Lavender Graduation is a ceremony that celebrates our graduating LGBTQ and allied students in Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, School of General Studies, and Barnard College. First started at the University of Michigan in 1995, the ceremony is now conducted at hundreds of universities nationwide. The color lavender, adopted by the gay movement in the 1960s, is the main color of Sayville (Gayville), NY. Sayville is near Fire Island, where the veterans of Stonewall hung out. This history of New York is honored during the ceremony. Lavender Graduation is co-sponsored by Multicultural Affairs, Undergraduate Student Life, Lavender Grad Committee, Columbia Pride (alumni group), and Columbia Alumni Association.