Mel Weiss, now 88 years old, vividly remembers the dread he felt as his high school prom approached. Fearing anyone would discover he was gay, he decided to bring a girl as his date instead. “This was a time where people were not out,” Weiss recalls, expressing his discomfort with the situation.
Prom night did not turn out to be the formative experience he had hoped for, but decades later, Weiss and many other LGBTQ+ seniors had the opportunity to rewrite their prom memories at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 27th annual Senior Prom event. This event celebrates being gay, something many attendees had once been ashamed of in their youth.
Last week, over 300 seniors dressed up in prom attire and descended upon the Los Angeles Zoo for an evening of dining and dancing. Sponsored by the Angel City Football Club and Charlotte’s Web, this free event provided transportation and even assistance to purchase outfits for those who couldn’t afford it. Most attendees were between the ages of 60 and 80.
The evening was filled with joy as guests mingled and danced, some even finding new romantic connections. Kiera Pollack, director of senior services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, emphasized the importance of creating a space where older LGBTQ+ individuals can come together and celebrate their authentic selves.
Amidst the crowning of “monarchs” and the heartfelt connections made, guests like Weiss and Andre Simpson found solace and happiness in the community that accepted them for who they truly are. Simpson, 67, reflected on the significance of the event, stating, “Seeing all the love, couples kissing, and friends meeting and celebrating just being who you are is truly special.”
With each passing year, the Senior Prom offers a safe haven for LGBTQ+ elders to bond, heal from past hurts, and revel in the joy of acceptance. As Simpson aptly put it, “It’s a wonderful thing to be in a place where you’re totally accepted for who you are.”
