PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
Lavender Celebration
The Pride Center hosts an annual celebration to acknowledge, honor, and recognize the academic achievements, intersecting identities, resilience, and commitment of California State University San Marcos students as they complete their academic journey in any degree-seeking program. The celebration is an opportunity for students and their support networks to be in community, while acknowledging the journey the student has completed.
Lavender Celebration Information
- When: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 5:00pm-8:00pm
- Where: University Student Union Ballroom
- RSVP Required: Due by Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Please RSVP by completing the
Historical Context of Lavender Celebrations
About Dr. Ronni Sanlo
Dr. Ronni Sanlo is an influential educator, author, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate whose
work has transformed higher education and championed 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. With a background
in counseling and public health, she began her career as an HIV epidemiologist before
moving into academia, where she led 2SLGBTQIA+ resource centers at the University
of Michigan and UCLA. Sanlo developed UCLA’s Master of Education in Student Affairs
program and co-founded the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals.
A prolific writer, she has authored books and the documentary Letter to Anita, drawing on her personal experiences, including losing custody of her children after
coming out as a lesbian. Now retired, Sanlo lives with her wife and continues to inspire
through her legacy in education and advocacy.
The Lavender Celebration
The Lavender Celebration, a ceremony that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions
of graduating students as they finish their college degrees, has a history interwoven
with Dr. Ronni Sanlo’s life.
In reaction to the lack of visibility and recognition for queer students during standard commencement ceremonies, Dr. Sanlo established the inaugural Lavender Celebration in 1995 while she was the Director of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Campus Resource Center at the University of Michigan. Being a lesbian and a teacher who experienced prejudice herself, she recognized the need of establishing welcoming environments where 2SLGBTQIA+ students could celebrate their accomplishments, identities, and sense of belonging.
Why "Lavender"
In 2SLGBTQIA+ history, lavender has a strong and profound meaning as a sign of adversity
and resilience. The color is frequently seen as a combination of two historical emblems
that the Nazi system: a pink triangle and a black triangle. A pink triangle was used
to target and identify gay men in concentration camps, whereas a black triangle targeted
and identified lesbian women and others who broke social norms. The 2SLGBTQIA+ community
has reclaimed these symbols, which were originally used to dehumanize, as symbols
of pride, strength, and survival. 
By fusing these traumatic pasts into a single, cohesive hue, lavender became a representation of strength and unity. It is a celebration of identity and community as well as a reminder of historical injustices. For this reason, lavender flowers, décor, or presents are frequently used in Lavender Celebrations, which are ceremonies held to recognize 2SLGBTQIA+ students during graduation.