A screenshot of the moment Samantha Lynn Motto walked across the stage wearing her pride gear. This moment was later edited out from the official video shared by the school.
“Men cannot become women, only better or ‘badder’ men,” said Kreeft.
Motto understood Kreeft’s quote as a reference to transgender people.
“Everyone laughed. The whole crowd laughed. They really don’t think [LGBTQ+] exist here in this space,” said Motto. “So, I was like, there’s about to be a big uncomfortable truth coming at you right now. The cold feet got real hot, real quick. I was ready.”
When her name was called for earning a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Motto followed through with her plan. She pulled a scrunchie on her left wrist. On it, she had sewn two flags representing bisexual and LGBT pride. They waved at her side as she walked across the stage and accepted her degree.
For those physically in attendance, and those watching the livestream, Motto’s flags were seen, and her accomplishments celebrated. But hours later, when Franciscan uploaded the livestream recording to its website, Motto discovered that she had been edited out. While the rest of her 2022 graduating class crosses the stage, the video cuts at one hour and 29 minutes, as though Motto, and her statement, were never there.
Franciscan University did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
