Queer Prom supplies celebration for LGBTQ, youth

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A team of youngsters expended Friday early morning unpacking piles of decorations.

Faux moss, rainbow coloured felt roses, tea lights and reels of ribbon were being scattered throughout the flooring of the Annenberg Seaside Property in Santa Monica. The substantial school pupils were being making ready for Queer Prom, a prom for LGBTQ+ youth and allies.

Roger Gawne was deep in focus, chopping out circles of faux grass to glue on to mason jars. Gawne is the outgoing co-president of the Santa Monica High school Gender and Sexuality Alliance, which put on the prom together with The Church in Ocean Park — an interfaith team hosted by the United Methodist church — and The Metropolis of Santa Monica Travel and Tourism. Back again on The Seashore Café provided meals and donated evening meal for absolutely everyone attending.

The Queer Prom has been held for the past 10 many years, but Gawne, who is transgender, observed that this year’s promenade was additional sizeable than at any time just before.

“Following this calendar year and a 50 percent, it is specially critical that we are in a position to arrive collectively in local community for all of the LGBTQ neighborhood in the area, but particularly for our youth,” reported Gawne. “We’ve all been stuck at home, and for a whole lot of queer youth, that signifies getting trapped with mothers and fathers and loved ones who they could possibly not be out to.”

The prom is spearheaded by Samohi GSA, but they open up it up to anyone in Los Angeles. A lot of adolescents arrive from other LA higher educational institutions. Tickets marketed out promptly after they went up on the internet, and about 150 men and women attended.

Gawne also went to the Samohi promenade but said occasions like usual superior school proms can be uncomfortable for some queer youth.

“We’re seeing cases in which [proms] are continue to dependent on the heterosexual norm and a cisgendered norm,” Gawne explained. “And this is an celebration, like all satisfaction situations, exactly where it’s like, this is who we are right here, together with persons who are like us, with our local community.”

Even though Gawne and the relaxation of the GSA completed decorating the celebration house, other attendees bought ready at dwelling. Erick Pelletier-Hague, an additional latest Samohi graduate, had acquired a special outfit for the occasion — a steampunk style fit and a leading hat. Pelletier-Hague came out as transgender previously this 12 months, and this was just one of the initially moments he wore a accommodate to a formal occasion.

“I didn’t want to continue to be in the closet and faux I’m a girl for the reason that it would have been weighing on me right after a though, like a major mystery,” he stated. “That slowly but surely manifests into this ball of anxiousness.”

Pelletier-Hague was enthusiastic about the prom and his outfit, which incorporated a velvet purple coat, but there were some nerves as properly.

“It’s heading to be humorous to wander in and have persons see this and a best hat,” he claimed.

After Pelletier-Hague arrived, he fit correct in along with other persons dressed up as fairies, princesses and all types of magical creatures. Even the chaperones dressed up.

Herley Jim Bowling has been chaperoning Queer Promenade for many decades. He serves as congregant at The Church in Ocean Park and co-chair of church plans. He was dressed in a extensive flowing purple skirt with a rainbow sash tied around his waistline. Bowling is gender non-conforming and stated that as an adult, he was influenced seeing young persons convey on their own so freely.

“It’s incredible to get to see them, receiving a little something that I did not essentially experience developing up, and I think that’s so superb,” Bowling said. “I am celebrating them. I am so pleased they are finding to do this.”

Soon after all his difficult work, Gawne also savored the night. He had a quick modify between prepping decorations and coordinating logistics, and emerged in a suit and rainbow masquerade mask.

“I’m just so happy individuals can have this possibility to be as authentically them selves and joyfully on their own they can be and love proudly, and with joy.”