Lavender Graduation Utah: Honoring LGBTQ+ Graduates
With just days remaining before one of Utah’s most affirming academic celebrations, organizers are making a final call for graduates, volunteers, and community members to take part in this year’s Lavender Graduation.
Set for Thursday, April 23, the ceremony will take place at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, where more than 50 LGBTQ+ graduates are expected to be honored in a celebration of not simply academic achievement but also identity, resilience, and community.
Hosted by Project Rainbow Utah, Lavender Graduation offers something many queer and trans students have historically been denied: a commencement experience where they can show up fully as themselves. Organizers emphasize that this is not a symbolic gathering, but a complete graduation ceremony — caps and gowns, a formal processional, individual recognition for each graduate, and a celebratory reception to follow.
“This is a space where chosen names are spoken proudly, pronouns are respected, and partners, families, and friends can celebrate openly,” organizers shared in a statement. “It’s about honoring the full journey of LGBTQ+ students.”
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with the ceremony beginning promptly at 5 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as a large turnout is expected. In addition to speakers and live elements, graduates and their families will have access to free professional photography—an intentional offering meant to preserve a milestone that, for some, may not feel fully recognized elsewhere.
The event remains open to the public, welcoming not only graduates and their families, both biological and chosen, but also friends, allies, and members of the broader community who want to show support.
Final deadlines are quickly approaching. Graduating students must register by April 20, while organizers are also seeking at least 10 additional volunteers to assist with day-of logistics. Both sign-ups close the same day.
Lavender Graduation has become an increasingly widespread tradition across the country, based on the belief that visibility and affirmation matter—especially in moments as formative as graduation. In Utah, where LGBTQ+ students continue to navigate complex social and political landscapes, the ceremony serves as both a celebration and a statement.
Graduates are encouraged to sign up at bit.ly/LavGraduate
Volunters can register at bit.ly/PRULavGradVolunteer
