The YWCA’s LGBTQIA* and Allies Prom commenced in 2016 in response to a call from young people for more social events for gender and sexually diverse young people in Canberra. This annual event provides a fantastic occasion for young LGBTQIA+ people and/or allies, aged between 12 and 25 years, to celebrate and express their identities, in a non-judgemental environment.
This year, YWCA Canberra staff supported young people from gender and sexuality diverse groups across the ACT to develop a subcommittee to ensure that the Prom 2017 was a meaningful and successful event for all young people involved. Through this committee, the young people had control over the theme, catering, information and other aspects of Prom 2017. This resulted in the introduction of pronoun badges for young people to wear if they chose, a chill- out space, the Halloween theme, a photo booth and non-gendered toilets.
Organisation partners who helped make this event a success include: Formal Partnerships
- Aids Action Council
- Mental Health Community Coalition of ACT – Mental Health Week Grant
- Canberra Gay and Lesbian Tennis Club
- ACT Government
- A Gender Agenda Allies
- Woden Community Service
- Belconnen Community Service
- Headspace Canberra and Queanbeyan
- PFLAG Capital Region (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
- ACT Policing
- Volunteers