We're going to prom!

Hello,

My school didn’t have a prom, as such, but it did have a sort of weird end-of-A-levels party. Here’s what I remember: having to go in my manual chair because for some inexplicable reason it was on a boat, being intimidated/horrified by the boys from the boys’ school (and, ahem, wondering why all the girls were trying to snog them), and, bizarrely, everyone who hadn’t been nice to me for seven years suddenly being extremely friendly. It’s testament to how little fun I had as a teenager (and how low my standards for friendship were), that at the time I considered it a good night. It wasn’t.

Still, it could have been worse. I could still go. I have since met disabled people who literally couldn’t access their school dances, or who were too sick to go, or who didn’t have a single friend they could conceivably go with (at least I had one). And in the years since coming out, I have heard from queer people who couldn’t go to their school discos with their crushes, or in the clothes they wanted to wear, or even at all, because they were being so badly bullied.

This is why there is the phenomenon known as queer prom - where queer adults get to rewrite the stories of their youth with glittery, camp, joyful glory. And you know me, I can’t see a thing and not add disability into the mix! When it came to deciding what this year’s Every Body Queer Pride event should be, the answer seemed pretty obvious.

And so, I present to you…

Disabled Queer Prom!

We are so, so excited.

Let me give you a sense of what we have in store for you:

• A playlist of queer bangers and pop throwbacks

• Karaoke courtesy of our lovely friend Celine from Dykes On Mics

• A fab drag performance from disabled king Crip Ladywood

• Face painting and a photobooth

• Some exciting prizes

And, drumroll please…

The whole thing is being hosted by disabled lesbian icon Rosie Jones!

Don’t say we don’t spoil you.

There is of course full step-free access, as well as multiple disabled loos, a quiet room, outside space, BSL interpretation for the performances, no flashing lights and free tickets for PAs. When we say accessible, we mean accessible.

Obviously the event celebrates and centres disabled LGBTQ people, but everyone who’s an ally is welcome! Showing up is a brill way to support a community which is under attack in multiple ways through fun and positivity. God knows we all need it.

Tickets, including several discount options, are available here.

And if you can’t come but you’d like to help us cover all our access costs (sadly, being inclusive is really expensive) and maybe - just maybe - pay ourselves, please consider donating to our fundraiser. A little would go a huge way.

So many Pride events remain inaccessible. Disabled LGBTQ people deserve to party, relax and be in community just as much as our nondisabled peers. Joy matters. We’re here to bring it to you.

With endless thanks as always to my partner-in-crime, Kim, for making this happen, and to all of you for your support.

Let’s go to prom! xx