Lavender Luncheon encourages guests to be their authentic selves - Crafton Hills College

Publish Date: May 11, 2023

Lavendaer Luncheon

When Dr. Nathan Gonzales came out in the early 1990s as an undergrad student at a small, independent, conservative school, things were very different than today.

For one thing, people with AIDS were unable to live a long life, the effective drugs available today not yet available, and homophobia was still rampant, he explained. But conditions have improved, and Gonzales told dozens at Crafton Hills College’s Lavender Luncheon on Thursday, May 11, he was a bit jealous that Roadrunners who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies get to attend school in such a welcoming environment.

The historian and San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees member continued, “Obviously there’s still a long way we have to go together… [but] thank you for all you do. For your visibility. For forwarding the cause. And for being who you are and [having] the ability to live your true self.”

The Lavender Luncheon helped close out the Yucaipa-based college’s Gaypril series, which put a spotlight on the gay community and their allies and other supporters. The series included talks with LGBTQIA+ personalities and authors and special on-campus events during April and May.

The color lavender is significant in the gay community’s history as a symbol of resistance and power, according to a 2020 CNN article titled “How lavender became a symbol of LGBTQ resistance.” The article explains how the color is used in protest against the treatment of the gay community, and how fashion designers incorporate the color with the same intention on runways and red carpets.

In addition to a catered lunch, soon-to-be-grads in attendance received a special stole embossed with the Pride Flag and heard remarks from Rabbi Lindy Reznick, who, too, spoke about how important it is to have a welcoming, safe space for students who are part of the “alphabet” community.

“The blessing in this room is that there are so many allies, so many supporters, so many ancestors of our Queer community, and so many of our elders who have spent their lives making sure that our baby gays, our future baby gays, can exist,” she said.