With prom season in full swing, Buzzfeed is shaking things up for high schoolers in the best way possible. The media platform is tapping big-name celebrities and major influencers in the LGBT community to throw its first-ever Queer Prom, a star-studded, red-carpet-style bash at Siren Studios in Hollywood on Saturday, May 13. The once-in-a-lifetime event will celebrate "everything a high school prom should be," according to Buzzfeed, and emphasize themes like inclusivity, diversity, love, and self-expression
You might be wondering, why throw a designated Queer Prom amidst all the other high school proms? According to Buzzfeed, it's needed; LGBT youth across the country are often discouraged from participating in the planning of (or in some cases, even attending) their own proms. There's an unspoken—or in some instances, very spoken—social pressure to follow the so-called "norm" of going to prom with the opposite sex, wearing a suit if you're a guy and wearing a dress if you're a girl. For many teens, there isn't a safe space to express their individuality and enjoy the long-awaited milestone without a dreaded veil of discomfort.
That's where Buzzfeed plans to step in. The online platform is making a statement and throwing an inclusive, magical evening, hosted by Buzzfeed's Eugene Lee Yang, open to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, where they can celebrate unity and acceptance with music, dance, celebrity guests and more. Buzzfeed's hand-selected Queer Prom Court (local high schoolers making a difference in their communities, each of whom will be flown out to Los Angeles and honored at the event) will be joined by students from local high schools, along with LBGT advocates and stars like Adam Lambert, Latrice Royale, Margaret Cho and Ryan Murphy.
For more details about the inaugural Queer Prom, check out this great video below:
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