Dear friend,

Did you know that nearly 500,000 LGBTQ+ students are graduating this year?

That’s right! Almost half a million high school and college graduates from our community will be recognized for their educational accomplishments. Given the health crisis, schools have had to cancel or postpone ceremonies — so we’re throwing our own! LGBTQ+ students have worked incredibly hard for this moment and they deserve to celebrate and reflect on their achievements.

The Human Rights Campaign and GLSEN, an organization devoted to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 education, are partnering to host a virtual graduation ceremony that will honor the hard work and dedication of these students. Our good friends at PFLAG will be there rallying parents and other family members to cheer on grads, too.

Register to attend today! Whether a grad yourself, a proud loved one or someone who wants to cheer on our students — all are welcome! Sign up today.

Our event will include many traditional elements of a graduation ceremony, including:

✓ A welcome from HRC and GLSEN senior leadership.
✓ A commencement address from a soon-to-be-announced special guest!
✓ Valedictorians for exceptional, dynamic students.
✓ Music and a performance from HRC Youth Ambassador Nhandi, also known as dj young 1.

Now more than ever, we all need to feel a sense of connection. What better way to do that than to come together as a community and uplift our LGBTQ+ youth when they need it most?

RSVPs are now open — will you join us?

As colleges and schools shut down their in-person operations, far too many students are at increased risk of returning to homes that may not welcome them as they are — forcing them back into the closet, out of their homes or into situations where they are made to be uncomfortable living as their authentic selves. That’s not okay.

With this ceremony, we hope to send our students a message: we are proud of you as you are and we have your backs through this pandemic and beyond it.

This will also highlight our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program, the only national project that partners with HBCUs on establishing an LGBTQ+ inclusive campus climate and leadership convening. A student from our program will be speaking, as well.

So, to all those students looking for a community and a celebration … grab your caps and gowns and we’ll see you virtually on May 8 for this wonderful celebration of your hard work.

Register for this virtual graduation ceremony today and congratulations to all our incredible graduates. We are so proud of you!

Sincerely,

P.S. If you aren’t a graduate or their loved one but would like to stream and show your support, you can sign-up here.