Lavender Graduation has since become an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the University. In 1995, Ronni Sanlo, then the Director of the University of Michigan's Spectrum Center, designed the first Lavender Graduation, a commencement event specifically for LGBT students and their allies. Unlike Transgender Day of Remembrance, this is not a day for mourning: this is a day of empowerment and getting the recognition we deserve! Lavender Graduation
It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people around the globe while fighting cissexism and transphobia by spreading knowledge of the trans community. TDOV is a day to show your support for the trans community. (* This trip typically occurs pending funding/financial assistance and location of the conference) International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31st) To date, MBLGTACC is America's largest and oldest continuously-held conference for queer and trans+ college students. It has attracted advocates and thought leaders including Angela Davis, Nyle DiMarco, Robyn Ochs, Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Kate Bornstein, Faisal Alam, and LZ Granderson and entertainers and artists including Jujubee, Margaret Cho, J Mase III, Chely Wright, and Loren Cameron. The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) is an annual conference held to connect, educate, and empower queer and trans+ college students, faculty, and staff around the Midwest and beyond. This is the first time the Spectrum Center has hosted a week around this particular topic, which takes a look at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and attractionality as it relates to health and wellness. The goal is that the events offered will create spaces in which both students and community members can engage and will find meaningful, valuable, and useful to their own lives.
LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Week is a series of events hosted by the Spectrum Center in partnership with various campus and community groups. The Spectrum Center honors the lives of those we lost from AIDS as well as support those living with HIV through events on and around December 1st. World AIDS Day (December 1st)Įvery year, World AIDS Day events take place across the globe to raise awareness and show support for people living with HIV. Transgender Day of Remembrance, held on or around November 20, is a solemn ceremony of remembrance of those whose lives were taken as a result of gender identity and/or gender expression. Events have included teach-ins, art shows, film screenings and brownbags. Trans Awareness Week is a set of events designed to celebrate the lives and contributions of Trans-Identified members of our community. Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20th) See also: National Coming Out Day (October 11th) Trans Awareness Week The Spectrum Center extends coming out events to a week-long celebration. Now, every October 11, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and allies participate in National Coming Out Day events across the country. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The Spectrum Center celebrates these efforts through several events throughout the month of October. LGBTQ History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history, and the history of the gay rights, transgender rights, and related civil rights movements. The Spectrum Center recognizes this important day with an inspiring event. Celebrate Bi/Pan/Fluid Visibility Dayīi/Pan/Fluid Day, observed annually nationwide on September 23, is a day of celebration, awareness, and visibility for the bisexual community. This is the place to connect with other LGBTQ graduate students at U-M as well as learn about the many LGBTQ resources around U-M and Ann Arbor, MI.
A welcome will be offered from the Spectrum Center in collaboration with the Rackham Graduate School. Welcome (or welcome back) to LGBTQ graduate students! Mix and mingle with new and returning students over dinner. Everyone is welcome! LGBT Graduate Student Mixer
Join the Spectrum Center as we host our Welcome Week event: LGBTQ Welcome Festival! Meet the faculty & staff on the University of Michigan OUTlist and enjoy free food and activities while getting to know your queer community on campus.
To see the full list of currently scheduled Spectrum Center events and details, check out our Happening Michigan calendar. Below is a list of various annual events and celebration programs that are coordinated by the Spectrum Center.