Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Ronni Sanlo, LGBTQ+ Education Trailblazer and Storyteller
Our "Where Are They Now?" series will get you up-to-date on the lives of LGBTQ+ community advocates who have contributed to Michigan with years of tireless activism before embarking on new chapters, whether in retirement or pursuit of fresh opportunities elsewhere. In this space, we'll trace the paths of these trailblazers as they navigate life beyond the limelight, offering insights into their current endeavors, passions and the legacies they continue to shape. Join us as we celebrate their resilience, achievements and the lasting impact they've left on Michigan's LGBTQ+ community.
Ronni Sanlo is a shining example of how one can turn hate into hope. After losing custody of her children due to her orientation, Sanlo built a career around making queer voices heard and LGBTQ+ youth feel supported.
Sanlo fought hard for decades to create safe spaces and for LGBTQ+ colleagues and students to have a seat at the table in the academic world. She’s the creator of the nationally recognized Lavender Graduation, which recognizes the achievements of LGBTQ+ college graduates and acknowledges the unique experience of getting a degree while queer.
Even after her retirement, Sanlo has refused to slow down, instead picking up pen and paper to share stories, while reflecting on the discrimination she’s experienced and how she overcame it.
How would you describe your connection to LGBTQ+ advancements in education?
I do believe that my work in LGBTQ+ issues both as an early HIV epidemiologist and as a lesbian activist helped create and advance LGBTQ+ issues in education, particularly within higher education. My work has been foundational in shaping policies, creating inclusive spaces and empowering LGBTQ+ students and educators.
I helped establish and advance some of the earliest university LGBTQ+ resource centers in the United States, starting with the University of Michigan (UM) and later at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). These centers provided essential support, counseling and resources to LGBTQ+ students, creating safe spaces for students, faculty and staff to connect, receive guidance and be part of a community. I helped shape university policies related to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and I’ve been an advocate for anti-discrimination policies, LGBTQ+ student rights and inclusive administrative practices. My policy work has influenced institutions to adopt measures that support LGBTQ+ students, such as gender-inclusive housing, LGBTQ+ scholarship funds and expanded healthcare access.
I was the co-founder and founding chair of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, which connects LGBTQ+ resource center professionals across universities, providing a network for best practices, mentorship and resources for supporting LGBTQ+ students on campuses across North America.
I’ve contributed significantly to LGBTQ+ literature and research, including developing the LGBT College Students: A Handbook for Faculty and Administrators, a foundational resource for educators and administrators seeking to understand and support LGBTQ+ students. My publications offer insights into LGBTQ+ student experiences and guide institutions in creating affirming spaces.
I believe my work has had a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ inclusivity in education, inspiring other leaders, fostering safe and affirming spaces, and advancing policies that continue to shape the experiences of LGBTQ+ students and educators today.
What has your path looked like since moving on from your director of LGBT Programs at the University of Michigan?
In 1997, I was recruited by UCLA to grow their LGBT office. I was able to design a center in the middle of campus that included a 400-square-foot library. I became a Faculty in Residence, living in an apartment in the residence halls and supporting students academically. In addition to my LGBTQ+ Center duties, I was appointed Senior Associate Dean of Students and I founded the Masters of Education in Student Affairs in the UCLA Higher Education and Organizational Change (HEOC) Graduate School of Education, the number one public education grad school in the country. I was awarded full professorship for that work.
Why was the creation of Lavender Gradation important to you and how do you feel about its impact almost 30 years later?
The creation of Lavender Graduation was deeply personal and significant for me and the academic environment, stemming from a painful personal history. After coming out as a lesbian in 1979, I lost custody of my children due to anti-LGBTQ+ bias in my home state of Florida, which fueled my passion to support LGBTQ+ students in ways I hadn’t experienced myself. When I began my work at UM, I noticed that LGBTQ+ students often felt invisible and under-celebrated in their achievements compared to their peers. Traditional commencement ceremonies didn’t necessarily create safe or affirming environments for LGBTQ+ graduates, leaving some students feeling alienated on a day meant to celebrate their hard work and success.
Lavender Graduation, first held in 1995 at Michigan, became a way to honor these students, affirm their identities, to celebrate their resilience and to acknowledge their gifts to the academy. For me, it wasn’t just about the ceremony itself but about creating a lasting tradition that showed LGBTQ+ students they were seen, valued and celebrated. This event became a model for other universities, growing into a nationwide celebration that has helped countless students feel recognized and empowered at a pivotal time in their lives.
Lavender Graduation has evolved into a cherished tradition on campuses nationwide. Its impact can be seen in several key areas. Lavender Graduation has helped to normalize LGBTQ+ identities within academic spaces. By visibly celebrating LGBTQ+ graduates, the event emphasizes that LGBTQ+ students are integral to campus communities. It has contributed to broader acceptance and visibility within universities, reinforcing institutional commitments to diversity and inclusion; the event provides a communal experience that fosters connection among LGBTQ+ students, faculty and allies.
This bonding is especially important as LGBTQ+ students still face isolation or underrepresentation in their academic environments. Lavender Graduation gives students a unique space to celebrate with those who understand and support their journeys, creating lasting networks and friendships; hosting a Lavender Graduation often signals an institution’s broader commitment to LGBTQ+ issues, encouraging schools to implement or strengthen policies that support LGBTQ+ students. The presence of these ceremonies has led many institutions to explore additional LGBTQ+ resources, such as support centers, counseling, scholarships and gender-inclusive facilities; Lavender Graduation provides a unique moment of pride and validation for LGBTQ+ students, recognizing both their academic achievements and the challenges they may have faced due to their identities. This visibility and validation empower graduates, helping them transition with confidence into the next phases of their lives.
Over the years, Lavender Graduation has become a cherished tradition not only for LGBTQ+ students, but also for allies and faculty. It reflects a broader cultural shift within academia towards celebrating diversity and recognizing the unique contributions of LGBTQ+ students, fostering an environment where students of all identities feel celebrated and valued. Today, Lavender Graduation ceremonies are held across the United States and internationally, with each one honoring the vision I set out to achieve. The tradition underscores the importance of inclusive celebrations and continues to inspire universities to build more supportive and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students and educators.
What are some of your proudest moments related to LGBTQ+ storytelling?
I’ve been lucky to have many proud moments: when students succeed academically and in the workplace after college, when I watch them walk down the aisle at Lavender Graduation, when I attend their weddings and the birth of their babies. Most recently, I was the keynote speaker at the LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference. There were 200 LGBTQ+ people there! Some of them had been my students! It suddenly became clear to me — just last week — that the work I’d done over all those years led to this. My heart is still very full.
Storytelling for me is about authenticity. It’s about sharing our stories so that our history lives on and so that others know they’re not alone. Our stories are our power, our voice, and it’s critical that we share them with one another every chance we get.
How did your own identity impact your desire to become a writer and playwright?
As an old Jewish lesbian, my experiences with discrimination profoundly influence my desire to write. Coming out in 1979, I faced the harsh realities of prejudice, including losing custody of my children due to my sexual orientation. This life-altering experience sparked my activism and a desire to tell stories that capture both the resilience and struggles of LGBTQ+ people.
After I retired in 2010, writing became a way for me to process my own experiences and to advocate further for the LGBTQ+ community. Through my work, I’ve been able to explore themes of identity, family and justice, giving voice to stories often underrepresented in literature and theater. My plays and writings have allowed me to share deeply personal insights and to create relatable narratives that resonate with others who may have faced similar challenges.
In addition, my career in higher education and advocacy exposed me to countless stories of LGBTQ+ students and colleagues, further fueling my commitment to storytelling. I believe my writing and playwriting continue my legacy of activism, using art to raise awareness, foster empathy and celebrate the lives and histories of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Where are you now?
Today, at 77, I’m retired from my formal roles in higher education but I remain active as a consultant, author and speaker, particularly on LGBTQ+ and social justice issues, and especially keynoting at Lavender Graduations nationwide. I hope I’m continuing to influence the field by working with organizations, conducting workshops and sharing my expertise on LGBTQ+ inclusion in education and beyond.
My wife Kelly and I live in Palm Springs, California during the winter months and Sequim, Washington during the summer months where we spend much of the summer on our boat “Strait Knot," cruising the Canadian islands with our friends and our Aussiedoodle pup Popeye.
This interview has been condensed and reformatted for publication purposes.
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