KY author Silas House says UK seems ‘eager’ to cancel diverse grad programs
Acclaimed Kentucky author Silas House on Tuesday spoke in support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at higher education institutions, as colleges across the state slash such programs amid political pressure.
House’s criticism comes after the University of Kentucky confirmed last week it had canceled graduation programs honoring LGBTQ+, Black and first-generation students. The University of Louisville also confirmed Tuesday it has canceled a ceremony that honors LGBTQ+ graduates.
The cancellations stem from federal and state efforts to end DEI programming in both public and private organizations across the U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order during his first month in office to fight “wokeness” by ending federal funding for DEI initiatives, and the Kentucky legislature followed suit, passing House Bill 4 to ban DEI initiatives at higher education institutions across the state.
Kentucky’s law goes into effect in July.
“This legislation is meant just to target minorities, and it’s a real shame that the Kentucky legislature has signed on to impress the Trump administration with this sort of stuff,” House a successful writer named Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2023-2024, said in an interview Tuesday with the Herald-Leader.
House is not a UK alum, but he is a first-generation college graduate and the first openly LGBTQ+ Kentucky Poet Laureate.
UK spokesperson Jay Blanton has said the university canceled its diverse graduation programs to comply with state and federal law.
But House argued they jumped the gun.
“I keep seeing UK say that they’re doing this to adhere to the legislation. However, that legislation doesn’t even go into effect until the summer,” House said. “So I question why they’re saying they had to do it to meet the legislative requirements. ... It seems like they’re being awfully preemptive. It just makes it seem like they’re eager to cancel these sorts of things.”
Some universities across the country have refused to submit to demands from the Trump administration. Last week, Harvard University rejected calls from Trump to disband diversity programming. Harvard filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Trump’s move to freeze billions of dollars worth of federal grants to the university is unlawful.
In a statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, academic leaders across the U.S. said the president is attacking academic freedom. As of Tuesday morning, 187 people have signed the letter, including Milton Moreland, President of Centre College in Danville. He is the only person to represent a Kentucky institution on the list. Centre is a private college.
Students step up to replace canceled graduation programs at UK
UK students have started organizing their own events to replace the programs canceled by UK, including the Harambee Unity Graduation Celebration, which honors Black students, the first-generation student pinning ceremony and the Office of LGBTQ+ Resources’ Lavender Graduation.
Students have organized a “community commencement” that’s being funded through donations to UK’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance. Donations will be used to buy commemorative regalia for graduates and other event supplies.
Local businesses, including West Sixth Brewing, Lussi Brown’s Coffee Bar and girlsgirlsgirls burritos, have donated. United Campus Workers of Kentucky, a union of UK faculty, student workers and staff, is also supporting the event.
That program will be held May 2 at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, and is free and open to everyone. Graduates can sign up online.
House has offered his support to the program on Instagram, writing, “Joy and defiance can go hand in hand.” He said he will participate in some way, but the details are still being ironed out.
“This is a way to celebrate the particular obstacles that a lot of minority graduates go through while in university,” he said in an interview with the Herald-Leader.
“Differences make us all stronger and visibility really matters … one thing that this legislation has meant to do is to decrease that visibility, to force people into sameness instead of celebrating diversity.”
UK fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha will hold a separate “Senior Salute” at the Lyric Theatre on May 7. That, too, is free and open to the public, and graduates can sign up online.
Christopher Adair, executive director of the Lyric Theatre, said the event is a place for everyone to feel welcome and celebrate the achievement of graduating in a culturally aware space. He said ending diversity, equity and inclusion programming in Kentucky is harmful.
“This country is a pot of stew, right? We all maintain our own identity, however, we share the juices ... that’s what makes the flavor. That’s what makes this country so unique and loving, and it can’t turn back, regardless of what is going on,” he said.
“So to have a place that celebrates the creativity and the arts and the platform of all cultures is very important, because we influence each other, and there’s no taking it back. There’s just no way that you can reverse that.”
Students advocate for DEI programs at Kentucky’s universities
The Kentucky Student Coalition for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which has student representatives from seven of Kentucky’s eight public universities, called on institutions across the state to be more transparent and listen to student voices as cuts are made to diversity programming.
“Our universities have been far too quiet. They said little to nothing when HB 4 was introduced, little to nothing when it passed the legislature, and little to nothing when Governor Beshear’s veto was overturned, leaving university communities confused and fearful for the future of our campuses,” the coalition said in a statement shared on Instagram.
“As they move in silence to drastically alter our universities and resource centers, they break the trust of their student bodies and all those they employ. The future of our universities is entirely unknown, so we must unite to demand transparency, accountability and that these decisions are being made democratically.”
The coalition said public education across the U.S. is in crisis, and instead of defending students from harmful attacks on freedom, university leaders have perpetuated them.
Sam Hacker, a queer first generation graduate student at UK, started an online petition calling on UK President Eli Capilouto to reinstate the canceled graduation programs. It has garnered 179 signatures.
She said Capilouto has let students fall prey to attacks on freedom coming from the Trump administration.
“At a time when policies are being created to promote hysteria, community bonding and community events are needed now more than ever. To take that away from the minority communities on this campus, so close to graduation, is disgraceful,” Hacker said in the petition.
“President Eli Capilouto has shown time and again, especially within the last three weeks, where his views lie — himself.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM.