing at the 2018 Lavender Graduation. The photo shows Alex Sylvester (right) in a dress with long blonde hair. Next to them is a person with short cropped hair, wearing a grey blazer with a black button down.

Photograph of Alex Sylvester, of the UNT Pride Alliance, and guest at the 2018 Lavender Graduation. The photo shows Alex Sylvester (right) in a dress with long blonde hair. Next to them is a person with short cropped hair, wearing a grey blazer with a black button down.

Photograph of a group of people at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows a group of six people sitting around a black table. The two furthest on the left are the graduates in their outfits with purple stoles around their necks, rainbow stripes on the ends of it. On the farthest right is a young man in a striped sweater, to his left another young man and the two people in the middle older woman. Behind them is a long table of refreshments, and on their right another table of people partially seen. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage …

Photograph of the two hosts and a graduate at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The photo shows the two hosts standing on each side of one of the graduates, who is in the middle.The graduate has a purple stole resting on their shoulder with rainbow stripes. To their right is the host wearing a dress, and to their left is the host in a grey long sleeve. They stand in front of the stage with a podium on the left side of the photo. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are …

Photograph of a long table of refreshments at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows a table of refreshments with an attendee in a red blazer standing in front of it, seen from the back. On the right side of the photo people can be seen sitting or standing by tables. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are open to all graduates, those within the Queer and Trans communities and their allies. The tradition is continued today at hundreds of institutions across the nation and the Pride Alliance is honored …

Photograph of three people at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three people sitting close to each other at a round table. The person on the left is a girl with long blonde hair wearing a dress, in the middle is one of the graduates wearing a purple stole, and the person on the right wears a black t shirt. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are open to all graduates, those within the Queer and Trans communities and their allies. The tradition is continued today at hundreds of …

Photograph of three people at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three people sitting closely together at a round table. In the middle is the graduate with short black hair and glasses, wearing a green graduation robe and a purple stole around their neck with rainbow stripes. To the left is a young man in a black long sleeve and to the right a girl with blonde hair in black. On the top right side of the photo another table of people can be seen. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender …

Photograph of three people at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three people sitting close to each other at a round table, with the refreshments seen behind them. The person on the left is a girl with a cap on, in the middle is one of the graduates in a green robe and wearing a purple stole, and the person on the right wears a red blazer with a purple stole. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are open to all graduates, those within the Queer and Trans communities …

Photograph of a group of people at the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows one of the graduates and a friend sitting by each other at a table. On the left is the graduate with brown hair and a purple stole around their neck. On the right is a friend with blonde hair. Behind them rows of empty chairs can be seen. Lavender Graduation ceremonies have a rich history and began with the first Lavender Graduation at the University of Michigan in 1995. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, the Director of the Lesbian and Gay Programs Office at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sanlo, who had been denied admittance to her children’s commencement ceremonies because of her sexuality, realized there were no recognition ceremonies to honor the lives and achievements of Queer and Trans students. With the extra stress and pressure placed upon Queer and Trans college students, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage that offer recognition and inspiration to students. Lavender Graduation ceremonies are open to all graduates, those within the Queer and Trans communities and their allies. The tradition is continued today at hundreds …

A photograph taken from a 1997 photo-album by the UNT Multicultural Center. It shows students in a car with three rows of seating, including the driver's seat. In the back a young woman is holding out three fingers, her thumb, index, and middle, and in the middle seats two young men are doing vogue poses. The driver is smiling and leaning back for the picture.

Photograph of a group of eight people sitting in a room at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows a group of eight African American men and woman sitting in a half circle inside a carpeted room with white walls, all of them dress in business casual clothing. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of four friends at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three women and one man (farthest left) lined up shoulder to shoulder and smiling for the camera. They all have paper name tags and the man wear a green UNT shirt. Behind them is a woman in green in the background, and a blank projector screen on the right. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of a group of six people at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows five African American women and one man (farthest left) smiling for a picture as they are lined up shoulder to shoulder. They are in a grey carpeted room. All of them wear name tags and the man holds a black satchel with Greek symbols on it. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of three people sitting in a room at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows two African American woman sitting on each side of an African American man. They are separated by one chair in between them and the women wear scarves around their necks. They all have name tags on their shirts and sit in a carpeted room. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of three women and one man socializing at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three African American women and one man standing by a white wall, talking and socializing with each other. They all wear business casual clothing and have small white name tags. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of three women mingling at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three African American women standing by each other and mingling. They stand in a grey carpeted room with a circle of chairs arranged behind them. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of three women socializing at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three African American women in business casual clothing standing in a carpeted room talking to each other, a blank projection screen in the background as well as a table covered in a black cloth. Black Student Experience (BSE), was created to foster pride and promote academic success among the Black student population at UNT. Created in 2011, BSE is a weekend retreat that introduces incoming freshman and transfer students to leaders of the Black student population. This retreat is an opportunity for students to discover their campus involvement interests, become introduced to black faculty, staff, and alumni, and ideally begin or cultivate a path to become a leader themselves. BSE participants leave the retreat with a better knowledge of the UNT resources available to them, a foundation that will prepare them to be successful at UNT and a community of support and family.

Photograph of women at the 2nd Annual BSE event in 2012.

A photograph of Cheylon Brown standing with her husband at their wedding. She is wearing a white dress and he is wearing a white suit with a red rose on the lapel. Lanette McClure is in a blue blazer and is holding their son, who is also dressed in a white suit with a red bowtie. Uyen Tran and Cara Walker are standing on the right and are both wearing black dresses.

A photograph of Chad Gibson, who was injured in the Rainbow Lounge raid, in a neck brace. He is lying in what appears to be a hospital bed and has a bruise on his cheekbone.

A photograph of police gathered around Chad Gibson to detain him while he is on the ground. They are in the hallway of the Rainbow Lounge during a raid that spurred a movement. There is another man standing nearby.

A photograph of people standing together in a small meeting room. They are wearing dress clothing and some have name-tags around their necks.

A photograph of a group of men and boys sitting in chairs that were arranged in a circle. They are in a room with a divider at the far end and a pew and other items stored along the wall.