Janora McDuffie to Deliver Keynote Address at UNC at Chapel Hill Lavender Graduation

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - EntSun -- Chapel Hill, NC - UNC at Chapel Hill is proud to announce that Janora McDuffie, an accomplished actor and voice-over artist, will deliver the keynote address at the University's Lavender Graduation on May 7th, 2023. The Lavender Graduation is a special ceremony that celebrates the achievements of LGBTQ+ students and their allies.

Janora McDuffie is a multi-talented performer with an impressive film, television, and voice-over career. She was the Live Announcer for the 2022 Oscars and has appeared in numerous popular movies and TV shows, including Praise This, Grey's Anatomy, This Is Us, Truth Be Told, Criminal Minds, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

McDuffie is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has been a vocal supporter of the community throughout her career. She's been featured in the Advocate Magazine and recently performed in "The Story of Us," an oral history of UNC-Chapel Hill's LGBTQ+ community. She is now honored to return to speak at the University's Lavender Graduation.

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"Speaking at the UNC at Chapel Hill Lavender Graduation is a tremendous honor," said McDuffie. "As a performer and advocate, I believe it's important to use my platform to be seen and uplift the communities I represent. I'm excited to celebrate these incredible graduates' achievements and inspire them to continue making a positive impact in the world by being true to who they are."

During the ceremony, the University will also recognize recipients of the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Awards. This program is co-sponsored by the Program in Sexuality Studies, the Provost Committee for LGBTQ+ Life, and Student Life and Leadership.

For more information about the Commencement Ceremony, visit https://lgbtq.unc.edu/programs/community-building/lavender-graduation/

ABOUT JANORA MCDUFFIE

Janora McDuffie is a Durham native, actress, voice-over artist, host, speaker, and the first openly gay person to announce the Academy Awards in the show's ninety-four-year history. In addition, McDuffie recently participated in the first of many TEDx Talks entitled "Manifesting The Life You Want: The Secret Behind the Best Year of My Life," starred in the Peacock and Will Packer film, Praise This, The Story of Us, and will deliver the keynote address at the UNC-Chapel Hill Lavender Graduation. McDuffie, a Morehead-Cain Scholar at Carolina and a "proud woman with a wife," joined the Carolina Pride Alum Network board to increase its diversity.



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