RAINBOW GRADUATION 2008
Many thanks to the LGBTQ Mentoring Program and LGBTQ Programming Office for hosting a marvelous BBQ, to 5710 and its advocates for providing such a unique and welcoming space, and to all our graduates and current students for all your energy and support!
Opening Speech
Q&A has been thinking about doing a Rainbow Graduation for a while, and this seemed like the perfect year to begin a new tradition. This has been a phenomenal year to be queer on this campus. We saw the culmination of years of collaboration to bring about this incredible space that is being shared by queer students, student of color, those who are members of both communities, as well as our allies. We also planned and executed PRIDE Weeks this April, saw the Gender Neutral Housing campaign reach its final stages, and raised awareness around some difficult yet pressing issues for the queer community. All this has been a long time coming, and it's is about time we celebrated. At Q&A, we realized that some of the individuals who were most influential in many of these larger successes--but also who were influential on a more personal level--were graduating and moving on to the next chapter of their lives. These are people who made this campus a safe, fun, and queer place for many of us, and it is important that we commemorate what they have done for the LGBTQ community on this campus--as queer allies and advocates, but also as personal friends and supporters. We are honored to recognize individuals who are activists, academics, athletes, musicians, leaders, debaters, fairytale drag queens, and some who are all of the above.
Antonia Clifford
Q&A President
The 2008 Rainbow Graduates!
The graduates, Take 2
Bill Michel addresses the crowd as Kathy Forde looks on.
Antonia addresses the graduates.
The graduates received a rainbow tassel and a booklet full of notes from University students, faculty, and staff.
"Wow, what great gifts! Thank you Q&A!"
Bill Michel's comments kept everyone interested.
Many students showed up to support their graduating peers.
Two graduating graduate students show off their smiles.
Bill Michel, Antonia Clifford, and Kathy Forde pretend to discuss something important.
The food was excellent, as was the conversation.
Two Mentors congratulate a graduating senior.
Faculty, Students, and Staff were all present at the BBQ.
Undergraduates relax on the Community Lounge couches.
The new 5710 Community Lounge was the perfect venue for the LGBTQ BBQ and Rainbow Graduation.
Congratulations to our graduates and we'll see you all next year!
