Columbus' Kaleidoscope Youth Center has canceled its "Other Prom."
The annual event is considered a prom alternative for LGBTQ+ youth.
Erin Upchurch, executive director of the Kaleidoscope Youth Center, said the dance, originally set for late May, was called off due to staffing changes and the lack of a venue. Today’s political climate also played a role in the decision to cancel the event.
"It probably can go without saying that it's rough out here in the world right now for a lot of folks,” Upchurch said.
She pointed to state and federal legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
“Right now, our young people are waking up and hearing from their government, their leaders, whether it be federal or statewide or local, that they don't deserve to exist,” Upchurch said.
Safety is always at the top of mind for Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Upchurch said, but there were no specific safety concerns or threats made against the "Other Prom."
Upchurch said the "Other Prom" started in the mid-90s as an alternative to school prom dances.
“In the 90s, early 2000s, it wasn't always safe for young people to come to prom, expressing their gender in the way they wanted to, coming with a partner or partners. It was a created safer space for young folks to also have that prom and community experience,” Upchurch said.
She said in 2018, more than 400 young people from about 70 schools all over the state attended the "Other Prom."
Numbers dipped after the COVID-19 pandemic, but Upchurch doesn’t see that as a bad thing.
“That’s something that we celebrate, because that means that youth are having experiences at their home schools or in their community that are safer and more affirming,” Upchurch said.
Still, she said the "Other Prom" and Kaleidoscope’s other programs still serve as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth.
Kaleidoscope still plans to hold its Pride event in June.
In the meantime, Upchurch said adults can support LGBTQ+ youth by being safe people in their lives.
"I don’t want (Kaleidoscope Youth Center) to be the only place. I want there to be other safer and affirming places around,” Upchurch said. “For the people who have that power, do the work to make sure that young folks can be in your presence and have that experience.”
