SB 17 was put into effect on Jan. 1, forcing all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices to close at Texas universities and colleges. Through the DEI offices, the Multicultural Engagement Center hosted cultural graduations. Cultural graduations are “campus-wide events that honor all students’ achievements and academic excellence while incorporating traditions and practices that uplift our communities.” There are three ceremonies comprising cultural graduation including Lavender Graduation, Latinx Graduation and Black Graduation. However, because of the state-wide ban of DEI offices, universities have renounced their support for cultural graduations and can no longer adhere to the ceremonies.
With spring graduation approaching, students have been questioning the future of cultural graduations and whether the ceremonies will take place. One ceremony will be held, Lavender Graduation, co-hosted by UTSA’s student-led organization, Womxn in Leadership (W.I.L.) and Prism. W.I.L. states they are “focused on building a community among students where we can support each other in sharing our experiences, creating friendships, and building leadership skills that will help each one of us thrive on and off campus.” PRISM is an LGBTQ+ focused social group. The Womxn in Leadership President, Sarah Skinner, has provided information about the upcoming event.
“Lavender Graduation is a ceremony to honor LGBTQ+ graduates,” Skinner said. “We have seen a wave of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric, legislation and violence over the past few years in this country, particularly in states like Florida and Texas. So it’s important for us to come together, support each other and recognize the hard work and accomplishments of people in our community. When our state government is seemingly working to erase queer people from public life, it’s important to make each other feel seen and appreciated.”
Managing this event are PRISM Co-Chairs Sarah Skinner along with two others. “It’s been challenging to get this event together,” Skinner said. “This year, we decided the ceremony will be hosted by the three of us rather than Dean of Students LT Robinson, and we hope it will more accurately reflect the attitudes, community and values of the student population.” Despite the challenges of getting the event together, the event planning crew is “proud to do this work and determined to make this event happen.”
The organization is an intersectional feminist organization that welcomes anyone regardless of gender identity. They were inspired to host this ceremony due to the large number of past and present officers who have identified as members of the LGBTQ+ community. “In the years I’ve been a part of W.I.L., a significant proportion of its officers have been queer, and topics of queer identity and acceptance are common in our meetings,” Skinner said. “W.I.L. is a queer organization and we have a responsibility to support the queer community here at UTSA.”
Lavender Graduation registration is open and welcome to any LGBTQ+ graduate at UTSA. “You are not required to disclose your sexuality or gender identity on our registration form, though we do ask for students’ pronouns to avoid misgendering graduates at the ceremony,” Skinner said. “To learn more, register for the ceremony or nominate someone for our Lavender Leadership Award, please check out the pinned post on our Insta @wilutsa or search the event on RowdyLink.”
Lavender Graduation will be hosted on Thursday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the H-E-B Student Union 1.100B – Ballroom Galleria.
