Lavender Graduation 2022
Lavender Graduation is one of many of the Cultural Graduations Whittier College holds. It took a lot of thought before I officially signed up to a full fledged member on the committee and I am so glad that I signed on for this position. Being on the Lavender Graduation Committee for the 2022 graduation year was my first major event coordination to be a part of. As a committee we began meeting in the middle of the Fall 2021 semester. For this year my main role was to be the program coordinator but when I could I helped with budgeting and advertising the event. Putting together this event was a long and sometimes grueling process but in the end it was worth it. We managed to put on a event worth being proud of. With the help of all the committee members we were able to curate an event the perfectly highlight this year’s graduates time at Whittier College.
Given the many ups and down this year’s graduates had to endure during the time of attending college over a screen we as a committee wanted to curate a theme that gave a big “Thank You” and “Congratulations” for all their efforts. The theme for this graduation was “Proud of You.” 2022 graduates were the first to have a proper in person graduation again so we wanted to put on an event the showed personal and collective pride that perfectly summarized the many achievements made while attending school during a pandemic. We also wanted to highlight that given the LGBTQIA+ community is marginalized they may not have the opportunity to hear that someone is proud of them, which is why the title “Proud of You” was so important to us committee members.
Transgender, Other-Identified, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Allies for Diversity
Transgender, Other-Identified, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Allies for Diversity is a Whittier College club on campus that serves as a support system for students and involves them in crucial political issues affecting the bisexual, transgender, gay, lesbian, and queer community. The organization’s focus is to end discrimination through educating the Whittier College community. I joined the club during my junior years and in the my Senior year I was promoted to being the Co-President. During my junior year there was unfortunately only one officer managing the whole club so meetings were sporadic so when the other Co-President and I took over we wanted to make more clear and consistent meetings.
My Co and I met up often to formulate ideas for events and major themes for meetings. As stated this organization serves to educate the campus community so our meetings discussed Romantic vs Sexual Attraction, Cross-Orientations, Different Sexualities like Asexuality or Aromantic, Polyamory, Addressing Transphobia and Homophobia, and many, many more! The club itself was also not limited to just standard meetings, we had the opportunity to host various events like out National Coming Out Day Celebration and The Transgender Remembrance Day Vigil.
Diversity Council
National Coming Out Day Celebration!
This even was held on October 11, 2022. October 11 is recognized at National Coming Out Day. Under my work in the TOBGLAD Club this event was organized to celebrate queerness. We wanted to give fellow students a day to celebrate themselves and acknowledge their strength if they have come out or if they are still in the closest waiting to come out. Coming out was not a requirement of course but we wanted to give fellow students, staff, and faculty to celebrate themselves and their peers. This was also a time for allies to come and show their solidarity. With this event we also wanted to show students the many resources on campus, it gave TOBGLAD a chance to get recognition for the club itself but the event was organized to also be hosted by the campus’ Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Gender Equity Center.
