As graduation season begins, some Catholic universities are offering so-called “lavender” graduation events for LGBTQ+ students. According to Fox News, at least 20 such Catholic universities are offering LGBTQ+ affirming graduations for students, with some even featuring a drag show. Some of the colleges that either have had or plan to have such events include: Georgetown, Gonzaga, the University of San Francisco, Boston College, College of the Holy Cross, Fordham, Fairfield University, Marquette, Xavier, Seattle University, Saint Louis University, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara University, St. John’s, Albertus Magnus College, St. Mary’s College of California, Regis University, Siena Heights University, St. Thomas University and Our Lady of the Lake University. Seattle University’s graduation will include a performance from “Sativa the Drag Queen.”

The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) criticized the decision by Catholic universities to hold such events. “Although intended as a compassionate gesture to students, the ceremonies reinforce harmful ideologies about sexuality and gender that contradict Catholic teaching,” it said in a statement. “They potentially lead students into sinful activity and undermine a Catholic college’s claim to teach the truths of the Catholic faith. The Church is clear in its teaching that sexual attraction to persons of the same sex is not itself a sin, but such attractions are ‘objectively disordered,’” it added.

CNS encouraged Catholic families to speak out against schools allowing such graduations. “When Catholic colleges allow and endorse activities on campus that either outright reject Church teaching or could lead to confusion, these institutions are not showing concern for students’ souls as part of their educational mission. Catholic families should demand that schools and colleges that profess the Catholic faith avoid scandalous practices that could endanger the eternal salvation of their students.” Pope Leo XIV has continued to remain firm on the church’s ban against blessing same-sex marriages while some liberal priests still hope to push for acceptance in the future.

Students of Georgetown University’s lavender graduation celebrated the event. “It’s meaningful to come together with the people I’ve been with for four years and graduate and celebrate our queer identities and everything we’ve been through and everything we’re going to do,” said Emery Moynihan (SFS ’25), a keynote speaker of the event.  Others, however, criticized the event, with some wondering why LGBTQ+ students are being given their own events. “‘-Catholic-in-name-only universities-holding separate commencement ceremonies to celebrate students[are] gay, bisexual, trans-or queer,[per]-Cardinal Newman Society-a growing trend since-‘Lavender Graduation’-founded in 1995,” wrote one user on X.  “Blasphemous graduations.”