Drexel Hosts Gay Prom

According to The Triangle, Drexel University hosted its annual Grom, or gay prom, on May 12 in the Van Rensselaer by the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion. This event allows students who may not have been included in their high school prom, a chance to experience it in an inclusive environment. For instance, transgender students may not have been able to dress in a way that matches their gender identity and non heterosexual couples may not have been allowed to go to the dance as a couple.

The venue was set up like as if it were a typical prom, except it was tailored to the LGBTQ community with pride flags and gender-neutral bathrooms. The event itself was only $5 to attend, but included food, drinks and a DJ.

“I really enjoyed the whole event. It was well worth the price, the music was good, and the food was delicious,” Isaac Quelly, a fourth-year architectural engineering student, said to The Triangle. “The highlight of my evening was — as a man — dancing with the man I loved, and not feeling like I didn’t belong. Not being an outsider or having to worry about how others thought about me. I could just be in that moment with him.”

Freshman biological sciences major Madison Bockol attended the prom and explained the event to The Triangle: “Overall what made it such a great event was that it was a safe, fun environment for LGBT+ students to dance and celebrate and look their best (which we did). It’s honestly so rare to have spaces where you’re not the odd one out and Grom being a culmination of a bunch of gay and trans kids having fun was what made it great.”

The next Grom is expected to occur in May 2019.