CSULB's Lavender Graduation

On May 10, California State University, Long Beach, will celebrate its second Lavender Graduation - a supplemental graduation ceremony for the campus' lesbian, gay , bisexual and transgender students.

The ceremony has been a national occurrence since 1995, when the first one was held at the University of Michigan. Dr. Ronni Sanlo , now a faculty member at University of California, Los Angeles, was the Lavender Graduation pioneer and creator. The color lavender is a symbolic combination of the pink and black triangles worn by gay men and women in Nazi Germany.

"The LGBT civil rights movement took these symbols of hatred and combined them to make symbols and color of pride and community," Sanlo said.

CSULB is eager to be a part of a national tradition. Organized by only 10 people, the ceremony hopes to double its numbers from last year, going from 30 graduates people to a hopeful 60. This year boasts exciting speakers as well.

“We have just confirmed that city councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga of Long Beach will be one of our speakers at the graduation,” Chun said.

Uranga has been an active supporter of LGBT education and awareness in Long Beach's city council, especially after the Oxnard school shooting in February of a 15 year-old homosexual student. In March, she proposed that the city council work closely with the Long Beach School District to set up programs in schools to promote respect and understanding in public schooling.

Rainbow tassels are available for purchase for graduates.

Redgate Memorial Recovery Center's Youth Program

The Redgate Memorial Recovery Center says a youth recovery housing project is in the works.

John Kirby, a former homeless Methamphetamine addict and Redgate success story, is spearheading the project, saying that his positive HIV status encouraged him to help others facing the same obstacles. Thirteen years ago, Kirby had been homeless himself before he was checked into the Redgate facilities. He says the center turned his life around.

Kirby's plans are to create housing and treatment facilities for gay, lesbian, and transgender youth struggling with substance abuse issues. These facilities would house up to 10 patients - 18 to 25 year-olds dealing with alcohol or drug abuse. Detoxification, psychiatric help, education, employment and life skills programs will also be offered there, Kirby said.

Kirby believes a specialized program is needed at the Redgate Center.

“There are certain segments of the population that need specialized treatment, because they don’t benefit from traditional treatment,” Kirby said.

The developments are in the very early stages because of the approval and permits needed by the city of Long Beach. If all goes well, Behavioral Health Service Inc. will offer the program through two Long Beach sites around the Redgate Memorial Recovery Center. It will cost roughly $600,00 per year to operate.

Diversity Week in depth!

Here is a more detailed look at LGBT Diversity Week to take place next week:

MONDAY, APRIL 14TH

11:00 am - 1:30 pm: Campus Forum on Hate Speech, Hate Crimes, and Far Right Movements

(University Student Union, Beach Auditorium)

Heidi Beirich, Ph.D. (Southern Poverty Law Center), Randy Blazak, Ph.D. (Hate Crimes Research Network), Brian Chase, J.D. (Lambda Legal), Nativo Lopez (Mexican American Political Association), and Kevin O’Grady, Ed.D. (Anti-Defamation League)

TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH

12:30 - 2:00 pm: LGBT, with a Disability: Seeking Understanding in All Worlds (USU, Room 304)

Angela Madsen (California Adaptive Rowing Programs)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH

1:30 - 2:30 pm: Diversity Among Us: LGBT Professors Speak OUT (Multicultural Center)

Gabriel Estrada, Ph.D. (Department of American Indian Studies), Henry F. Fradella, J.D., Ph.D. (Department of Criminal Justice), Griselda Suarez, Ph.D. (Department of Chicana/o & Latina/o Studies), & Bianca Wilson, Ph.D. (Department of Psychology)

3:30 - 4:30 pm: LGB…T?: Employment Legislation on Gender Identity Issues (USU, Room 205)

Diane Houston (Human Rights Campaign), Andrew Oldershaw (Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Young Professionals Council), & Rev. Alexander Yoo, M.A., MFTI (FTM International & GenderQueer Revolution)

THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH

11:00 am - 1:30 pm: Day of Silence Information Table - A Tribute to Lawrence King (Friendship Walk)

1:30 - 2:30 pm: Louder Than Words: A Workshop on Performances of Gender and Privilege (USU, Room 306)

7:00 – 8:00 pm: Lavender Graduation Celebration 2008 Information Meeting (USU, Room 202)

LGBT Diversity Week!

Long Beach State's LGBT Resource Center will host the second Diversity Week in mid-April.

Along with Diversity Week's main focus of providing educational programs in public schooling, the Resource Center's adviser, Kirstyn Chun, says that this year will focus on the concept of "intersecting identities."

Chun says that many LGBT students can also be classified as other minorities, and these combined identities are what define a person and showcase the complexity in an individual's character.

Here is a list of the week's agenda:

Monday, April 14, noon to 1:30 p.m. Campus Forum on Hate Crimes

Tuesday, April 15, 12:30 to 2 p.m. LGBT, with a Disability, Managing Multiple Identities

Wednesday, April 16, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. “LGB …T? The Fight Over ENDA and Reconciling Rifts Between LGB and Transgender Communities

Thursday, April 17, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Day of Silence Information and Resources; and from 2 to 3 p.m. Beyond Day of Silence: How to Make Every Day a Safe Day at School for LGBT Students.

Of course, all members of the community are welcome.