Citrus’ Pride Center hosted its second annual Lavender Celebration for faculty, staff and students Monday afternoon in the Campus Center.
Pride Center coordinator Anastasia Sky created a safe space for the Citrus community to celebrate the achievements of graduating students.
She transformed the Campus Center east wing into a rainbow wonderland filled with colorful flags, food and featured a photo booth with the school mascot, Hootie the owl.
Citrus jazz students greeted the guests with their tunes while people checked in and became comfortable in their seats.
Sky shared the limelight with Citrus’ Superintendent/President Greg Schulz and her assistant coordinator, Alexander Ainsworth.
Schulz shared some kind words to the Citrus’ queer community and allies who came to the celebration and ended off with a sentimental quote.
“We see you, We hear you, we hear you, and we’re proud of you,” Schulz said. “I know some of you are graduating, but I wanted you all to know you’re always welcome home.”
Sky then opened up the celebration by commemorating past progress made by the community and historical figures in the past.
“The color lavender is a symbol of resistance and empowerment but it also means hope,” she said.
She explained the history behind the meaningful color by giving credit to the person, Carl Sandburg, writer and activist who coined the phrase, “streak of lavender, and spots soft as May violets,” to criticize U. S. President Eisenhower’s early male relationships mid-20th century.
Since then queer activists reclaimed the color lavender and started wearing lavender arm bands and sashes to symbolize empowerment and to commemorate the Stonewall riots that happened the year before the “lavender scare.”
Sky directed the floor to the Pride Center assistant coordinator, Ainsworth who was especially celebrated for their cultural impact.
“Alexander was the first to be hired as my assistant and has set the bar pretty high for future employees,” Sky said. “He has attended over 20 pride center events and he even created a workshop: Combatting Transphobia.”
Ainsworth then gave a sentimental speech thanking his family, especially his father for always fostering a relationship with him through these “hard times.”
At this point, tears were streaming on Ainsworth and many others as he shared his appreciation for the Citrus community.
After, Sky kick started the celebration and called up the graduating queer students and embellished them with their certificate, stoles and sashes.
The following students were recognized for their achievements: Ainsworth, Emi Gutierrez, Daniel Ornelas, Montse Zurita and Yovani Salvador Marroquin.
The celebration continued with soothing jazz music as well as an open mic for others to share kind words.
One student in particular, Cassie Salinas, shared their appreciation for their friends and explained that they will carry on Ainsworth’s “legacy.”
“I cried twice, as soon as he mentioned he’s queer,” Salinas said. “All good vibes, all happy vibes, I should say all gay vibes.”
Other students, Zurita, shared her experience after discovering the Pride Center at Citrus.
“The pride center has helped me expose myself to the queer experience,” Zurita said. “I learned about queer history and it made me learn about myself in a new and different way.”
For future references, Schulz personally shared the progress Citrus has made to better accommodate their students.
“One of the things I am really happy about is I see many students at the pride center, I see a sense of our student body and our faculty and staff across campus here to celebrate together,” Schulz said.
“I see Citrus becoming an even more welcoming campus environment and we also established a new employee research group for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff.”
