Maplewood, South Orange To Celebrate ‘Lavender’ LGBTQIA Graduates

© Shutterstock The towns will honor LGBTQIA+ and allied graduates from 2020 and 2021. Maplewood was the first NJ district to hold such a ceremony, starting in 2018.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As part of annual June Pride Month Celebrations across South Orange, Maplewood, and Essex County, the Township of Maplewood, along with the Village of South Orange and the South Orange-Maplewood School District, will honor local LGBTQIA+ and allied High School Graduating Seniors from the classes of 2020 and 2021 this year.

They will present SOMA Lavender Graduation 2021 to be held in person and virtually on June 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia High School Auditorium.

Special guests will be announced.

This year’s Lavender Graduation celebration will also include the option for previous 2020 graduates to join with 2021 graduates to be recognized for their achievements, since the event last year was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony held in many schools and communities across the country to honor and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, asexual, intersex and allied students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions in school and community.

Any graduating 2021 high school senior or previous 2020 graduate who lives in South Orange or Maplewood may register to attend. (See frequently asked questions below.)

Registration will close on May 23.

The first SOMA Lavender Graduation was held in 2018 and marked the first known township and public school district celebration in New Jersey. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was originally founded at the University of Michigan in 1995.

‘Visibility matters’

“We want to celebrate and honor the hard work and successes of our LGBTQI+ Youth during Pride Month which honors the history and recognizes the many contributions of LGBTQIA+ persons in our society” said Maplewood Deputy Mayor Dean Dafis.

“Visibility matters,” said Board of Education First Vice President Shannon Cuttle. “Showing LGBTQIA+ youth that their lives matter by creating inclusive welcoming affirming spaces in our schools and communities and honoring and celebrating the experiences of our youth, increases acceptance and lets them know they are not alone.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ youth and families in SOMA and acknowledge their hard work, contributions and success as their authentic selves,” said South Orange Trustee Bob Zuckerman.

The first SOMA Lavender Graduation was held in 2018 and marked the first known township and public school district celebration in New Jersey. The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was originally founded at the University of Michigan in 1995.

Frequently asked questions

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