NJCU Holds 11th Annual Lavender Graduation Ceremony

While graduation is still a month away, the road begins now as family, friends, and faculty gathered at New Jersey City University (NJCU) on Thursday afternoon, April 24, to celebrate the 11^th annual Lavender Graduation Ceremony in honor of its LGBTQ+ students for the Class of 2025. 

Several graduates attended the ceremony: Anna Trachsler (they/them), BA, History and Second Education, Minor: Women & Gender Studies; Jasmine Glaude, BSW, Social Work, BA, Psychology; October Gomes (he/they), BA, Musical Theatre; Jae Garraway (they/them), BA, Music, Minor: Mathematics; Sarah Ruilove, BA, Psychology, Minor: Criminal Justice; Giorgi Kopaliani, BS, Management; and Rubi Cedeno Garcia, MA, Counseling – Clinical Mental Health.  

The ceremony was hosted by the Gothic Knight Ally Safe Zone Program, which included Danielle Bachant (she/they), Director of NJCU’s Counseling Center, and Andrea Squillante-Golden from the Office of the Provost. Opening remarks were given by Erin McCann, Vice President of Student Development & Community Engagement, and Andres Acebo, NJCU Interim President.  

“It is a joy to see you all here to celebrate what we’ve done here for the past 11 years,” said Acebo. “At NJCU, we’ve doubled down on who we are and who we serve. Our Lavender Graduates are radiant and visible. The path to this event has been filled with silence and uncertainty, but your presence here is an act of visibility and that you will not apologize for existing.”  

Following the opening remarks, graduate October Gomes performed their rendition of Chappell Roan’s 2020 single, Pink Pony Club. Gomes hopes to devote their time to making music and building their portfolio for record labels after graduating in May.  

“It’s great for graduate queers to come together and appreciate each other’s existence, because that’s the whole point,” says Gomes. “The world keeps telling us that we shouldn’t be ourselves every day. This affirms that we can exist, we can be happy, and we are human just like everyone else.” 

Also in attendance was former Jersey City poet laureate and NJCU alumnus Rashad Wright, who took part in NJCU’s 2018 Lavender Graduation ceremony. Before reciting his poetry, Wright spoke of his experiences at NJCU, which were marked by his service in the National Guard during a time when the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy was being phased out. 

“While violence wasn’t outright anymore, it was still more passive aggressive and quiet,” said Wright. “Going into the National Guard as someone who is very active in the community, attending protests and having a voice, it would be my job to respond to that same activism that would make my job in the Guard challenging. It felt like being on both sides of the frontlines. I could be at a protest one day and easily be on the other side the next day.”  

Performances during the afternoon also featured a celebratory dance performance by Mason Lee Dance Theatre and a commemorative poem by graduate Rubi Cedeno Garcia.  

After the recognition of the graduates, reflections were shared by two of its members: Sarah Ruilove and Anna Trachsler.  

“I remember being alone as a freshman here, but by chance I ended up meeting two members from NJCU’s Pride Center, which I didn’t even know existed,” said Trachsler. “Even as I begin to take my steps away from NJCU, we did everything we could to protect the queer community on campus. We’re queer, and those who don’t like it are going to have to come to terms with it.”  

The tradition of the Lavender Graduation first began in 1995 at the University of Michigan after Dr. Ronni Sanlo was denied the opportunity to attend her children’s graduation because of her sexual orientation. 

The ceremony, which recognizes the accomplishments of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender non-conforming students, is open to all graduates who identify as LGBTQ+ regardless of their school, college, or degree level and provides a space for students to feel recognized by their university. NJCU celebrated its first Lavender Graduation in 2014.