Campus Ceremony Commemorates their Achievements and Contributions to the College Community
Farmingdale State College (FSC) held its first Lavender Graduation on May 2, to honor 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors, their accomplishments, and contributions to the College.
Students attending the ceremony received lavender graduation cords to honor their resilience, boldness, and determination in achieving their academic and personal goals, with support from family, friends, and members of the College community. The five students attending the ceremony and receiving lavender cords were Nancy Guevara, Fasiha Hussain, Jake Iaccino, Esther Joy, and Hannah Kussman.
Iaccino, who serves as President of the Student Government Association and is also long-time member of the PRIDE Club, took the opportunity to thank his parents for their support during his journey, acknowledging his mother in the audience. “Mom, thanks for all your support,” he said. “You are phenomenal.”
Keynote Speaker Dr. Kevin Jordan, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence, said that the Lavender Graduation is a welcome new Farmingdale tradition. “Farmingdale State College is happy to be added to a list of colleges throughout the country that celebrates the accomplishments of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” Jordan said. “We have been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as an institution that includes everyone.”
More than 200 colleges and universities across the country hold Lavender Graduations. They began in 1995 at the University of Michigan, thanks to the Director of the LGBT Campus Resource Center there, who was denied access to her own biological children’s graduation due to her sexual orientation.
“This ceremony is an opportunity to say we see you,” said Dr. Christine Freaney, FSC’s Pride Club advisor. “We recognize your dedication and commitment while navigating the challenges as a LGBTQ+ person.” She added that the idea for Lavender Graduation was brought to the Pride Club by Alicia Cesar, who is also co-chair of the DEI Advisory Council.
The color lavender is significant in 2SLGBTQIA+ history. It is a combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear, and the black triangle lesbians were forced to wear in concentration camps in Nazi Germany.
On May 2, lavender was the color of celebration. “This is so important for the campus,” said Iaccino. “It is an important step in the right direction for Farmingdale’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially giving graduating LGBTQIA+ students an opportunity to shine and be recognized for their contributions to the campus.”
Following graduation, students attended Pride Prom, a new tradition in its second year at FSC.
Enjoy photos from FSC's Lavender Graduation.
