Out Youth’s Queer Prom is our most anticipated event of the year. In addition to fueling the drive to make all high school proms LGBTQIA-friendly, the Out Youth Queer Prom has proven to be the centerpiece of our community visibility.

Appropriately enough, Out Youth’s first Prom was actually a Homecoming Dance and simply was an alternative to high school dances. We quickly realized it was a powerful exercise in self-expression and fearlessly being yourself.

It comes as no surprise that most LGBTQIA youth do not get to experience prom in the same way as their straight peers. They are excluded from participating not only in the fun of prom, but from the experience of prom as a significant event in their development. By providing a safe space to dance the night away, youth and adults not only can be themselves, but can enjoy prom with whomever they choose to bring along.

The Prom is held on a Saturday night every May, beginning at 8 p.m. Adults are encouraged to attend for the first two hours so they can create prom memories of their own. At 10 p.m., the dance floor is turned over to the youth until midnight.

In 2010, Whole Foods became the presenting sponsor of Prom. Their enthusiasm and generosity has meant that Prom found its home on the terrace of the Whole Foods flagship store in downtown Austin – a a safe space for fun and socializing.