23 graduates and their families attended the small and intimate 2023 Lavender graduation ceremony to represent and celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ students on Friday.
Organizer and LBCC professor Jerome Hunt explained his belief in the need for events that celebrate LGBTQ youth now more than ever. As attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have begun to worsen, so have attempts at legislation that negatively impacts them.
“I am very fortunate and I think we are all very fortunate to be at a college that welcomes our whole identity and makes sure we are celebrated and welcomed and accepted,” said Hunt, an openly gay professor at LBCC.
The P Building courtyard housed round tables decorated with pride flags, black sparkle table ornaments and pride-themed fans that attendees used to block the late afternoon sun.
Marshall Mojica, one of the graduates at the Lavender Graduation, started at LBCC during the pandemic and therefore has not been able to attend many on-campus events.
The Lavender Graduation gave Mojica an opportunity to celebrate his accomplishments early among friends in a much more intimate scene than a traditional commencement ceremony.
“I always wanted to do things that celebrated me as a person,” said Mojica.
“I wasn’t sure that I would get this kind of opportunity when it comes to the actual commencement. I’m trans, so to have an inclusive event like this is really special.”
All graduates were allowed time to give a few words after their names were read, many of them using the chance to proclaim their support for gay and trans rights and gave thanks to the college for hosting the inclusive event.
“Being gay is really important to me. For someone who is too tall for some people, too religious for some people or too Americanized, I really feel like being gay is where my identity is,” said Nico Cervantes, a Student receiving an Architectural Design certificate from LBCC.
Others shared their gratitude for the community they found while attending LBCC.
“Thank you to the college and all the students in general for making college feel like a place where I can let my hair down and be who I am,” said Graduate Gervine Maranan.
According to Hunt, the first Lavender Graduation was held in Michigan in 1995 by Ronni Sanlo, a lesbian who was refused admittance to her children’s graduation ceremony on the basis of her sexual orientation.
This year was only the second year the college has offered a specific graduation ceremony for LGBT students alongside 3 other cultural graduations hosted for students.
The official commencement ceremony for the LBCC class of 2023 will be held on June 8 at 4 p.m. in the Veterans Stadium.
Nico Cervantes, a student receiving an Architectural Design certificate from LBCC, speaks to his fellow graduates about what being gay means to him. The college hosted a ‘Lavender Graduation’ celebration for honor and celebrate LGBTQ graduates. (Veronica Towers) 
Long Beach City College class of 2023 graduate Mara “Mars” Stanford shares her support for bisexual and transgender rights in her brief address to the audience at LBCC’s Lavender Graduation on May 19. (Cain Carbajal) 
Long Beach City College hosts its second-ever Lavender Graduation ceremony. The celebration was hosted to honor and celebrate LGBTQ graduates amid the anti-LGBTQ laws being passes around the country. (Veronica Towers) 
Liliana Martinez waves to the crowd during the Lavender Graduation ceremony at LAC. (Veronica Towers) 
Long Beach City College class of 2023 graduate Nico Cervantes shakes hands with Nohel Corral, vice president of student services at LBCC’s Lavender Graduation. (Cain Carbajal)