Sabbath School Class Hosts Lavender Graduation to Honor LGBTQ+ Graduates

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long been known for its diverse communities and inclusive practices, with some congregations actively affirming and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals. One such example is La Sierra University Church’s Kinship Sabbath School, which has become a beacon of affirmation for LGBTQ+ members within the denomination.

On June 5, the Kinship Sabbath School hosted its sixth annual Lavender Graduation, transforming Sierra Vista Chapel in Riverside, California, into a space of celebration and solidarity. The event honored seven LGBTQ+ graduates from La Sierra University and other Southern California institutions, with one graduate recognized in absentia. The ceremony featured rainbow decorations, but its significance lay in the heartfelt acknowledgment of the graduates’ achievements and the community’s commitment to their well-being.

Lavender Graduations originated in 1995 at the University of Michigan, initiated by Ronni Sanlo, a woman who lost custody of her children after coming out as a lesbian. Frustrated by the lack of affirming environments for LGBTQ+ graduates, Sanlo created the first Lavender Graduation to provide a supportive and celebratory space. This tradition has since inspired similar events across the country, including at La Sierra University.

La Sierra University’s Kinship Sabbath School, founded nearly a decade ago by Gabriel and Chase Uribe, has played a pivotal role in fostering a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ members and allies. The couple, both licensed clinical social workers, established the weekly gathering to study and worship together on Sabbaths. Their efforts have been instrumental in organizing the Lavender Graduation since 2020, with Chase hosting the event this year after Gabriel’s deployment with the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The event’s welcome was delivered by Lamont Damon, a marriage and family therapist and LSU graduate, who has taken on leadership of the Kinship Sabbath School. His presence underscored the community’s dedication to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals through both spiritual and practical means. The Lavender Graduation serves as a testament to the Adventist Church’s capacity for compassion and inclusion, even within a denomination often associated with traditional views.

This celebration reflects a broader trend within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where some congregations and institutions are actively working to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals. These efforts align with the church’s teachings on love, care, and the value of every person, as seen in Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humble service. The Lavender Graduation exemplifies how these principles can be lived out in tangible ways, offering hope and affirmation to those who may feel marginalized.

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