The under-the-sea splendor of the 20th Annual Drag Show did not leave the Banquet Rooms — it was revamped at SAGE’s Pride Prom on April 3.
“So many of us never got a special night to be fully ourselves, which is why we have our own,” SAGE wrote 0n their Instagram account. “Pride Prom is our night to celebrate, be proud and show up exactly how we are.”
The lack of an event dress code was an intentional move by the organizers to welcome friends in comfy pajamas or handmade dresses. If the Drag show is SAGE’s explosive celebration of the LGBTQ+ culture, Pride Prom is the private and cozy celebration with community members, Claire Childers, SAGE president explained.
“It’s my third year coming and it’s pretty good,” Jay, a studio arts student, said. “It’s just a nice way for the community to come together and just like, spread love, have fun, just hang out.”
Jay emphasized that beyond the joy of spending time at a safe space, Pride Prom is important during polarized times as a way to remain together and build community. Ruth Ann, an OCC student attending the event, echoed Jay’s thoughts on community building.
“It’s very important because we don’t really — especially for the younger generations, our generation — get out a whole lot and are afraid to go out to public spaces,” Ann said. “So if we have stuff like this at contained spaces like Oakland University, OCC and other places, then we feel more safe, because these are areas where we know that not much could go down like at Pronto’s bar in Royal Oak.”
The Queer Student Alliance at Oakland Community College puts on a similar event, the Emerald Gala, to celebrate queer culture, Anne explained. Submerged in all these initiatives, Ann proposed book clubs, art displays and collaborations between OCC and OU to strengthen the community ties.
“When it comes to being around in most places, I’m always the one that people avoid because I’m always dressed in weird all-black clothes, I always got my black boots rocking around,” Garris, a graphic design student, said. “But here it’s always just smiles, and everybody says hi… No one really tries to go out of the way to walk around you, which is really nice, because it makes you feel less invisible.”
Being Garris’ first prom night, they acknowledge that they skipped high school prom due to COVID, an experience shared by other attendees. Garris acknowledged that they may feel lonely sometimes but events put on by SAGE always help to find community, relax and have fun.
Students enjoyed deserts, a soft soundscape of party classics and board games while they catched up with friends before finals and got to meet new people. As part of Pride Month at OU, SAGE and the Gender and Sexuality Center hosted many other celebrations through March, with the prom one of the final events for the semester.
“You realize that you’re not alone, there’s always other people, and it’s always a good place to come to to remember how to smile,” Garris said. “It can feel so much like a time where it feels hard to smile, but [in] a place like this, it’s so hard not to, because it’s always just much fun.”
For more SAGE events, please visit their grizzorgs website or the OU Pride Month website.
