Prom for Gay Students

* Gay Los Angeles Unified School District students recently had the opportunity to enjoy an all-gay prom, free from the stresses of the outside world (May 22). An all-gay prom may temporarily serve the gay students’ self-esteem but it does nothing to help them deal with the real world. If LAUSD wants to teach these students that they can only feel safe inside a gay ghetto, a separate gay prom is a good start.

I believe that both gay and non-gay students would be better served by gay students taking their same-sex dates to the regular school prom. Last I checked, the school prom was not designated “straights only.” LAUSD should encourage its students to attend the school prom with dates of any gender they like and step in if anyone acts out of line. LAUSD should encourage gay students to live openly among their non-gay peers and encourage non-gay students to live respectfully with their gay peers.

It is ironic that this story of a “separate but equal” prom comes in the same week as the 40th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. The openly gay community faces separatism similar to that experienced by African Americans until the 1950s, except the forces of separatism often come from within the gay community itself. Gay proms, West Hollywood, domestic partnership laws: These are all separate and unequal ghettos created by gays who rightfully didn’t feel safe in the straight world. The time has come for the gay community to rejoin the larger American community. Of course, then there is the question of whether or not gays will be let in.

ADAM ROSS

Los Angeles

* We would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone involved in coordinating “Live to Tell,” the gay and lesbian prom night held May 20 at the Los Angeles Hilton. Our 16-year-old son attended with his friend, and what he found at this event was a strong, protective, validating network of truly loving peers and adults. We know this helps him considerably in his own rite of passage.

We need more activities of this nature for our gay and lesbian youth in order to balance or even quell the prejudice and intolerance of the “religious right” or the downright ignorant. Fortunately, the pride and happiness we witnessed on this night rendered the protesters outside the Hilton virtually voiceless.

Our one concern about this event was the possibility of hecklers. However, after seeing how organized and chaperoned it was, we were able to leave feeling very comfortable and peaceful knowing that our son and others could enjoy an event that should be a part of all young people’s high school experience. The ballroom was beautifully decorated, the chaperons supportive, and the young faces radiant with pride. As it should be.

MICHAEL and PATRICIA BRANTON

Topanga