Annual Events and Celebrations

Below is a list of various annual events and celebration programs that are coordinated by the Spectrum Center

Celebrate Bisexuality Day

Celebrate Bisexuality Day, observed annually nationwide on September 23, is a day of celebration, awareness, and visibility for the bisexual community. The Spectrum Center recognizes this important day with an inspiring event.

On Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Now, every October 11, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and allies participate in National Coming Out Day events across the country. The Spectrum Center extends coming out events to a week-long celebration, which includes a rally (typically held in the DIAG), among other inspiring events.

See also: National Coming Out Day

Lavender Graduation

In 1995, Ronni Sanlo, then the Director of the University of Michigan's Spectrum Center, designed the first Lavender Graduation, a commencement event specifically for LGBT students and their allies. Lavender Graduation has since become an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the University. Graduating students, including undergraduates, graduates, and professional students, are invited to take part in Lavender Graduation, which occurs each year in conjunction with university-wide commencement events.

Pride Week

During the winter semester, student groups work collaboratively to plan events for Pride Week. The Spectrum Center helps to coordinate events, which are developed and implemented by numerous LGBT-related campus groups. Pride Week is a unique programming effort in that it is intended to foster connections across academic class standing, departmental affiliations, and multiple identities. Thus, the result of Pride Week is the potential for authentic visibility for all aspects of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.

TransAwareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance

TransAwareness Week is a set of events designed to celebrate the lives and contributions of Trans-Identified members of our community. Events have included teach-ins, art shows, film screenings and brownbags. Transgender Day of Remembrance, held on or around November 20, is a solemn ceremony of remembrance of those whose lives were taken as a result of gender identity and/or gender expression.