LGBTQI+ SOMA Students Celebrated In Lavender Graduation

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The SOMA Action LGBTQ Committee, Columbia High School Spectrum Club and the Township of Maplewood will be hosting the first Lavender Graduation celebration to be held June 18 at 7:30 p.m. during the Maplewood Township Committee Meeting.

Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted in many schools and communities to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions in school and community.

"We want to celebrate and honor the hard work and successes of our LGBTQI+ Youth during Pride Month which honors the history and recognizes the many contributions of LGBTQI+ persons in our society," Township of Maplewood Committee Member Dean Dafis said.

Graduating high school seniors and their families to participate are all invited to participate.

"Visibility matters. Showing LGBTQI+ youth that their lives matter by creating inclusive welcoming affirming spaces in our schools and communities and honoring the experiences of youth, increases acceptance and lets them know they are not alone." South Orange-Maplewood School District Board of Education Member Shannon Cuttle said.

What happens at a Lavender Graduation?

LGBTQI+ and allied high school senior students that register to be acknowledged for Lavender Graduation will receive a certificate and either rainbow honor cords or a rainbow tassel. This special event will take place during the June 18 Maplewood Township Committee Meeting starting at 7:30 p.m.

What are requirements to apply for Lavender Graduation?

Must be a current Maplewood or South Orange resident who is a 2019 graduating high school senior that identifies as LGBTQI+ or allied.

How can a SOMA high school graduating senior register to attend?

Those interested can register here.

Registration will close on June 2. Space is limited and Dafis noted an email will go out to all registrants with further details once registration is complete. For further inquiries, please contact Committee Member Dean Dafis directly at DDafis@twp.maplewood.nj.us.

"We look forward to celebrating our graduates," Dafis said.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.