LGBT community goes Gaga for annual dance
Jason Armstrong traveled from Michigan to surprise his girlfriend and take her to tonight’s Queer Prom.
“Everybody should try to go to Queer Prom, because its main focus is to accept everybody whether you are gay or straight,” said Armstrong, who attended Ohio University as a freshman in the fall and will return in the spring to study linguistics. “It’s not an exclusive gay party.”
The annual Queer Prom hosted by ALLY, a campus organization working to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, is at 9 tonight in Walter Hall. Inspired by pop star Lady Gaga, the theme is “Monster Ball,” thanks to collaboration with the OU Little Monsters, said Tiffani Smith, ALLY president.
“Anybody who might not have had the opportunity to bring a date of their choice to their high school prom can bring their date to Queer Prom,” said Smith, a senior studying psychology.
This year is the first time the event did not receive any funding from the Student Activities Commission. In previous years, the group has received between $400 and $500 to host the event, Smith said.
To accommodate the funding cuts, the event will cost $650 this year as opposed to $1,200 in previous years, all the baked goods will be homemade, instead of using Baker University Center catering, and the group has done more fundraising. The event remains free for the public, Smith said.
“We really want to give back to the LGBT community for all they do year-round,” she said. “We will have basically nothing left in our account, but it will be worth it.”
Sophomore Aaryn Cunningham, who attended the event last year, would like to see more allies of the community come to the “Monster Ball.”
“It’s important for gays to know they are supported and that there are people out there who will say, ‘Hi, I’ll do this and be comfortable doing it,’” said Cunningham, who is studying theater and communications.
She plans to attend with a gay male friend, and though she would normally be more comfortable in pants, she will be decked out in a fancy dress and heels, she said.
“Normally, we would switch [our clothing] up, but we wanted to look classy,” Cunningham said. “A girl button-up with a tie would be cute, though. Maybe junior year.”
Armstrong said it was important to travel back for the event to see ALLY’s work and to socialize with old friends.
“I look forward to just dancing,” he said. “I really haven’t been dancing for a while. I should dance everyday — it’s good for your spirit.”
The event is self DJ-ed and, though it’s Lady Gaga-themed, the music will accommodate the musical interests of all attendees. Last year 125 people attended, but this year organizers want to extend the crowd to 200, Smith said.
“I hope people get out of the event that you can have fun regardless of differences,” she said. “You don’t have to agree with everything someone does in their life to have fun with them at a social event. That’s the underlying political message: All people can come together for this one event.”
jc543108@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
