A photograph of graduating students seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's La Raza ceremony. They are wearing graduation regalia.

A photograph of graduating students seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's La Raza ceremony. They are wearing graduation regalia and the stage is partially visible ahead of them.

A photograph of graduating students seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's La Raza ceremony. They are wearing graduation regalia.

A photograph of graduating students seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's People of Nia ceremony. They are wearing graduation regalia.

A photograph of graduating students seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's People of Nia ceremony. They are wearing graduation regalia.

A photograph of the backs of two graduating students who are seated during the UNT Multicultural Center's People of Nia ceremony. They are wearing their graduation regalia and the stage is visible past them.

Photograph of five young girl dancers at a carnaval on UNT campus, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows five young girls, all of them in black tops and flowy skirts. They stand one in front of the other in front of a stage outside, one hand of each of them holding the side of their skirts. The one at the front has a yellow skirt, the two behind her pink skirt, an the last two have orange skirts. All of their hair is done up in the same way, and a small crowd of people is seen behind them watching them dance.

Photograph of four young girl dancers at a carnaval on UNT campus, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows four young girls, all of them in black tops and flowy skirts. They are in formation with one in front of the other three, all their hands slightly lifting up their skirts. The one in the front has a pink skirt, and the others orange skirts. A stage can be seen behind them.

Photograph of young girl dancers at a carnaval on UNT campus, held by UNT Special Collections. The image shows three young girls, all of them in black tops and flowy skirts. They stand one in front of the other, one hand holding the side of their skirts. The one at the front has a green skirt, and the other two red. Their hair is done up in braided buns and they wear hoop earrings. Their clothing is traditional in Latino culture.

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 …

Photograph of a woman on campus. The young woman has dark brown hair that is straightened, and wears a black blazer with a short pearl necklace around her neck. She stands in front of a small waterfall that is located on the UNT campus by Willis Library.

A photograph of people seated at a table after the Multicultural Graduation Ceremony. Two are recent graduates and are wearing full regalia and the Kente stoles from the Multicultural Center. The third is their guest and they each have food and drinks on the table in front of them.

A photograph of people in a buffet line after the Multicultural Graduation Ceremony. There are trays of heated food, platters of fruit, and Christmas themed decorations on the tables.

A photograph of people in a buffet line after the Multicultural Graduation Ceremony. There are trays of heated food, platters of fruit, and Christmas themed decorations on the tables.

A photograph of a graduate sitting with her family in one of the UNT ballrooms after the Multicultural Graduation Ceremony. She is wearing her regalia and her special stole for the event. A different guest is walking behind them.