Earlier this year, the Kentucky Legislature passed HB 4 which essentially banned diversity, equity, and inclusion programming at public colleges and universities in the state. This legislation follows the growing trend of anti-DEI sentiments across the country, and the impacts are already being felt in our community.

Reported by Kentucky Students For DEI, the webpages for the University of Kentucky’s Office of LGBTQ* Resources and Martin Luther King Center are both currently “under construction” with none of the online resources are available for students. We are beginning to see more and more diversity initiatives being erased and removed from university material.

At UK, graduations ceremonies celebrating BIPOC, First-Gen, and LGBTQ* students that have been going on for many years, have suddenly been canceled. Lavender Graduation, the Harambe Unity Graduation Celebration, and the First-Generation Student Pinning Ceremony are the latest targets of the larger push against DEI. 

University spokesperson Jay Blanton told the Herald-Leader that UK canceled these events to be “in accordance with state and federal law.” However, HB 4 will not take effect until June 30, so it is unclear why these events were cancelled at the last minute other than UK succumbing to anti-DEI pressure.

The idea of a “Lavender Graduation” was created in 1995 by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish Lesbian, who was rejected from attending her child’s graduation because of her sexuality. The event is now celebrated at universities throughout the country, and recognizes the accomplishments of LGBTQ* graduates.

The students at UK, though, are not letting these cancellations ruin their time of celebration. In the spirit of Dr. Sanlo, the UK Gender-Sexuality Alliance and other volunteers are hosting a Community Commencement honoring BIPOC, First-Gen, and LGBTQ* Excellence.

Poster for Community Commencement 2025

I asked one of the organizers, Jay Stringer-Vaught, why they felt this celebration was important:

There are a number of ways I could answer this! For starters, it’s important to have this because it’s unfair for these students to have their office’s celebrations canceled in the name of “neutrality.” Subtracting an established ceremony quite frankly no one was complaining about in the first place doesn’t add anything to the wellbeing of the university. Students deserve better than that.

What’s wrong with recognizing a student for jumping through those extra hurdles while getting their college degree? How does that harm anyone? Why does saying “hey, we know you’re a pioneer in your family who figured out this college thing all on your own,” bother the Kentucky legislature so badly? 

Furthermore, it was important to us to organize an event for all of the students affected—not just lavender graduation students—because, as we’ve said all along, the LGBTQ community is not in the business of excluding people. That’s what people like Representative Jennifer Decker (I would say “brain behind HB 4” but I’d hate to give her that much credit) is about.

Jay is just one of the six lavender graduates behind this celebration, but they emphasize that they have had incredible support from UK staff, faculty, and student groups (like GSA). However, when talking about UK employees, Jay shared that they would “love to herald them as the heroes they are too but it’s sad that the university had prohibited them from organizing outside events, creating a culture of fear of being outed as a supporter.”

Many community partners have also come together to support the event and remind the graduates that they are worth celebrating. This includes Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church providing the space, Girlsgirlsgirls burritos and Lussi Brown Coffee Bar providing free and reduced catering, West Sixth Brewing offering volunteer support and fundraising efforts, and Councilwoman Emma Curtis working with the city government to see how they can support the event.

When asked about how the community could show their support, Jay encourages us to keep a watchful eye on the university and other local institutions:

As Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” If this is UK showing us who they are, it’s up to us now to make sure they are working for all of the community, not just some. 

Also, just because Eli Capiluto has lost his mind doesn’t mean the entirety of the university has. Lesch Lending Library is a special library protecting LGBTQ and identity centric materials at UK’s LGBTQ* Office and it is free and open to ALL Kentuckians regardless of housing status, documentation, ability, religion, etc.

If you can, go get a card and check out a book. 

While the fight for inclusion continues, times like these show the importance and power of community and mutual support and remind us that Queer Kentuckians aren’t going anywhere.

The 2025 Community Commencement will be held at 6:30pm on Friday, May 2 at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church in Lexington, KY. Graduates are asked to RSVP using this form by April 26. They are also accepting donations to support the event using their Venmo @UKYGSA.

This is not the only celebration students have planned though! Alpha Phi Alpha will be hosting a “Senior Salute” at the historic Lyric Theatre at 7 p.m. on May 7. The event is free and open to the public. Seniors who want to participate can sign up here, and you can learn more about that event from the Herald-Leader.

Poster for Senior Salute 2025