For real though, prom can be an exclusionary, torturous experience, especially for kids who aren’t cisgender, heterosexual, white, neurotypical, able-bodied, or financially comfortable. In very conservative areas, the rules around who can attend often include stipulations that dates must be opposite genders, and the dress code requires assigned-gender conformation. It’s not unusual for prom to be held at a country club or other establishment with an exclusionary, bigoted past.
Anti-Prom is an effort to make something fun for the kids that those proms leave behind.
My parents told me about how when they were in school the single and gay kids had to form fake couples to attend prom because everyone was required to have a opposite-gender date. All of the fake couples split the moment they got in the door and passed the requirements and that was at least as far as the farce had to go.
I didn’t attent my prom when I was in highschool. My girlfriend at the time couldn’t make it and I didn’t have any other friends right then so I knew it would be boring and I honestly don’t regret it at all
I didn’t go either. Why would I spend $80 of my hard earned money to both be bored and uncomfortable all night on a Friday? I could be doing anything else.
If your 16 year old daughter wants to take an alcoholic 28 year old marine corporal to prom though, that’s fine and good. Better get a chauffeur though he lost his driver’s license like 3 DUIs back
I was under the impression Proms are organized by high schools but I feel like even in the USA the ACLU or something would’ve torn that kind of shit down - are they just privately organized events then?
It’s…complicated. This is one of those Deep South things where after Brown v. Board schools couldn’t formally host segregated proms, so they stopped hosting proms entirely and it became a purely student/parent organized affair (at least in some places). There would be a white prom and then a black prom for the high school. And this is legal because it’s a private party. You can do whatever you want for a private party, including making it racially segregated. There’s a documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman called Prom Night in Mississippi which is about the first integrated prom at a small Mississippi high school. It’s a genuinely fascinating topic in part because of how it makes you think about the fundamental function of prom. I mean, why do proms even exist, what are their functional purposes, cultural antecedents, etc? A lot of how they operate and their purpose is tied to the history of debutante balls, which was a way of “presenting” women into society (which is to say they’re ready to be married off in order to form deeper political and economic ties between wealthy families) but they’ve morphed into a signifier of a sexual “coming of age” of American teenagers. That’s why so many movies have teenage characters trying to lose their virginity by prom, or even on prom night itself. In conclusion, prom represents a confluence of racial, gender, and class signifiers (and the innate prejudice associated with those who don’t fit the expected mold for those things).
My wife was part of a group that ran one for a bit at a science fiction convention in the 80s. The concept was for “those men and women in fandom who did not get to attend their prom as teens.” In many cases, it was because they were unpopular nerds as teens, in military families, health issues, and so on. “Let’s run a prom like we wanted to have.” So instead of some boring “popular kid celebration” most proms were, it was just a bunch of nerdy fun men and women who dressed up in costumes, drank, and hung out.
The theme is Fairy Tales, so feel free to wear a crown. Everyone’s prom king and queen here! Semi-formal/Formal is recommended, but not required. There will be a DJ, free snacks, and a mini Instax photo booth. This event is free and open to high school students up to age 18 only. If your parents insist on attending, they will be banished to the library lobby. No younger/older siblings or friends. The door closes at 8:30 p.m. Once you leave the building, you will not be permitted back in.
The Teen Anti Prom is a safe space for you to dance (or not) the night away, no matter your sexuality, gender identity, beliefs, or any other reason.
The events DO collide, annihilating each other without collateral damage. That’s the intention, at least.
A badly calculated anti-prom usually only causes minor irregularities though, such as people switching to preferring tea over coffee and vice versa for a few months.
Starbucks hate it, but Pickwick and Yogi Tea love it.
What’s an anti prom? Do you get your virginity certified on that day or something?
Yes, and you get your official golden DARE card!
For real though, prom can be an exclusionary, torturous experience, especially for kids who aren’t cisgender, heterosexual, white, neurotypical, able-bodied, or financially comfortable. In very conservative areas, the rules around who can attend often include stipulations that dates must be opposite genders, and the dress code requires assigned-gender conformation. It’s not unusual for prom to be held at a country club or other establishment with an exclusionary, bigoted past.
