Highline will be hosting their third annual Lavender Graduation for the school’s queer graduates. This event is meant to uplift our LGBTQIA+ graduates at Highline by celebrating their unique accomplishments and identities. 

The event is happening on June 11, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be located in Building 8 in Mt. Constance/Olympus. 

The event will include dinner, guest speakers, and graduating students will be given a lavender cord to wear during commencement. Lavender graduation has free admission and is open to the public – family and friends are welcome!

You will receive your cord at the event, but if you cannot make it, they will be available at the Q Center during open hours. The lavender cord is for Highline’s Commencement on June 18, in order to be recognized as a queer graduate. There will additionally be space to recognize and uplift these graduates at the event. 

Keynote speaker Deaunte Damper is a queer advocate in the Seattle area that works to bring awareness to HIV as well as LGBT-affirming education. He currently works for King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Converge Media. His work aims to uplift people affected by gun violence and mass incarceration. 

Family and friends are welcome as it is meant to be a positive uplifting experience for graduates and the queer people of our community. This is a collaboration between the Q Center, CCIE, and CLS.

Events like these help inclusion on campus and make people feel welcomed and seen at Highline.