Illinois State University is set to hold segregated, identity-based graduation ceremonies for the class of 2023.
The ceremonies will be hosted by registered student organizations in collaboration with the school’s Multicultural Center over the course of a month.
According to the school, these ceremonies provide “opportunities for our underrepresented students to celebrate their successes and graduation in a unique way.”
The first of these, called the “Lavender Graduation,” is scheduled to occur on April 22, and according to a press release, will honor “LGBTQIA+ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and ace-identified graduates.”
The following week, the school plans to hold a “Nuestros Logros” ceremony, which will recognize “Latino/a/x graduates.”
Following this is the “MAPS” ceremony which will take place on May 6 and include “Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian graduates.”
The final ceremony, the “Umoja: Black Graduation Celebration,” will honor students “of African descent and from the African diaspora” on May 11.
More here.