On Wednesday, the LGBT Resource Center will be hosting its annual Lavender Graduation.

From 5-6 p.m. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students, faculty and community members will gather in the Union to acknowledge the LGBT students success through the year.

Tobias Spears, assistant director for LGBT programs has been in the program for three years.

“Lavender graduation began about five years ago,” Spears said. “The purpose is to be more inclusive of LGBT students.”

The name for the ceremony formed from the combination of the colors pink and blue, which makes lavender, Spears said.

“Pink is society’s color for women and blue for men,” Spears said. “The color lavender shows the merging of cultures and how fluid sexuality can be.”

There are many organizations in support of the LGBT Resource Center and Lavender Graduation. VISION is one of them.

According to the University’s website, VISION is an LGBTQ organization that operates as both a friend and partner to those interested in learning about and making progress for the LGBT community. The organization performs as a safe space for fostering conversation about LGBT issues and identities, and promotes safety and a welcoming atmosphere.

Junior Luke Grabski has been president of VISION for the past two years and attended Lavender Graduation last year.

“Lavender Graduation was really great. It was really uplifting to see LGBT students get recognized for graduating and going off to do great things,” he said.

Last year, Grabski volunteered and helped present speaker Vicky Kulicke. This year, Grabski plans to attend the event just for support of the LGBT Resource Center. University senior LaShaunda Brown has attended the event as well.

“It is nice to see the minority groups of BGSU being recognized, too,” Brown said. “We have a Black Graduation for African-Americans and Lavender Graduation for LGBT students. It shows the push for diversity among the BGSU community.”