Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py drop-p" dir="null">Meghan Dengler is a self-proclaimed die-hard romantic. It’s how the 31-year-old explas her fascatn wh <a href=">“promposals”</a> — the high school rual of vg a date to prom often through elaborate and public gtur.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But she never had that experience. In fact, her prom 2009 looked a lot different than how she had imaged — largely bee the all-girls Catholic school she attend wouldn’t allow stunts to brg same-sex dat or arrive solo.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I jt wanted to enjoy the night wh my iends and not have to force myself to go wh a date that I wasn’t fortable wh,” said Dengler, who intifi as queer.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">A gui to the words we e our genr verage</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">On May 14, she fally got the chance to do prom her way. Donng a silvery blue tuxedo vt and shirt, Dengler attend her first queer prom Tampa wh a group of iends.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It was phenomenal,” she said. “Everyone was jt so fortable there. We danced the entire time.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Ahead of the event, she even ma <a href=">promposal vios</a> and posted them onle. “I wanted to experience a way,” she said, “and I felt like this was that way for me.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The visn behd the queer prom Dengler attend was to offer people a send chance at the night they’ve always wanted, said Holly Webarger, the founr and director of programmg for <a href=">QFX</a>, which hosted the event. It was also tend as a safe space for the LGBTQ muny Florida, “which is unr the attack of <a href=">anti-queer legislatn</a>,” she add.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">The LGBTQ lawmakers want to make their stat a refuge for trans kids</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I wanted to know I uld walk that room and see … dividuals havg a good time dancg wh each other and not beg gawked at or ma to feel awkward,” Dengler said of her experience at queer prom. “And was so nice to see that. It was so nice to be a part of that.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Wh prom season unrway across the untry, other groups like QFX have been hostg formal events such as queer proms to break om the heteronormative tradns that have ma school danc a ght experience for some.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Many the LGBTQ muny say the events offer them a safe and clive space to be themselv. We asked a few of them to share their experienc and photos of their nights.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Rpons have been eded for length and clary.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="ITNOVJWG2BCTDDNONFAMNLPHR4"><div>‘It was the prom I wish my younger self had’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Molly Hottle, 33, Seattle</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Last June, I went to Skate Prom, a llaboratn between <a href=">Roll Around Seatown</a> and <a href=">CIB Seattle</a>. It was signed to jt give all a reason to drs up and skate. But was also a place for those of who didn’t always feel wele or at home at our tradnal high school proms to celebrate, skate and get fancy!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">When I went to prom high school, was all very tradnal. I went wh a male date and wore the big drs. All of that was fe, but lookg back, I know I was tryg to f to a box. The box was like this cliche of what prom is supposed to look like the talogu and movi.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As an adult, I was able to attend this prom and be myself. Two of my iends and I asked each other as platonic dat, and we ma each other rsag. I wore what I wanted, cludg my roller skat, and put on a ton of glter and extravagant makp. I wasn’t worried about what others thought of me or ftg to that box.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">We skated circl, held hands and did tricks at the skate park, all the pany of other queer people. It was the prom I wish my younger self had. It was the prom I wish every young queer person out there uld have.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="3CSA6YMZIBFZLJS6FV2DDQ3D54"><div>‘Wng prom royalty felt like a scene a movie’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Simon Grav, 19, Norfolk</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The queer prom I attend was hosted by different anizatns at my school, Old Domn Universy. I chose to go to support a close iend who helped plan the event. I also went bee my high school prom was terrible and was ls clive for queer people.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">One of the biggt highlights of my night at queer prom was walkg to the venue and feelg wele by seeg different queer people who attend my school. Later that night, I was crowned royal monarch, which tentnally breaks om tradnal genr-specific tl such as “homeg queen” or “prom kg.” Wng prom royalty felt like a scene a movie.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="H2AC4ZIJDZDX7P27RSWJW7D7HI"><div>‘It is always betiful to see so many people livg their tth’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Liz Osowiecki, 27, Long Island</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">When my iends and I were all high school, we eher weren’t fortable beg who we are or wasn’t safe to be who we are. The ia of gog to prom wh someone outsi of the “norm” wasn’t even a realistic ia. When we heard our iends were havg a queer prom, we were so exced, bee now we have real pri who we are and uldn’t wa to celebrate. It is always betiful to see so many people livg their tth.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="5KDDW5N7EVBNZI7K26GOPXE6UQ"><div>‘I felt so reward gog to a formal event where I felt assured my genr’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Samantha Ann Burnsi, 30, Webb Cy, Mo.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I chose to go to the Pri prom bee a lot of my iends were gog. I love any exce to get drsed up, and I had jt the drs for the ocsn: a prom drs om the late ’70s that I rtored myself!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I mostly enjoyed seeg everyone drsed up so betifully, wearg cloth and styl they may not have been able to wear to their high school proms. We all live small towns, and most of didn’t have the agency to be ourselv durg our public-schoolg days.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The atten were a diverse crowd of lovely people, cludg lbian upl, gay upl, nonbary guts and people who are trans. Almost every reprentatn of the LGBTQIA+ alphabet was attendance, which wasn’t too shabby for a Pri prom small-town Kansas!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I was apprehensive about gog to the prom at first bee of nerv. But the end, was a wonrful time, and I felt so reward gog to a formal event where I felt assured my genr. Those opportuni don’t e up often enough!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="VJQE7ARWG5CORJVQV5KLJRP66E"><div>‘It was the most fun I’d had a long time’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Amari Callaway, 26, Philalphia</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I -hosted a queer prom last summer through my queer skate crew <a href=">Rollg wh the Homos.</a> We did some fundraisg and were able to put on a superfun eveng for our muny! The first half of the eveng was a sort of “cktail hour” held at a brewery one of our members -owns, wh mic, mglg and a photo booth setup.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The send half took place at a lol roller rk, where we skated and danced our prom fery. It was the most fun I’d had a long time, pecially wh the panmic, and was a wonrful makp prom experience for a lot of our members, who eher didn’t attend their proms or weren’t livg as their most thentic selv when they origally attend prom.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="FP37NUAAJZEENJK64YI7YX2W54"><div>‘We were able to provi a space where people knew they wouldn’t be judged’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Prachi Misra, 20, Tampa</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">This past amic year, I joed the Planned Parenthood Generatn Actn at the Universy of South Florida’s E-Board as event ordator, and the anizatn was hostg s first queer prom April. Wh this event,<b> </b>we provid a space where people knew they wouldn’t be judged for g as themselv and brgg who they wanted.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In creatg this safe space, we affirmed an aspect of their inty that tradnal high school proms overlook and sometim even dismiss. As a queer person of lor, I found healg to hear nversatns around me (“I’ve never met another queer Indian before”) and to create a space where people who felt visible were able to fd others like themselv and know that they have a support system — even if they didn’t grow up wh one.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="XFNFDMCDLRBLXJBQ4BIAVXZG4U"><div>‘Beg out and proud is an achievement my ey’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Hayley Ianna, 23, Ptsburg, Kan.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">My time at Pri prom was one I will never fet. I have always dreamed of gog to a prom like the on I’d watch the films back Atralia. When I moved to the Uned Stat to unrtake my master’s gree, my wife and I were thrilled that my school and town put on a prom dited to our muny. I was a closeted lbian back Atralia, and beg out and proud is an achievement my ey. It is so important to be able to be who you are on a night you are supposed to remember and have dreamed about forever.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I hear stori about trans youth or young LGBTQIA+ people not beg allowed to attend their schools’ proms and are then left wh a sour taste their mouth about prom. The Pri prom that was put on by <a href=">Q Space Pt</a> and <a href=">Ptsburg State GSA</a> helps remove the sour taste many my age may have. It also gave people like me, who realized who they were and beme proud after high school, a chance to relive a moment of youth we never believed we’d get back.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Photos urty of Molly Hottle, Riya Choksi, Prton Haton/Washgton Post Illtratn.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-VkPmP hi-for-prt"><div></div></div></div><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css mt-md grid-center grid-body"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div></div></div></article><div class="centered-layout grid-layout"><div class="grid-center grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div class="hi-for-prt ml-to mr-to mt-md pt-lg recirc" data-qa="recirc"><div class="flex-l jtify-center hi-for-prt"><div class="pr-sm ml-sm ml-0-ns b-l br-l bc-gray-darkt more-om-post"><div></div><div class="dn db-l pb-md pt-md"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg...

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‘THE PROM’ ON BROADWAY SHOWS THE LIMATNS OF LGBT STORI ON STAGECHALLENGEIT’S GREAT THAT ‘THE PROM,’ A MIL ABOUT A LBIAN TEEN FIGHTG BACK AFTER BEG BANNED OM HER SCHOOL PROM, IS ON BROADWAY. BUT THIS FEEL-GOOD STORY ALSO FEELS TOO FAIAR.TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED NOV. 16, 2018 11:37AM EST / PUBLISHED NOV. 15, 2018 9:56PM EST COURTY DEEN VAN MEERTHROUGHOUT THE PROM, SPORADILLY ENTERTAG AS WAS, I FELT AS IF I HAD SEEN EACH OF THE CHARACTERS BEFORE, OR AT LEAST THEIR KD OF CHARACTERS. AFTER 30-PL YEARS OF WATCHG LGBT-THEMED MOVI, TV SHOWS, PLAYS, BOOKS, AND MILS, THE PROM’S STORY L WERE HARDY FAIARS TOO. IT’S LOVELY THAT THERE IS A MIL WH A TEENAGE LBIAN G OUT AND FALLG LOVE INDIANA AT S HEART ON THE GREAT WHE WAY (AS WAS TO SEE THE SAME THE TLY ORIGAL HEAD OVER HEELS), AND YET THE PROM IS ENCUMBERED WH HACKNEYED FAIARY WHEN TO CHARACTERS AND PLOT, AND A BROAD EDY AND FORCED BRIGHTNS AND LIGHTNS WHERE AT LEAST A TGE OF DARKNS OR REALY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE WELE. AFTER ALL, THERE REALLY ARE LGBT TEENS BEG BANNED OM THEIR SCHOOL PROMS. AND, OF LATE, THERE ARE HEARTWARMG STORI OF LGBT TEENS GOG TO THE PROM OPENLY, WH THE DATE OF THEIR DREAMS ON THEIR ARMS. IT’S THE KD OF NEWS STORY THAT ENPSULAT VERY REAL, VERY LIVED EXPERIENC: LGBT TEEN ISOLATN, BULLYG, PREJUDICE, DISCRIMATN, AND (HOPEFULLY, AT THE END OF A DAY THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THIS LONG) G OUT AND ACCEPTANCE.THE ISSU, HAVE AN ADD URGENCY NOW: THE TMP ADMISTRATN, WH VICE PRINT MIKE PENCE AS S CSADG AVATAR, IS SEEKG TO ROLL BACK LGBT EQUALY AND PROTECTNS, THROUGH BASE DISCRIMATN (AS AGAST TRANS SERVICEPEOPLE) AND SISTER-SOUNDG, UNFED IATIV LIKE THE RELIG LIBERTY TASK FORCE. PENCE WAS ERNOR OF INDIANA, OF URSE. IT'S WHERE HE EARNED HIS ANTI-LGBT TRAG WHEELS. THE PROM DON’T BOTHER ADDRSG OR TERROGATG THE WIR POLIL AND CULTURAL NTEXT OF NOW (APART OM A BRIEF SCENE OF MEDIA ENZY), WHICH IS STRANGE BEE A TEEN LBIAN A RED STATE BEG BANNED OM HER PROM IS EXACTLY THE KD OF HOT-BUTTON, STEAMG HOT EXEMPLAR OF INTY POLICS TO GET BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT JUIC GOG. THE MIL SEEKS TO TELL A SIMPLER TALE, YET ALSO AIMS TO BE BOTH SATIRE AND CULTURAL LSON. IT WANTS TO BE BOTH SMALL AND BIG, BUT MOST OF ALL EASY AND BE-SIZED.A GROUP OF BROADWAY STARS ARE ALL VAR STAG OF PROFSNAL EEFALL; TWO HAVE BEEN A MIL HARSHLY JUDGED BY THE NEW YORK TIM. THE STARS WANT TO GLOM ONTO SOMETHG TO RETURN THEM TO FAME AND PUBLIC AFFECTN. THEY SEE A STORY ONLE THAT A YOUNG LBIAN IS NOT BEG ALLOWED TO ATTEND HER SCHOOL PROM INDIANA. THEY CI TO GO TO INDIANA, READ THE RT ACT TO THE BIGOTS, SAVE THE UNFORTUNATE LBIAN TEENAGER, AND THEN RETURN TO GLOR HEADL. “THE STARS ARE NOT MONSTERS BUT OPPORTUNISTS, AND JT SO HAPPENS THAT THIS OPPORTUNISM TERSECTS WH A BELIEF EQUALY THEY ALL SHARE” THERE IS A BIG-HAIRED, ME-ME-ME BROADWAY DIVA (DEE DEE ALLEN, PLAYED BY BETH LEAVEL), A GAY MIL STAR ON THE SKIDS (BARRY GLICKMAN, BROOKS ASHMANSKAS), ANOTHER (CHRISTOPHER SIEBER) WHO IS A WAER WHOSE BT TIM WERE ON A TV SHOW HE IS ASHAMED OF STARRG , JT LIKE JT HARTLEY’S “MANNY” THIS IS US, AND THERE IS A HIGH-KICKG HOOFER (ANGIE, ANGIE SCHWORER) NEVER YET LIFTED OUT OF THE CHOS.THIS SLICE OF THE PROM, DIRECTED (AND SPARKLGLY CHOREOGRAPHED) BY CASEY NICHOLAW, IS A FUN SURF THROUGH ACTORLY VANY AND EGO: THE STARS ARE NOT MONSTERS BUT OPPORTUNISTS, AND JT SO HAPPENS THAT THIS OPPORTUNISM TERSECTS WH A BELIEF EQUALY THEY ALL SHARE.IN INDIANA, THERE IS THE STAPLE GAY SMALL-TOWN TEENAGER (EMMA, CAL KNUNEN), THE GIRL SHE FANCI BUT N’T BE TOGETHER WH OPENLY (ALYSSA, ISABELLE MCCALLA), THE WISE BLACK PRCIPAL, MR. HAWKS (MICHAEL POTTS), WHO IS STRAIGHT AND LIK SHOWTUN AND IS LIKE THE WISE BLACK PRCIPAL MEAN GIRLS, AND ALYSSA’S MOM (COURTENAY COLLS), AN ANTI-LGBT WICKED WCH—AN ANA BRYANT FOR 2018—OUT TO EVERYONE’S FUN AND THE MIL’S MENDABLE MSAGE OF CLN. THERE ARE A FEW JANGLG ELEMENTS HERE. WHO IS THE PROM FOR? PRUMABLY, AS WELL AS NEW YORKERS WHO WANT TO SEE AN AFFIRMG MIL ABOUT AN LGBT TEEN CHANGG HEARTS AND MDS SMALL-TOWN INDIANA, ALSO WANTS TO ATTRACT HOLIDAY-GOERS OM OUTSI NEW YORK, OM RED STAT LIKE INDIANA. PERHAPS THE MIL’S PRODUCERS KNOW THIS, AND WANT TO CHANGE THEIR HEARTS AND MDS TOO. MAYBE THEY WILL BE SUCCSFUL THAT MISSN. BUT THE PROM SE SMALL-TOWN INDIANA AS AN AMORPHO WHOLE. THERE IS NO DISSENTG VOICE TO MRS. GREENE’S HOMOPHOBIA AT ALL. ALL THE PARENTS AND ALL THE CHILDREN AT EMMA’S SCHOOL ARE HOMOPHOBIC. THAT IS NOT ONLY SULTG TO PEOPLE G OM RED STAT TO SEE A MIL ABOUT A LBIAN TEEN, BUT ALSO UNREALISTIC. RED STAT MAY ELECT HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC LEGISLATORS, THEY MAY PASS HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC LAWS, BUT NOT EVERYONE WHO LIV THEM IS HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC.WILL RED STATE BROADWAY-GOERS THIS TUMN WANT TO E AND SEE A SHOW WHICH ACC THEM UNIFORMLY OF HOMOPHOBIA AND BIGOTRY? WOULDN’T HAVE MA DRAMATIC SENSE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE ACCEPTG PARENTAL OR OTHER ADULT VOICE THE TOWN, OR ONE KID AT EMMA’S SCHOOL NOT BE A PREJUDICED ASSHOLE? FOR THE PURPOS OF G-OUT STORI SMALL TOWNS, ’S OBLIGATORY THAT THE GAY OR LBIAN TEEN IS SWEET, OPEN-HEARTED, AND ‘JT LIKE YOU, OK?’ I LONG FOR ONE SMALL-TOWN HEROIC GAY TEEN A POP-CULTURAL PRODUCT TO BE A B ANNOYG, TO SWEAR, FIGHT BACK AGGRSIVELY, JOKE, OR HAVE SEX, OR JT DO SOMETHG OTHER THAN BE GOOD, WHOLOME AND DOUGHTY. IN THE PROM, KNUNEN IS A TLY ENGAGG PERFORMER AND YOU WILL CHEER HER SONGS OF RISTANCE AND STRENGTH. SHE ALSO TRI TO GIVE EMMA A WELE EDGE TO TAKE HER OUT OF THE SAP TERRORY THAT SHE HAS BEEN WRTEN WH.ALSO, AS LGBT-IENDLY AS CLAIMS TO BE, THE PROM ALSO SE LBIANISM AS HERENTLY IC: THE TIRED TROPE OF RHYMG ‘LBIAN’ WH ‘THPIAN’ ONE SONG. THE MIL ISN’T UNKD TO EMMA, BUT SHE IS ODDLY SILED AND MA SAFE—SANCTIFIED VICTIM AND HERO ALL AT ONCE—DURG HER OWN STORY TOO.BUT THE MIL NEVER ANSWERS THE QUTNS SETS UP: DO EMMA NEED THE BROADWAY STARS’ HELP? FROM THE OUTSI SEEMS LIKE SHE DO, BUT SHE REILS OM IALLY. WHAT’S THAT ABOUT? A GOOD WRER MAY WELL PONR THAT HAVG HOMOSEXUALY SO SUDNLY NEAR AND VISIBLE MAK EMMA FEEL SRED, UNRSTANDABLY SO, SO WHY NOT ASK WHY OF THE CHARACTER? EMMA’S PARENTS HAVE KICKED HER OUT, AND YET WE MEET NONE OF HER FAY OR LOVED ON, OR ME THAT DRAMA.THEN THERE’S ALYSSA, EMMA'S CLOSETED GIRLIEND. THE MIL DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH THE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN HER AND HER MOTHER THE KD-OF-BIGOT, AND REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH HER MOTHER GENERALLY—STOPPG SHY OF MAKG HER OUT TO BE A BIGOTED MONSTER, BUT NOT GIVG HER AND ALYSSA’S STORY ENOUGH OF A TRAJECTORY TO GIVE THEIR FAL EXCHANGE AS MEANGFUL PUNCH AS SHOULD HAVE. THE MIL HAS ALYSSA’S MOM SPOUT PREJUDICE THE FORM OF REFULLY-WORD SLOGANS, BUT DON’T TERROGATE HER DOUBLPEAK, AND DON’T TERROGATE WHAT MEANS TO HER TO HAVE A LBIAN DGHTER. SHE’S AN ODD VILLA: NOT REALLY THAT BAD AND EVENTUALLY NTRALIZED AS A GNAT-LIKE VEXATN WHO SHOULD HAVE MORE TO SAY AND DO.LEAVEL HAS FUN, FOR SURE (AND WE HAVE FUN WATCHG HER BIG-NUMBER THE HELL OUT OF HER DIVA NUMBERS AND STGGLE JT AS DIVA-ISHLY OVER THE NCEPT OF SMALL-TOWN BRANCH OF ‘APPLEBE’ AS ‘APPL AND BE’). ASHMANSKAS BALANC THE MP THE CHARACTER HAS GLTERG SPAS (BUT WHY DO THE MIL TRODUCE THE IA OF HIM WEARG DRAG AS IF ‘OF URSE HE DO’), WH THE TOUCHG RELATNSHIP HE BUILDS WH EMMA. “THE MSAGE, ULTIMATELY, IS POSIVE—AND THAT IS TO BE WELE. ’S JT SAD AND PRSG THAT THE STORY AND CHARACTERS HAVE TO BE SO SIMPLE AND UNCHALLENGG TO GET THERE” THIS IS THE SWEETT CHARACTER NNECTN THE WHOLE SHOW. SHE HELPS HIM EXORCISE A FEW GHOSTS OF A PROM NIGHTMARE OF MANY YEARS BEFORE, AS WELL AS THE FAIAL REJECTN HE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL. THE ENSEMBLE IS POLISHED, WH ONE PARTICULARLY DAZZLG, STAGE-FILLG NUMBER BY NICHOLAW.THE MSAGE, ULTIMATELY, IS POSIVE—AND THAT IS TO BE WELE. ’S JT SAD AND PRSG THAT THE STORY AND CHARACTERS HAVE TO BE SO SIMPLE AND UNCHALLENGG TO GET THERE. THERE IS A LOT WRTEN ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF LGBT STORI AND CHARACTERS POP CULTURAL GENR, BUT THIS ADVANCEMENT SHOULDN’T SIMPLY BE ABOUT PRENCE. IT SHOULDN’T JT BE ABOUT BOLSTERG NUMBERS, AND GIVG SELF-NGRATULATORY PATS ON THE BACK, AS THE PROM—ODDLY, JT LIKE AS LEAD BROADWAY STAR CHARACTERS—DO. IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE QUALY OF THE DRAMA AND EDY THE CHARACTERS ARE EXPERIENCG, AND THE PTH OF THE CHARACTERS THEMSELV. SURE, CHEER THE SIMPLE, FEELGOOD PURPOSE OF THE PROM, AND ALSO HOPE N LEAD SOMEWHERE A LOT MORE TERTG.THE PROM IS AT THE LONGACRE THEATRE, NYC, BOOKG THROUGH APRIL 21, 2019. TIM TEEMAN

But The Prom is not a show for the would-be homophob cricizg a televised kiss. Ashmanskas’ Barry practilly soars wh his performed flamboyance (“I’m as gay as a bucket of wigs, ” he screams), while Emma’s closeted love tert Alyssa (portrayed by the magic McCalla) don’t necsarily subscribe to the flannel-wearg, pixie-cut-sportg Sapphic formula that the entertament dtry so often thsts on lbian characters. After seeg the show, he now go after homophobic trolls on the web.

The sad thg is that we ntually get people emailg articl about another gay uple banned or another lbian uple banned, or guys weren’t allowed to wear a drs or girls weren’t allowed to wear tux and seems like we have so much further to go. “The stars are not monsters but opportunists, and jt so happens that this opportunism tersects wh a belief equaly they all share”There is a big-haired, me-me-me Broadway diva (Dee Dee Allen, played by Beth Leavel), a gay mil star on the skids (Barry Glickman, Brooks Ashmanskas), another (Christopher Sieber) who is a waer whose bt tim were on a TV show he is ashamed of starrg , jt like Jt Hartley’s “Manny” This Is Us, and there is a high-kickg hoofer (Angie, Angie Schworer) never yet lifted out of the slice of The Prom, directed (and sparklgly choreographed) by Casey Nicholaw, is a fun surf through actorly vany and ego: the stars are not monsters but opportunists, and jt so happens that this opportunism tersects wh a belief equaly they all Indiana, there is the staple gay small-town teenager (Emma, Cal Knunen), the girl she fanci but n’t be together wh openly (Alyssa, Isabelle McCalla), the wise black prcipal, Mr.

Greene’s homophobia at all. All the parents and all the children at Emma’s school are homophobic.

