In 2009, a year after the opening of Georgetown’s LGBTQ Resource Center, the University held its first Lavender Graduation, a now annual celebration in the Healey Family Student Center, to honor graduating members and allies of the LGBTQ community. Lavender Graduation is held before the academic commencement ceremony in order to allow undergraduate students to participate.1 In 2009, the ceremony celebrated 30 students. Ten years later, 140 graduating members and allies of the LGBTQ community were honored at the 2019 Lavender Graduation. Many Georgetown administrators and faculty attend in support of the students, including President John DeGioia. 2
Through the years, keynote speakers have included the following:
2009:
David Catania
D.C. Councilmember
2010:
Kara Swisher (SFS ’84)
Journalist, Wall Street Journal
2011:
Rep. David Cicilline (L ’86)
Congressman (D-R.I.)
2012:
Melissa L. Bradley (MSB ’89)
CEO, Tides
2013:
Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D. (C ’83)
President, Franklin & Marshall
2014:
Susan Davis
Cofounder, BRAC USA and Author
2015:
Hon. Mark Dybul (C ’85, M ’92, H ’08)
Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
2016:
Dinaw Mengestu (C ’00)
Novelist and Writer3
2017:
Fr. Michael A. Zampelli, S.J. (C ’82)
Associate Professor of Theatre, Fordham University4
2018:
Hon. Pamela K. Chen (L’86)
Federal District Judge, U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York5
2019:
Joshua Guzmán (SFS ’10)
Assistant Professor of Gender Studies, University of California, Los Angeles6
2020:
Pramila Jayapal (C '86)
Congresswoman (WA-7)
- 1Zhao, Ahsley. “Annual Ceremony Recognizes LGBTQ Students and Allies. The Hoya. 26 April 2019.
- 2Pagni, Caitriona. “Life Beyond the Rainbow: LGBTQ at Georgetown.” The Georgetown Voice. 19 Sept. 2013.
- 3Trepany, Charles. “Lavender Graduation Honors LGBTQ Community, Allies.” The Hoya. 29 April 2016.
- 4Santucci, Jeanine. “LGBTQ, Ally Community Celebrate Lavender Graduation.” The Hoya. 28 April 2017.
- 5Morar, Meena. “LGBTQ Community Honored At Lavender Graduation.” The Hoya. 18 May 2018.
- 6Zhao, Ashley. “Annual Ceremony Recognizes LGBTQ Students and Allies.” The Hoya. 26 April 2019.
