A Lavender Ceremony is an annual event conducted on numerous college campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, intersex, questioning, and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to their universities. This is also a celebration of the equality, rights, dignity, and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community and this community's resistance against oppression. The Lavender Ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo at the University of Michigan in 1995.  Today, there are thousands of Lavender Ceremonies at Colleges and Universities nationwide. Graduating students, including Bachelors, Masters, PhD., and those from certificate programs are invited to take part in the celebration. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate in CCNY's next Lavender Ceremony.  If you have any questions, please contact lgbtq@ccny.cuny.edu

A Lavender Ceremony is a cultural celebration that recognizes LGBTQ+ students and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the university. Through such recognition, LGBTQ+ students may leave the university with a positive last experience of the institution thereby encouraging them to become involved mentors for current students, as well as contributing alumni.

Our Lavender Ceremony is an event to which LGBTQ+ students share their hopes and dreams with one another, and are officially recognized by the institution for their leadership and their successes and achievements.

Lavender isn't just an official CCNY school color (go Beavers!), lavender is important to LGBTQ+ history! It is a color combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps and the black triangle designating lesbians as political prisoners in Nazi Germany.  The LGBTQ+ civil rights movement took these symbols of hatred and combined them to make symbols and color of pride and community. 

Yes! Although this is a ceremony focused on LGBTQ+ graduates, we welcome any graduates and alum who are allies to our community and would like to celebrate their accomplishments with fellow graduates and loved ones as their full, authentic selves.

All Lavender Graduates will get a:
- Lavender Certificate
- Lavender graduation cord (that you can also wear at main commencement and other divisional ceremonies)
- Rainbow CCNY graduation tassel (that you can also wear at main commencement and other divisional ceremonies)
- and some more surprises!

Nope! Where whatever makes you feel the best! From ballgowns, to sweatpants, to suits, and costumes!

Yes. This includes various times the day before our Ceremony (5/19) and the day of our Ceremony (5/20). For the 2025-2026 academic year, all volunteers must RSVP with a "Volunteer Ticket" and select availability. Volunteer registration is open until Friday, May 15, 2026 by 11:59PM. All volunteer schedules will be sent out on (5/18)

Yes and there is no limit to how many loved ones you can invite. All CCNY/CUNY and Non-CUNY guests must RSVP with a "Guest Ticket".

No worries! Still RSVP with a "Graduating Student/Alum Ticket" and email lgbtq@ccny.cuny.edu so we can arrange a pick-up!

Only CCNY graduates, staff, faculty, and alum are permitted to participate as a graduate in our Ceremony. You are welcome to attend as a guest. We encourage you to reach out to your college's staff and faculty representatives on the CUNY LGBTQI+ Council to see if your campus has a Lavender Ceremony!

Yes. Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year, students will be able to specify a diploma name that differs from the legal name through a systemwide enhancement on CUNYfirst. A Diploma Name is the name a student wants to appear on their diploma that can be different from their legal name. Students can only change your first and/or middle name or initial for their diploma and not their last name. By default, your legal name in CUNYfirst will be on your diploma. If you want your legal name on on your diploma, you’re all set and do not need to choose a Diploma Name. If you would like to use a chosen first and/or middle name on your diploma, please refer to instructions listed under the "For Students" Section in the "Policies and Name and Gender Changes" page on our website.

Yes. Because the Main Commencement Book is an unofficial document, you can have your chosen name listed. You do not need to provide any legal documentation to request this change.

Students may choose to be recognized by either their preferred name or legal name during the Commencement ceremony, in alignment with CUNY policy. The name you select will be used when your name is read aloud—please provide the phonetic spelling.

Yes.