Features / New Years Eve
Have a very queer New Year
Prom can be a difficult time for people identifying as LGBTQ+. In a cisgender, heteronormative world, high school prom is the peak of this: dates with the opposite gender, pretty dresses for girls and suit and tie for boys.
For the LGBTQ+ community who didn’t go to prom or didn’t go as their true selves, Queer Prom is a night dedicated to providing the community with the prom night they always wanted but never had.
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is needed now More than ever
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“I started Queer Prom in 2014 following a conversation with a group of friends,” explains Queer Prom founder, Vicki Cook. “We were talking about our experiences of prom and none of us had a positive experience, either because we didn’t attend due to fear of homophobia or transphobia or because we did attend, and we were unable to attend as our true selves.”
Queer Prom comes to Bristol for New Years Eve
Vicki, who is 28-years-old and lives in Brighton started Queer Prom nights in the seaside town and held the first Bristol event in February of 2019.
“Bristol has such a gorgeous and vibrant queer community, so it felt like we were coming home even though it was our first time hosting an event here,” she says. “The event was a roaring success and we can’t wait to come back and see lots of familiar faces and hopefully some new faces too.”
Prom is often viewed as a ‘rite of passage’ for young people, but unfortunately it is one, among many others, that queer individuals rarely have access to.
New Queers Revolution will take place at the Old Market Assembly
“I decided to organise a queer prom so that the LGBTQ+ community could have the opportunity to rewrite those negative or non-existent prom experiences and go to prom as their true selves with the ones they love, free from fear and prejudice,” says Vicki.
The queer community can celebrate the new year at New Queers Revolution, hosted by Queer Prom at Old Market Assembly.
Merging three events, the night will begin with a Queer Banquet where guests can break bread with their queer family.
This will be followed by a cabaret show with a star-studded line-up of queer performers, including Oliver Assets, Felix Le Freak and Jada Love, with more to be announced. Following a stellar show, the new year will be brought in with a bang by the city’s best queer DJs.
A photographer will be at the event to capture everyone at their queer prom
As well as being a fun event and one to rewrite negative experiences, Vicki, who works as a sexual health worker, recognises the rebellion in hosting such events, saying: “It is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous to be queer and visible which is why the need for safe spaces and events that promote and celebrate the queer community are more important than ever.”
Queer Prom will bring New Queers Revolution to the Old Market Assembly on December 31 from 6pm. Tickets are available from www.outsavvy.com/event/3442/queer-prom-bristol-nye-special-tickets and range from free to £30.
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