The first-ever Pride Prom in Contra Costa County will be held at Concord High School on April 23 for Juniors and Seniors from more than half a dozen high schools in the county.
PFLAG of Clayton-Concord has been sponsoring the GSA forum for high school students in the MDUSD since 2018, the organization told KCBS Radio. At the last in-person GSA meeting in 2020 students requested "a prom of our own." PFLAG of Clayton-Concord and the Rainbow Community Center are co-sponsoring the event this year to give LGBTQIA students their own event to be completely themselves.
"I think having a Pride Prom is important to the community because there's a sense of safety and even confidentiality in holding an event like this," a former co-president of GSA from Ygnacio Valley High School said.
The prom is open to juniors and seniors in the MDUSD, as well as Carondelet, De La Salle, Clayton Valley Charter and Alhambra High Schools, and they expect about 100 students to attend. The students have selected a theme and they will have a DJ from the community, a professional photographer, catered appetizers and desserts.
"Pride Prom is an opportunity for students to come to be their authentic selves and celebrate life on what we hope will be an evening to remember," Kathleen Krentz President of PFLAG of Clayton-Concord told KCBS Radio.
Tickets for the prom are $40 dollars and anyone who wants to support Pride Prom can donate money to sponsor tickets for students in need.
"We know that young people may not be in a safe space to ask for the dollars to attend such an event from a parent or guardian or have the means to do that," Kiku Johnson the Executive Director of the Rainbow Community Center said.
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