Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on university and college campuses to honor queer and trans students to acknowledge their achievements and contributions as they graduate their degrees. The Lavender Graduation Ceremony was created 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.
For the third year running, the Queer & Trans Graduate Student Group, with support from the Centre for Human Rights Research will host Lavender Graduation Ceremony for all Manitoba post-secondary graduates. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The location of the ceremony and further details about the schedule will follow.
Any post secondary student from any post secondary institution in Manitoba (at any level, including undergraduate and graduate students) who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ who have graduated in the Fall 2025/Spring 2026, or will be graduating in Summer 2026/Fall 2026 are welcome to be a graduate this ceremony. As this is not a formal, institutional graduation ceremony, no parchments will be given. The ceremony is symbolic in nature. For those who are unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be live streamed. Students are also welcome to graduate in absentia.
Eligible institutions include:
- University of Manitoba
- University of Winnipeg
- Red River College
- Brandon University
- Université de Saint-Boniface
- University College of the North
- Booth University College
- Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
- Canadian Mennonite University
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail Mikayla Hunter (she/they) with the Queer and Trans Graduate Student Group at hunterm7@myumanitoba.ca
