20 Catholic-Affiliated Colleges to Hold Optional Lavender Graduation Ceremonies for LGBTQ+ Students

At least 20 colleges or universities associated with the Catholic Church have held or plan to hold separate "lavender graduation" ceremonies this spring. The events take place apart from the main commencement ceremony and are intended to honor and celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ+ graduates, according to a Fox News Digital review of university websites and social media posts.

Georgetown, Gonzaga, the University of San Francisco, Boston College, College of the Holy Cross, Fordham, Fairfield University, Marquette, Xavier, Seattle University, Saint Louis University, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara University, St.

John's, Albertus Magnus College, St. Mary's College of California, Regis University, Siena Heights University, St. Thomas University and Our Lady of the Lake University are among the schools staging the ceremonies.

Fox News reported that the term "lavender" has been used for decades to describe LGBTQ+ affiliations but has also carried a loaded meaning in Catholic circles. Seattle University's Lavender Celebration will include a special performance from Sativa the Drag Queen. Sativa the Drag Queen is headlining an event called DICK'S DELUXE DRAG EXTRAVAGANZA later this month.

The University of San Francisco plans to hold a Queer Prom directly after its Lavender Commencement. Other schools plan to give special honors, host various keynote speakers and provide students with unique cords or stoles they can wear with their cap and gown. Some events included food, drinks and other activities as well.

Several of the same Catholic universities hosting lavender graduation events also advertise separate cultural or identity-based commencement celebrations for non-White students, according to university event pages. The Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic education advocacy group focused on ensuring Catholic schools uphold traditional church teachings, first highlighted several of the lavender ceremonies taking place this year.

The society argues that the events promote an ideology at odds with the church's teaching.

"Although intended as a compassionate gesture to students, the ceremonies reinforce harmful ideologies about sexuality and gender that contradict Catholic teaching," the Cardinal Newman Society said in a news release about the graduation ceremonies.

'" Fox News reported that the ceremonies have drawn criticism from the watchdog group for conflicting with traditional Catholic doctrine on sexuality and gender.