For the third straight year, there is an additional graduation ceremony at Western Michigan University. This one for LGBT students.
The Lavender Graduation is being held Thursday at the Bernhard Center it begins at 6:00. Tara Gish works in Online Education at Western. She is also on the planning committee for the Lavender Graduation ceremony. As a member of the LGBT community herself, Gish says it's important to be visible and raise awareness. She says while it's ultimately up to the students, they're encouraged to attend Lavender Graduation in addition to the university's commencement in early May.
Gish says more students are participating in the ceremony, she says there has been support from across campus, including financial contributions from all of the colleges at Western. Gish says the Supreme Court case involving same-sex marriage, and controversy over "religious freedom" laws has created many opportunities for discussion among LGBT students on campus.
Thursday's ceremony will also include awards for leadership for leadership on LGBT issues. Gish says the awards and graduation ceremony recognize that the valuable contributions of LGBT students at the university.
