Photograph of three graduates with their certificates of recognition. The image shows three graduates, the one in the middle whith a cap on. They all wear their green graduation robes and purple rainbow-striped stoles. The two on the side hold framed certificates titled "Certificate of Recognition." 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 a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photographs of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

Photograph of a graduate from the Spring 2018 Lavender Graduation.

A photograph of the graduation screen from the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The photo shows a projected screen with a white background with the words "Lavender Graduation" on it in a lavender color. Under it is a lavender banner with the date "April 28, 2018" on it. Under that is the time and location of the event, and all of this is encircled by an image of lavender plants arranged in a circle. 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 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.

A logo for APAEC9 What Drives You, held by UNT Special Collections. The banner background is dark blue with an orange circle in the bottom left corner then echoing out into orange lines that fade out the closer it gets to the right side. On the right side of the banner are the words "What Drives You?" in dark blue and over the right side are the big letters "APAEC9" in white, with "Asian Pacific American Empowerment Conference" under it in small white letters, and under that the words "What Drives You" in big white letters.

Photograph of the audience from presentations at the Multicultural Center 20th Anniversary celebration.

Photograph of the audience from the presentation standing at the Multicultural Center 20th Anniversary celebration, held by UNT Special Collections. The first image shows rows of tables/chairs in a big classroom with the people in the rows standing up. Image 2, closeup of members of the audience that are standing up. Image 3, closeup of a row of men in the audience standing up straight.

Photograph of the Corner Street to Wall Street presentation from the Multicultural Center 20th Anniversary celebration, held by UNT Special Collections. The first image shows a room filled with people in chairs watching a man in a suit giving a presentation in front a projector screen with a black and white image of people and the title Corner Street to Wall Street" in the top left corner. Image 2, man giving presentation with both hands pointing in the air and other audience members raising their hands. Image 3, photo focused on raised hand in the audience with the presenter seen blurry in the background. Image 4, focused on a partially seen audience watching the presenter standing by a desk.

Photograph of a crowd at the Multicultural Center 20th Anniversary celebration, held by UNT Special Collections. The photo shows a crowd of diverse people inside a room with white walls. In the middle of the photo, in the back corner of the room is a big, orange sign titled "The Role of the College Union."

Photograph of crowd mingling at the Multicultural Center 20th Anniversary, held by UNT Special Collections. Standing around a round table are three woman and one man, with plates of fruit and drinks in front of them. Behind the group, other people can be seen mingling in a room with white walls and five windows, the sun shining brightly through.

Photograph of cupcakes from the 2018 Lavender Graduation, held by UNT Special Collections. The cupcakes lay on a tray, and there are two types: vanilla with white frosting and chocolate with chocolate frosting. Each of them have a round piece of chocolate on top with a green eagle symbol. 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.