LAKEPORT>>> The Lake County Pride Prom returned for its third year, held at the Lakeport Fairgrounds on Saturday. The evening’s event featured a theme: “A Night Under the Stars.” Redwood Community Services- the Harbor Youth Resource Center held the event to support local LGBTQ+ youths, aged 14 to 24, and to give them a private space to celebrate identity and have fun.
As outlined by Laura Sullivan, the clinical program director with RCS, the event was well supplied. There was a dance floor with a DJ, a stocked snack bar with everything from popcorn to sandwiches, and even refreshments like ice water, ice, and soda. There was also a space for pictures to be taken and a craft table.
“…we find youth that maybe aren’t the most socially dynamic, so it gives them an activity to take part in too. So people are making little necklaces and vials,” Sullivan stated after being found at the craft table.
According to the organizers, supervision and safety were a crucial priority for Pride Prom. Both Sullivan and the event’s creator, Ravon Wilczewski, separately conveyed the precautions taken, including the use of wristbands to identify ages between minors and young adults. In addition, there were various volunteers staffing the event and keeping a watchful eye on those in attendance.
“We have chaperones, we have security measures, it functions like any other family-oriented event.” Wilczewski stated while standing outside of the auditorium at its entrance. All attendees had to RSVP in advance online and then be verified before being given a wristband. The wristbands were color separated between green and orange to reflect age difference.
The event’s purpose was to provide to Lake County’s local LGBTQ+ community, especially diverse youths. Wilczewski, a bisexual woman, shared that the idea of Pride Prom came from wanting to attend a pride event during her time at Upper Lake High School. The problem was that there weren’t many pride resources available; the closest events were in Ukiah or Santa Rosa. It was thanks to the Lake County Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) that a footprint was made. This year, that honor goes to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).
Another staffer of the event and Lake County local, RCS program supervisor Justin Perez, supported Wilczewski’s comments.
“So, as RCS stands for inclusiveness, I think this is a great event that brings a lot of youth, a lot of disadvantaged youth and it ties a lot with our values through serving the community, serving our transitional age youth and providing a safe place at times where Lake County may not have had those in the previous history.”
There lies hope for the future, not merely in further Pride Proms or new events. Wilczewski cited a statistic that 40 percent of LGBTQ youth are less likely to commit suicide if they had others to support them from a single person to a community. Sullivan also spoke about how one attendee approached her and confided that, even if this is their second pride event, it’s the one they’re most out at and where they can be themselves.
“We just want to grow the acceptance, grow the diversity, and let everybody know they’re welcomed, and their community is here to support them.” Wilczewski stated.
