“Queer prom season” is now a thing in Chicago. Throughout the spring, queer people who would like to relive their high school prom–to wear a tux instead of a dress, or vice versa, or to plan an elaborate “promposal” for their queer crush—are getting the chance.
Dorothy Downstairs, 2500 W. Chicago Ave, is one business giving them that opportunity on Saturday, June 1 with their second annual Gay Prom, a night of dancing and celebration to kick off Pride Month.
“It’s just a whole new opportunity to say, ‘I get full control over this,’” Dorothy’s creative director Whitney LaMora said. “‘I get full control over what I wear, where I’m going, who I go with, how I present.’ At Dorothy, we create a space that, every night, if you are a person who wants to try out a different way to show up, we foster that.”
It’s also an opportunity to recreate a potentially tough childhood memory, LaMora said.
Last year’s Gay Prom was a major success, and with other prom-themed parties popping up around town–including Center on Halsted and Lawrence Hall’s prom for LGBTQ+ youth, Strapped’s Sapphic Prom and the Asians and Friends Prom–bringing it back for the second year felt like an obvious choice to LaMora. They have already received nearly 350 RSVPs.
Tennessee-based Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery is a principal sponsor.
“I know that there’s a connotation from whiskey, that it’s kind of like a boys club type thing,” Eric Holmes, a Nelson’s account manager, said. “That’s something that we are trying to deviate away from, and show that whiskey is for everyone.”
Holmes, who lives in Logan Square, went to a gay prom and pulled off a “promposal” for his boyfriend, and he’s excited to be a part of the event this year.
“Gay Prom is a really beautiful party and initiative, to kind of give people in our community [a party that wasn’t the same] stereotypical experience for everyone else,” Holmes said.
TORi, Gay Prom’s headlining DJ, didn’t go to their high school prom, because at the time, they didn’t feel free to go as their true self.
Now, as the musical vibe-setter for the event, TORi plans to make the event special with a genre-spanning set–house, hip-hop, disco and alternative.
“Expect the unexpected,” TORi said. “I’m not afraid to play things that you wouldn’t expect to hear.”
So much of prom is really about the music. TORi hopes to help create special moments between people who didn’t get to fully experience prom as a kid, through their music.
“When two people love a song, it’s indescribable,” TORi said.
Gay Prom in 2023 was the first event in the space that had a line down the block, LaMora said.
“It’s not just about queer trauma, it’s about reclaiming queer joy,” LaMora said. “But also, providing an opportunity to have joy for the first time if you didn’t go.”
Gay Prom takes place on Saturday, June 1 from 6 p.m.-1 a.m. RSVPs are free, but they do not guarantee entry.