Damian Garcia Opts Out Of St. Pius Ceremony: Will Be Keynote Speaker At 1st Lavender Graduation May 30th

When you get lemons you make lemonade and it'll be a sweet drink for Damien because his friends are sugar. Damian spent the day with friends instead of attending graduation ceremonies after his Catholic high School refused to allow him to wear a man's black robe despite his legal name change. The school based that decision on the fact Damien's birth certificate has female annotated on it. For Damian to change that in New Mexico he would had to have sexual reassignment surgery, a costly and sometimes unneeded medical operation for transgender people.

Damian wrote about his decision on facebook “I’m fully respecting this and myself by not walking and/or attending the ceremony at all."

Damian's friend Kayla Cano commented on the ABQ Journal article "I just want everyone to know...and Damian, his seat was left empty, his classmates wanted him there and made that known..."

And indeed we do care.

The University of New Mexico’s LGBTQ Resource Center will host a graduation ceremony for Garcia on May 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. in a courtyard next to Scholes Hall on main campus.

UNM LGBTQ Resource Center presents:

1st NM Lavender High School Graduation Reception Facebook page
May 30th, 2013
5pm-7pm
...
Keynote Address:
Damian Garcia
St. Pius X Graduate 2013

The LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico honors all LGBTQ & Ally High School Graduates for their academic achievements and graduating as their whole selves.

We invite all family, friends and advocates to join us in celebrating NM's LGBTQ & Ally High School Graduates.

The reception will be located near the LGBTQ Resource Center courtyard on University main campus next to Scholes Hall. If you have questions please feel free to call 505-277-LGBT (5428).

All High School LGBTQ & Ally graduates, please RSVP by calling 505-277-LGBT (5428) or email  lgbtqrc@unm.edu  with the following information:

subject line- HS Lavender Graduate
Name:
email:
address:
High School:
Awards/Achievements/Activities or Student Groups:
Who would you like to thank:

Reception Location:

LGBTQ Resource Center
608 Buena Vista NE
ABQ, NM 87131
(UNM main campus, enter at Las Lomas & University)
Google map