RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) –Black and gold color the pomp of the usual Virginia Commonwealth University graduation. This year, rainbow colors change circumstance.
For spring graduation, VCU will host its inaugural lavender graduation. With this new ceremony VCU joins the circuit of numerous other colleges that honors the achievements of LGBT students on campus.
A press release from VCU states that lavender graudation ceremonies began in 1995 on the campus of the University of Michigan, and have since expanded to universities around the country.
Other universities and colleges hand out the rainbow cords to accompany academic regalia at graduation, including big names like Princeton, UC Davis, Georgetown, Columbia, UCLA, and University of Texas.
VCU says that close to 40 LGBT students have registered to participate thus far and more than 100 more are expected to attend. The rainbow cords that students receive will be worn at the university’s official commencement activities in May.
Local website gayrva.com detailsthe process of students and administration working to bring the event to campus.
The event will be held on Friday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St. and is presented by the VCU Office of Diversity’s LGBT Subcommittee of the University Equity and Diversity Committee.
