The GLBT Community Alliance (GLBTCA) hosted the Second Chance Prom in Witherspoon Ballroom on Saturday to promote inclusion in high school proms and dances. The event has come back after a one-year hiatus, and GLBTCA hopes to make the prom an annual event.
Brandon Coates, a fourth-year studying psychology and member of GLBTCA, spoke on the details and message of this event.
“The GLBT Community Alliance has been doing it for a number of years now, and basically the real purpose for this event [is focused on] any queer kids or queer people who didn’t get to have a prom that was something for them,” Coates said. “So they could be themselves or bring the partner they wanted to bring or just expressed themselves the way they wanted to, so we decided to create an event that would fill that role and be able to be a prom event that someone could present, dress and bring whoever they want to bring without fear of being judged or anything like that.”
The prom had an outer space theme decided by a vote within the GLBTCA. Witherspoon was filled with space-themed decor. The food included fun items like savory star- and moon-shaped sandwiches while the drinks presented an even wider selection of funky, astronaut-like beverages.
The drinks, food and festivities all took a backseat to the feeling of inclusion and happiness felt by the promgoers as they danced and talked freely.
Melana Sachpatzidis, a second-year studying communication, talked before the event about how the Second Chance Prom resonated with her.
“I’m hoping to see a lot of people showing up with the partner that they want, do what they want, dressed how they want, to be more diversified then the original prom,” Sachpatzidis said. “I want everyone to feel included. It’s a safe place for everyone.”
Sachpatzidis said the event gave her opportunities her high school prom never did.
“I grew up as a lesbian in a really heteronormative setting and no one told me ‘okay you have the choice to wear a suit,’” Sachpatzidis said. “So all three years of prom I was wearing a dress, but now it’s like this Second Chance Prom told me ‘hey, I can dress how I want, bring whichever partner I want and you know you can do anything. If you want to be traditional you can, and if you don’t then don’t.’ This is what this [event] is for. I feel like that’s really nice that, in fact, I’m going to come up in a suit for the first time ever. It’s like remaking the memory the way I want it to be remade.”
Adrian Chamberlin, a first-year studying fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, volunteered at the event. Chamberlin said he approved of the idea that Second Chance Prom should be a place to not worry about labels.
“It should be able to be a fun event that everyone should be able to come to and just have fun,” Chamberlin said. “Prom is for everyone. That prom shouldn’t be something that you have to put on appearances for [or that] you have to put a part of yourself away for. Prom is for everyone.”
*Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with correct pronouns for Adrian Chamberlin.
