Second-Chance Prom creates safe space for queer students

On Nov. 5, the Geneseo Pride Alliance hosted their annual Second-Chance Prom, an event where students can have the traditional prom experience and fully express their queerness in a safe and supportive environment. Many queer individuals did not have a safe space in high school when they and their friends were going to prom, and the second-chance prom provides them a chance to make those same memories without worrying about being judged for their expression. 

Pride Alliance Treasurer and sophomore international relations and history double major Zach Horn helped plan the prom.

“The second chance prom event is an event that we hold every Fall, usually around November, where we hold essentially like a prom, but like a second chance prom,” Horn said. “Hence the name for queer individuals who either may not have had prom because of COVID [or] for queer individuals who didn’t get to experience prom because they didn’t feel comfortable attending with their partner or being their authentic self.”

This year, Pride Alliance worked with Geneseo Knight Life (GLK) to create a truly immersive experience for attendees. According to Horn, GLK has been instrumental in providing students the resources they need to hold special events like this one.

“This year, our president Nicole Kemmett did a very good job of coordinating with everybody, especially GLK, another huge thank you because they make so many events on campus possible that would be completely unfeasible otherwise.”

Horn expressed how they were excited that the prom took place in the Union Ballroom this year, saying, “This year it was in the Union ballroom and hopefully we can continue that kind of like tradition of holding it in like a larger space because it was really nice, and it gave people a lot of like room to mingle, etc.”

Pride Alliance hosts other events, such as Second-Chance Bar Mitzvah and a drag ball. 

“Our Second-Chance Bar Mitzvah will be at 5:30 p.m. [on Nov. 11],” said Horn. “The services start at 5:30 in the interface center, and then the dinner is at 6:15. The services are open to anybody—you don’t have to be Jewish to participate in the services. They take everyone and anyone because you know it's like a very open space. And the dinner is also, again, open to everyone. That will be at 6:15 in the interface center again on Nov. 11.”

Pride is open to any and all who are interested. “I joined Pride about October of last year when I was still a freshman and I thought it was like a like a fun space to collectivize with like-minded queer people,” said Horn.

“We’ve been really motivated to do more events and hands-on activities for the campus in general. If you’re interested in joining pride, I would say come to those and if you know maybe you want to come to a more intimate space. We do have our weekly PowerPoint meetings where we just like to sit back and talk. We have a little discussion period, super chill, no judgment, you know, and you don't have to stay the whole time if you don’t feel comfortable. But I would say those are two really great ways to get involved in pride if you’re interested.”