Anti-Prom is an effort to make something fun for the kids that those proms leave behind.
My parents told me about how when they were in school the single and gay kids had to form fake couples to attend prom because everyone was required to have a opposite-gender date. All of the fake couples split the moment they got in the door and passed the requirements and that was at least as far as the farce had to go.
I didn’t attent my prom when I was in highschool. My girlfriend at the time couldn’t make it and I didn’t have any other friends right then so I knew it would be boring and I honestly don’t regret it at all
I didn’t go either. Why would I spend $80 of my hard earned money to both be bored and uncomfortable all night on a Friday? I could be doing anything else.
If your 16 year old daughter wants to take an alcoholic 28 year old marine corporal to prom though, that’s fine and good. Better get a chauffeur though he lost his driver’s license like 3 DUIs back
I was under the impression Proms are organized by high schools but I feel like even in the USA the ACLU or something would’ve torn that kind of shit down - are they just privately organized events then?
It’s…complicated. This is one of those Deep South things where after Brown v. Board schools couldn’t formally host segregated proms, so they stopped hosting proms entirely and it became a purely student/parent organized affair (at least in some places). There would be a white prom and then a black prom for the high school. And this is legal because it’s a private party. You can do whatever you want for a private party, including making it racially segregated. There’s a documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman called Prom Night in Mississippi which is about the first integrated prom at a small Mississippi high school. It’s a genuinely fascinating topic in part because of how it makes you think about the fundamental function of prom. I mean, why do proms even exist, what are their functional purposes, cultural antecedents, etc? A lot of how they operate and their purpose is tied to the history of debutante balls, which was a way of “presenting” women into society (which is to say they’re ready to be married off in order to form deeper political and economic ties between wealthy families) but they’ve morphed into a signifier of a sexual “coming of age” of American teenagers. That’s why so many movies have teenage characters trying to lose their virginity by prom, or even on prom night itself. In conclusion, prom represents a confluence of racial, gender, and class signifiers (and the innate prejudice associated with those who don’t fit the expected mold for those things).
Thank you for the insight
My wife was part of a group that ran one for a bit at a science fiction convention in the 80s. The concept was for “those men and women in fandom who did not get to attend their prom as teens.” In many cases, it was because they were unpopular nerds as teens, in military families, health issues, and so on. “Let’s run a prom like we wanted to have.” So instead of some boring “popular kid celebration” most proms were, it was just a bunch of nerdy fun men and women who dressed up in costumes, drank, and hung out.
That sounds legit amazing
There was a place near me that did an “emo homecoming dance” event and I’m still sad we had a scheduling conflict and couldn’t go
A wholesome thing sounds like:
The theme is Fairy Tales, so feel free to wear a crown. Everyone’s prom king and queen here! Semi-formal/Formal is recommended, but not required. There will be a DJ, free snacks, and a mini Instax photo booth. This event is free and open to high school students up to age 18 only. If your parents insist on attending, they will be banished to the library lobby. No younger/older siblings or friends. The door closes at 8:30 p.m. Once you leave the building, you will not be permitted back in. The Teen Anti Prom is a safe space for you to dance (or not) the night away, no matter your sexuality, gender identity, beliefs, or any other reason.
It’s an event meticulously crafted to exactly counteract prom so that the end result is absolutely nothing happening.
What happens if the two events collide? Do they annihilate each other? Does the resulting explosion destroy the whole city?
The events DO collide, annihilating each other without collateral damage. That’s the intention, at least.
A badly calculated anti-prom usually only causes minor irregularities though, such as people switching to preferring tea over coffee and vice versa for a few months.
Starbucks hate it, but Pickwick and Yogi Tea love it.
I love the SCP but not really vibes of this.
SCP? Secretly Cuddling Proctologists? Scorecard Compilation Prognosis? Sullen Count Prepares?
Secure, Contain, Protect but this one is not actually supposed to be known by the expanded acronym, it’s an internet culture thing I guess.