Last week, lavender lit up the Blackburn Lounge Room as we honored 25 remarkable graduates at our lavender graduation. This special event, hosted by the Office of Intercultural Affairs and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, not only celebrated academic achievements but also the resilience, courage, and vibrant spirit of our LGBTQ+ seniors. The event featured a speech by Jay Jones, the president-elect of the Howard University Student Association who will be the first trans woman to sit at the helm of the Bison student body. “The Class of 2024 was the village that ushered in a new era of Howard University, one filled with inclusivity, diversity, acceptance, and the ending of generational traditions that were both harmful and divisive,” she said. A.J. King and JaQuwan Ward, alongside our courageous students, shared powerful stories of intersectionality and the strength found in unity. From moving speeches to heartfelt performances, the evening was a testament to the supportive community we've bui...