Senior prom for LGBTQ+ elders gives them another chance to have a memorable experience

While we still have strides to make in LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity, progress has been made. There was a time when identifying as queer and gaining acceptance was nearly impossible, causing many to miss out on key experiences like school prom. To recreate this experience, the Los Angeles LGBT Center hosts a Senior Prom, allowing LGBTQ+ elders to enjoy a prom of their own.

"This weekend, we celebrated Senior Prom at the @LAZoo, an event dedicated to giving our LGBTQ+ elders a second chance at a memorable prom experience," the caption of the Instagram post by the center read. The post featured photos of individuals and couples in their fun element with contagious joy on their faces. For many of these seniors, their actual high school prom was not the most ideal event. 88-year-old Mel Weiss was scared of being at his high school prom and had to bring a girl as his date because he didn't want people to know he was gay, as reported by The Washington Post.

"This was a time where people were not out. I just felt uncomfortable," Weiss said. But he, along with several other elders over 50, was invited to come live the experience in a way he would enjoy when the LGBT center held its 27th Senior Prom this year. People could either bring a date or come alone and interact with people at the event. "Many of our older adults grew up in a time where coming out was really hard. This was before gay marriage was even possible," Kiera Pollack, director of senior services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, told the outlet. More than 300 seniors gathered at the Los Angeles Zoo for an evening of dancing and dinner. Most of them were aged between 60 and 80. 

Angel City Football Club and Charlotte's Web sponsored the event. It was free and included transportation and prom clothes for seniors who couldn't arrange it. "We had so many people that were so happy to be there and to be able to connect with each other. I saw a number of people just being able to be themselves and be able to kiss their partner and dance and feel connected … it was just beautiful," Pollack expressed. Weiss, along with two others, were crowned the Prom Monarch, a concept inspired by the Prom King and Queen. The honor is given to the oldest people at the event.

When these people were teens, many of them chose to skip senior prom as it was too difficult to be there. Others like Andre Simpson went, but it was not fun for him. "It's an inoculation against the past hurts, the past pain. A lot of elders in the LGBTQ community have survived a lot, and still, their spirits are happy. They're still joyful inside. They have not been destroyed by life's disappointments," Simpson Shared. Andi Segal, 71, came to know that she was lesbian at 17 years old, per PBS News. "You dress up, you look your best, who can ask for more," Segal pointed out.