By Kayla Brown, Staff Writer
The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) will be hosting a Second Chance Dance, Grom (Gay Prom), at St. Paul’s Church from 7-11p.m. on April 13.
The dance will be set up like a high school prom: food and drinks, king and queen, a roaming photographer and slow dancing.
The purpose of the dance is to allow people who may not have been allowed to go to prom with who they wanted, dress how they wanted or go at all, a chance to go with whom they want and wear what they want.
“We are offering a safe space for them to receive a similar experience to a high school prom and hopefully have an amazing night,” GSA Vice President Carrigan Honeyfield said.
The dress code is simple: comfort. GSA President, sophomore Bryce Malick, said,“I’ll be wearing a tux, but you should be comfortable.”
“I personally am very excited for the dance because it gives students a chance to attend a prom like dance with the date of their choice while wearing the clothing of their choice,” Honeyfield said.
“Many students were not able to do both in high school out of either fear of bullying and retaliation from other students or even because their school would not let them,” she continued.
Malick labeled the dance as being in the “guinea pig phase.” It’s the first of its kind at Susquehanna but has already gained significant interest around campus.
There was talk about a dance like this last year, but nothing came of it, so Malick decided to try again this year in hopes of it becoming an annual tradition.
The goal of Susquehanna’s GSA is to educate individuals on problems that the queer community faces and allow for a safe place for people to be themselves, whether it be gender, sexuality, etc., according to Malick.
GSA is not just for those in the queer community, but all those who believe in equality and want to learn more.
Malick simply said, “It’s for anyone.”
Like the other GSA events, the Second Chance Dance is open to anyone looking for acceptance, whether they be an ally to or a part of the queer community.
More information will be available on rainbow colored flyers placed around campus.
Anyone interested can RSVP at http://grom.rsvpify. com. RSVP is not required to attend but is helpful.
The church is located at 400 N. Market St., Selinsgrove, Pa., and transportation will be provided.
This dance is not the only way Susquehanna’s GSA provides accepting and safe social events.
They have hosted and attended numerous other events and programs including the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mid-Atlantic LGBTQA Conference in Philadelphia, Keystone Conference in Harrisburg and general networking for students.