First Adult Queer Prom Celebrates Black and Brown Philadelphians at the Museum of Art
Queer Prom guests had filled Lenfest Hall by 10PM, busting out their moves under the purple and blue strobe lights on the dance floor as the DJ toggled between English- and Spanish- language music tracks.
They arrived at 8PM. Voices and laughter echoing outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Queer Prom had finally arrived. Friends, couples, singles, in an array of outfits from black and brown tuxedos, and silver and emerald-green dresses. Inside the museum’s Lenfest Hall, Top 40s music rumbled.
This was the Gay and Lesbian AIDS Education Initiative’s (GALAEI) first queer prom hosted for those 21+. The organization serves Queer and Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC). The nonprofit is based in North Philadelphia, a neighborhood predominantly Black and Latino according to the 2021 Census Report. For 25 years, GALAEI has hosted Queer Prom for adolescents between 16–20 years old, according to the event registration page. For attendees, Queer Prom was about celebrating their identities in a space they weren’t provided growing up.
“I wanted to be here tonight because I wanted to give myself a chance to release my inner child,” said Will, an attendee in their early 20s who came alone. They wore a black dress and gold arm sleeves, and accessorized with a gold chain and earrings.
Will is a software developer who received their bachelor’s degree in computer science. After graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, they relocated to Philadelphia. Will says anti-queer bigotry is one of the main reasons for relocating. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) state equality index flags Alabama as a high priority to achieve basic rights due to the lack of protections for LGBTQ people. There are presently no state laws that protect LGBTQ residents against employment, education, or housing discrimination. Moreover, Alabama neither recognizes hate crimes perpetrated against LGBTQ people, nor allows gender marker updates to identification documents.
“I was just happy the Uber dropped me off at the right entrance because I didn’t want to walk around the area in what I’m wearing” says Will. “I know it’s Philadelphia, but you still never know how safe you are.”
Others were curious about what the prom experience could be like for themselves. “I’ve never been to a queer prom before and I got the invite from a friend who’s on the mailing list,” says Keisha, a Philly local who had come with another attendee. Raquel, a guest from Washington DC, had come to the event with her fiancé. “I heard about the prom from friends in Philly so her and I decided to come tonight and celebrate.”
Steve, an attendee in his late 30s from South Philly, says he wasn’t out in high school. “If I had a prom like this in high school, I would’ve been excited about going to it,” he says.
GALAEI is the only LGBTQ organization in North Philadelphia that supports QTBIPOC according to Ebony Ali, the nonprofit’s program manager of Student Power Leadership and Activism Together (S.P.L.A.T.). She says that most of the city’s LGBTQ focus has been in the downtown neighborhood, Center City. According to Data USA, Center City is almost 70% white. The area is home to numerous LGBTQ organizations: William Way LGBT Community Center, Colours Organization Inc, SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center, MarcDavid LGBTQ Center, and Philly Pride Presents, among others.
“Things are better for trans folks than they were 10 years ago,” says Ali. “Back then, there was more focus on men who have sex with men (MSM). Today you see more focus on trans women, but not so much on trans men because of the stigma.” According to the Discover Philadelphia website, Philadelphia is one of the U.S.’ most LGBTQ-friendly cities.
However, according to Ali, not all LGBTQ identities are normalized in North Philadelphia. “Trans women of color are still at risk, they’re still kicked out of their homes,” she said. “Our organization goes to schools in the community to help provide a trans education. Among some of the things we talk about are the bias trans people face, and the issues around bathroom preference.” According to the GALAEI mission statement, the organization is creating access, opportunities, sexual empowerment, and economic development for all QTBIPOC individuals while fighting systemic oppression, structural racism, discrimination, and white supremacy.
Queer Prom guests had filled the hall by 10PM, busting out their moves under the purple and blue strobe lights on the dance floor as the DJ toggled between English- and Spanish- language music tracks. Two projector screens on either side of the hall streamed reruns of runway fashion from queer designers’ clothing lines. Some groups went to fix themselves a plate at the buffet while others walked freely into select art exhibits that onsite security guards permitted.
Ali performed in drag during the final hour of the event. Hundreds of spectators stood in Lenfest’s Great Stair Hall at this point, lining along the balconies above and crowding the dance floor below.
As Ali concluded her performance, she grabbed the mic and shouted, “Doing drag is not a crime!” The audience applauded and cheered.
