Weeks before his senior prom in Aravada, Colo., Matthew Guiterrez, president of Brite Signal Alliance, received a phone call from the principal denying him the right to take his boyfriend to prom.
“I promised myself after my high school prom that I would not allow any kind of discrimination to happen again,” Guiterrez said. “I felt that at prom we had to fit this stereotype of what a high school prom looks like and that wasn’t me at all.”
Because many LGBT students weren’t able to take who they wanted to their high school prom, Brite Signal Alliance, a gay-straight alliance club on campus will host “A prom we never had” on Feb.10 at the Dayton Racquet Club, from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The promenade is open to the public.
Tickets are on sale for $35 per person. After Feb. 3, tickets will be sold for $45 per person. Light hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Tickets are available in the Student Leadership Association office in Building 8 Room 025 and with Cynthia Rippie in Building 9 Room 222.
Dinner will be at Ruby Tuesday in Centerville on Far Hills Avenue and in Vandalia on Miller Lane. The two restaurants will donate 20 percent of all proceeds to the Brite Signal Alliance scholarship fund.
Wright State University and the University of Dayton will collaborate with Brite Signal Alliance to make the prom a success, Guiterrez said.
On the night of his senior prom, Guiterrez took a girl and another close girl friend of his took his boyfriend to the prom. Except Guiterrez and his boyfriend soon found out that they weren’t allowed to dance with one another at the prom or express any type of affection.
“It was really like we attended prom, but we didn’t really get to attend prom,” Guiterrez said. “There is a void in me about that night. All I wanted to do was be like my fellow classmates and be able to enjoy the celebration of the prom with someone that I wanted to be with.”
This time around, Guiterrez plans to relive his high school prom and replace his memories of that night with some he will never forget.
“We are an advocate for people unable to speak up for themselves,” Guiterrez said. “We just want to be viewed as regular everyday people. We want to bring awareness, dance and have a good time in a nice, fun and safe environment.”
For more information contact Guiterrez at matthew.guiterrez@my.sinclair.edu.