*EN.BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* THE PROM LGBT

Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py drop-p" dir="null">Meghan Dengler is a self-proclaimed die-hard romantic. It’s how the 31-year-old explas her fascatn wh <a href=">“promposals”</a> — the high school rual of vg a date to prom often through elaborate and public gtur.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But she never had that experience. In fact, her prom 2009 looked a lot different than how she had imaged — largely bee the all-girls Catholic school she attend wouldn’t allow stunts to brg same-sex dat or arrive solo.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I jt wanted to enjoy the night wh my iends and not have to force myself to go wh a date that I wasn’t fortable wh,” said Dengler, who intifi as queer.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">A gui to the words we e our genr verage</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">On May 14, she fally got the chance to do prom her way. Donng a silvery blue tuxedo vt and shirt, Dengler attend her first queer prom Tampa wh a group of iends.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It was phenomenal,” she said. “Everyone was jt so fortable there. We danced the entire time.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Ahead of the event, she even ma <a href=">promposal vios</a> and posted them onle. “I wanted to experience a way,” she said, “and I felt like this was that way for me.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The visn behd the queer prom Dengler attend was to offer people a send chance at the night they’ve always wanted, said Holly Webarger, the founr and director of programmg for <a href=">QFX</a>, which hosted the event. It was also tend as a safe space for the LGBTQ muny Florida, “which is unr the attack of <a href=">anti-queer legislatn</a>,” she add.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">The LGBTQ lawmakers want to make their stat a refuge for trans kids</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I wanted to know I uld walk that room and see … dividuals havg a good time dancg wh each other and not beg gawked at or ma to feel awkward,” Dengler said of her experience at queer prom. “And was so nice to see that. It was so nice to be a part of that.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Wh prom season unrway across the untry, other groups like QFX have been hostg formal events such as queer proms to break om the heteronormative tradns that have ma school danc a ght experience for some.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Many the LGBTQ muny say the events offer them a safe and clive space to be themselv. We asked a few of them to share their experienc and photos of their nights.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Rpons have been eded for length and clary.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="ITNOVJWG2BCTDDNONFAMNLPHR4"><div>‘It was the prom I wish my younger self had’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Molly Hottle, 33, Seattle</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Last June, I went to Skate Prom, a llaboratn between <a href=">Roll Around Seatown</a> and <a href=">CIB Seattle</a>. It was signed to jt give all a reason to drs up and skate. But was also a place for those of who didn’t always feel wele or at home at our tradnal high school proms to celebrate, skate and get fancy!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">When I went to prom high school, was all very tradnal. I went wh a male date and wore the big drs. All of that was fe, but lookg back, I know I was tryg to f to a box. The box was like this cliche of what prom is supposed to look like the talogu and movi.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As an adult, I was able to attend this prom and be myself. Two of my iends and I asked each other as platonic dat, and we ma each other rsag. I wore what I wanted, cludg my roller skat, and put on a ton of glter and extravagant makp. I wasn’t worried about what others thought of me or ftg to that box.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">We skated circl, held hands and did tricks at the skate park, all the pany of other queer people. It was the prom I wish my younger self had. It was the prom I wish every young queer person out there uld have.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="3CSA6YMZIBFZLJS6FV2DDQ3D54"><div>‘Wng prom royalty felt like a scene a movie’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Simon Grav, 19, Norfolk</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The queer prom I attend was hosted by different anizatns at my school, Old Domn Universy. I chose to go to support a close iend who helped plan the event. I also went bee my high school prom was terrible and was ls clive for queer people.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">One of the biggt highlights of my night at queer prom was walkg to the venue and feelg wele by seeg different queer people who attend my school. Later that night, I was crowned royal monarch, which tentnally breaks om tradnal genr-specific tl such as “homeg queen” or “prom kg.” Wng prom royalty felt like a scene a movie.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="H2AC4ZIJDZDX7P27RSWJW7D7HI"><div>‘It is always betiful to see so many people livg their tth’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Liz Osowiecki, 27, Long Island</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">When my iends and I were all high school, we eher weren’t fortable beg who we are or wasn’t safe to be who we are. The ia of gog to prom wh someone outsi of the “norm” wasn’t even a realistic ia. When we heard our iends were havg a queer prom, we were so exced, bee now we have real pri who we are and uldn’t wa to celebrate. It is always betiful to see so many people livg their tth.