Students comment on Lavender Graduation

UAA’s Lavender Graduation was established by the pride center in 2017, and is held in the Student Union each year in May. The event celebrates graduating LGBTQ+ students.

Social work student and recent UAA graduate Zalah said that while they weren’t consistently involved with the pride center, they felt the lavender graduation was a good show of support. 

Zalah referenced the political climate and said, “it’s important that queer voices are listened to. It’s good to celebrate; we’re still here, we’re still queer.”

Zalah worked with the Feminist Intersectional Rights Movement firm, which is currently inactive due to a lack of officers. Zalah also worked with the Student Social Work Coalition, which partnered with the pride center to throw Threads of Resilience. 

Jonathan Cuddy, the president of the Student Social Work Coalition and a 2026 graduate, said, “it’s nice to know that we have a place on campus where we can come relax, be ourselves.” 

Cuddy said that he felt comfortable going to the pride center to seek help when in need of support, and that the pride center is a useful resource for students at the university. 

For students who have opposing beliefs in maintaining the pride center, Cuddy posed the question “would you take away a place where you feel comfortable in? This is a place where we feel at home and safe.”