2026 Lavender Graduates and Ceremony

The LGBTQ Center extends a heartfelt congratulations to the 2026 Lavender Graduates! The Center is honored to be alongside you as you step into the next part of your journey after all your accomplishments at Carolina. This year, our keynote speaker Erin Karcher opened the ceremony with a rooting in community, from UNC to Durham and beyond. 

The 2026 Lavender Graduation took place on Sunday, May 3^rd in the Student Union Auditorium. Many thanks to oSTEM (Out in Science, Math, and Technology) for their presentation of the oSTEM awards and CPAN (the Carolina Pride Alumni Network) for their address to the graduates. 

Keynote Speaker Erin Karcher

Erin Karcher has been the owner of Arcana Bar and Lounge in Downtown Durham for over ten years. Arcana joined the lesbian bar project in 2024 and is currently listed as the only lesbian bar in North Carolina. Erin is a UNC alum (1998-2002 for undergrad; 2004-2006 grad school). Her other passions include mushroom foraging, bike advocacy, and rock climbing. 

2025-2026 Lavender Graduates and Honorees

This is an incomplete list of participants in the 2026 Lavender Graduation ceremony. Nearly every year, some participants are unable to be publicly “out” about their membership in or allyship with LGBTIQA+ communities because of varying levels of stigma in their families, social circles, workplaces, religious communities, and/or geographical location. Part of our work is to mitigate and end this barrier so that people of every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression can participate fully in their communities and societies without discrimination.