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="5KDDW5N7EVBNZI7K26GOPXE6UQ"><div>‘I felt so reward gog to a formal event where I felt assured my genr’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Samantha Ann Burnsi, 30, Webb Cy, Mo.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I chose to go to the Pri prom bee a lot of my iends were gog. I love any exce to get drsed up, and I had jt the drs for the ocsn: a prom drs om the late ’70s that I rtored myself!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I mostly enjoyed seeg everyone drsed up so betifully, wearg cloth and styl they may not have been able to wear to their high school proms. We all live small towns, and most of didn’t have the agency to be ourselv durg our public-schoolg days.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The atten were a diverse crowd of lovely people, cludg lbian upl, gay upl, nonbary guts and people who are trans. Almost every reprentatn of the LGBTQIA+ alphabet was attendance, which wasn’t too shabby for a Pri prom small-town Kansas!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I was apprehensive about gog to the prom at first bee of nerv. But the end, was a wonrful time, and I felt so reward gog to a formal event where I felt assured my genr. Those opportuni don’t e up often enough!</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="VJQE7ARWG5CORJVQV5KLJRP66E"><div>‘It was the most fun I’d had a long time’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Amari Callaway, 26, Philalphia</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I -hosted a queer prom last summer through my queer skate crew <a href=">Rollg wh the Homos.</a> We did some fundraisg and were able to put on a superfun eveng for our muny! The first half of the eveng was a sort of “cktail hour” held at a brewery one of our members -owns, wh mic, mglg and a photo booth setup.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The send half took place at a lol roller rk, where we skated and danced our prom fery. It was the most fun I’d had a long time, pecially wh the panmic, and was a wonrful makp prom experience for a lot of our members, who eher didn’t attend their proms or weren’t livg as their most thentic selv when they origally attend prom.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="FP37NUAAJZEENJK64YI7YX2W54"><div>‘We were able to provi a space where people knew they wouldn’t be judged’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Prachi Misra, 20, Tampa</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">This past amic year, I joed the Planned Parenthood Generatn Actn at the Universy of South Florida’s E-Board as event ordator, and the anizatn was hostg s first queer prom April. Wh this event,<b> </b>we provid a space where people knew they wouldn’t be judged for g as themselv and brgg who they wanted.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In creatg this safe space, we affirmed an aspect of their inty that tradnal high school proms overlook and sometim even dismiss. As a queer person of lor, I found healg to hear nversatns around me (“I’ve never met another queer Indian before”) and to create a space where people who felt visible were able to fd others like themselv and know that they have a support system — even if they didn’t grow up wh one.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><hr data-qa="article-ntent-divir" class="b bb bc-light pt-sm"/></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="XFNFDMCDLRBLXJBQ4BIAVXZG4U"><div>‘Beg out and proud is an achievement my ey’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Hayley Ianna, 23, Ptsburg, Kan.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">My time at Pri prom was one I will never fet. I have always dreamed of gog to a prom like the on I’d watch the films back Atralia. When I moved to the Uned Stat to unrtake my master’s gree, my wife and I were thrilled that my school and town put on a prom dited to our muny. I was a closeted lbian back Atralia, and beg out and proud is an achievement my ey. It is so important to be able to be who you are on a night you are supposed to remember and have dreamed about forever.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">I hear stori about trans youth or young LGBTQIA+ people not beg allowed to attend their schools’ proms and are then left wh a sour taste their mouth about prom. The Pri prom that was put on by <a href=">Q Space Pt</a> and <a href=">Ptsburg State GSA</a> helps remove the sour taste many my age may have. It also gave people like me, who realized who they were and beme proud after high school, a chance to relive a moment of youth we never believed we’d get back.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>Photos urty of Molly Hottle, Riya Choksi, Prton Haton/Washgton Post Illtratn.</i></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-VkPmP hi-for-prt"><div></div></div></div><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css mt-md grid-center grid-body"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div></div></div></article><div class="centered-layout grid-layout"><div class="grid-center grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div class="hi-for-prt ml-to mr-to mt-md pt-lg recirc" data-qa="recirc"><div class="flex-l jtify-center hi-for-prt"><div class="pr-sm ml-sm ml-0-ns b-l br-l bc-gray-darkt more-om-post"><div></div><div class="dn db-l pb-md pt-md"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg....

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