Commencement 2013: Rainbow Graduation Celebrates Inclusion at University of Iowa

Here in flyover country, many of Iowa's neighbors on the coasts know us for few things other than corn and pigs, flat roads and maybe American Gothic and Bridges of Madison County, but one characteristic people seem to be discovering is a reputation for inclusion of gays and lesbians.

Take John Paul Horn, a graduate student who came all the way from Bakersfield, CA to attend University of Iowa.

"I wanted to go some place where I could focus on my studies while being comfortable with who I was," he said. "I was tired of feeling like I had to live two separate lives - an academic, professional JP and a gay JP. That was never a problem here in Iowa ... I am just as out personally as I am in class or at work."

In Iowa, the third state in the nation to legalize gay marriage - ahead of New York and California - the state's largest university includes a unique celebration as part of its annual spring graduation season.

"Rainbow Graduation" has been a University of Iowa tradition for the past 13 years.

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While thousands of students will collect their diplomas this weekend in ceremonies for nursing, liberal arts, business and others, about 25 students and their families and friends held their own graduation ceremony.

It was a celebration of the achievements of LGBTQ students and their allies at a ceremony in the Old Capitol building earlier this week, as well as advice to carry forward a mindset of inclusion as they head off where ever their careers may take them.

"If not now, then when? If not us, then who? We are the courage that can succeed. We are the new hope. We are the moment we've been waiting for. We are what could be," Abby Haywood, of the music education department, said, reading a poem at the ceremony. 

University of Iowa has been among the leaders in Iowa, and around the country in several cases for including gays.

Kim Marra, a theater professor and a keynote speaker at the event, cited numerous examples of how University of Iowa has been a pioneer.

- In the early 1990s, UI offered health insurance to domestic same sex couples and recognized gays in the human rights policy.

- Made national news by hiring high profile lesbian couple Jean Love and Pat Cain to the law school in 1992.

- In 1994, hosted North American gay and bisexual studies conference. 

- More recently, University of Iowa was the first in the nation to include an optional sexual orientation question on student's application form.