Allies, Baldwin Wallace University’s LGBTQ+ student organization, hosted their annual Pride Prom Saturday from 7:30-10:00 p.m in the Student Activity Center.
Pride Prom has been a tradition at BW for several years. This year, the free event provided music, dancing games, snacks and Halloween coloring activities.
Ana Boe, the faculty advisor for Allies and the coordinator for LGBTQ services at BW, said that Pride Prom is the biggest event Allies runs.
“Pride Prom is a place for queer people to feel represented in a fun community,” Jena Parks, co-president of Allies, said
However, Pride Prom provided a space for all students to feel like they belong, welcoming any students who wished to attend. Boe said that when she was a young adult, events like Pride Prom were not available.
Despite Pride Prom being an event for students who are queer, Randy Forshey, co-president of the Allies said that for some students, Pride Prom is also a substitute for not attending events like their high school’s prom.
Forshey said that he did not go to his high school prom, and that Pride Prom is a way to relive that missed experience without feeling pressure.
While this event is primarily for BW students, people can bring dates from off campus as well.
“We encourage all people to attend,” Forshey said.
Considering the length of which Pride Prom has been held at BW, students weigh in on what they believe is the largest impact the event has had on campus.
“Fostering community, creating a space where people feel accepted and creating an event that people feel accepted by,” Parks said.
Forshey said that he feels like Pride Prom inspired a lot of students to come, not only the members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Allies partnered with the student production of the cult classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show. Once Pride Prom ended, the pre-show activities began, with the show beginning at 11:00 p.m.
For those who are interested in attending more Allies events, there will be a collaboration with Book Jackets on Nov. 10 at 4:30-6:00 p.m about queer literature. For more information about future events and updates, follow @bwallies on social media to learn more.
Events similar to Pride Prom were “not available to me when I was a young person,” Boe said.
