Lavender Graduation Ceremony
El Camino recently celebrated its first-ever Lavender Graduation, a ceremony that honored lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students and acknowledged their achievements and contributions to the college. Sponsored by the LGBTQIA+ Pride Center and Student Equity and Achievement, the event recognized students who plan to transfer to a university or have completed a certificate or degree. Graduates also received an LGBTQIA+ sash and rainbow tassel to be worn at El Camino’s commencement ceremony on June 7. Created in 1995 at the University of Michigan by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation, the Lavender Graduation Ceremony has become an annual event conducted on numerous campuses nationwide.