The LGBTQA Faculty, Staff and Students Association at Cal State San Bernardino will celebrate the annual Lavender Graduation on Sunday, May 20 from 10 a.m.-noon, in the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center.

The ceremony will honor graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students. CSUSB President Tomas D. Morales will give the welcoming remarks for the celebration that features keynote speakers: Eric Mooney, director of curriculum and instruction for Placentia-Yorba Linda School District, and Robert Armenta, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino counties. Each graduate will be given a complimentary sash and brunch for up to three guests.

For more information, contact Janet Honn-Alex, coordinator of the Queer and Transgender Resource Center and the Women’s Resource  Center, at (909) 537-7715.

Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to their university.

The Lavender Graduation ceremony was created by Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian, who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation. The first Lavender Graduation began at the University of Michigan in 1995 with three graduates. By 2001, there were more than 45 Lavender Graduation ceremonies at colleges and universities nationwide.

Visit the LGBTQA Faculty, Staff and Students Association website to learn more.

For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit inside.csusb.edu.