The Ferris community came together for dances and drag queen performances as the university hosted its second consecutive Second Chance Prom.
The theme for this year’s Second Chance Prom was “Night at Olympus.” The opportunity offered a way for students to express their gender and sexuality in ways that they may not have been able to in high school or at home.
booth and more. Photo by: Jordan Wilson | Multimedia Editor
The dance was organized by Diversity Advocacy for Identity and Sexuality Empowerment, LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pride Big Rapids and Education Counseling and Disabilities Services. Although the target audience was those in the LGBTQ+ community, the event was open to everyone.
Computer information technology freshman Zack Race found a big event, like a prom, beneficial for bringing students together.
“This university is all about including everybody,” Race said. “And I’ve learned that just from going to basic events like orientation. Representing LGBTQ has become such a big thing every day here. A Second Chance Prom, I think it was a great choice, especially for those who were afraid to express their personality and sexuality in high school.”
Race also said that every day in his Ferris email, he sees something regarding the LGBTQ+ community, and those emails open his eyes to see what they’re all about. He stated that it encouraged him to come to the prom and that he respects and supports everything they do.
The prom featured performances from three different drag queens and one drag king.
One of the performers, Michigan-based drag queen BittaSweet, found it an absolute honor to perform in front of the Ferris community.
“It lets me express my drag and my art form to everyone,” BittaSweet said. “But it also allows me to show others that it’s okay to come out of your comfort zone, be yourself and be proud of it. It’s okay to push the boundaries and be yourself.”
After the drag queens performed, the floor was open for the students to dance, take pictures and enjoy the company they were surrounded by.
Social work sophomore Emily Buys found the drag show engaging and entertaining.
“I loved the drag show,” Buys said. “I’m from Big Rapids, so I don’t get to see a lot of that all the time, so I thought it was really good. I really enjoyed it.”
As the drag queens performed, students got involved with the performers by tipping them money, cheering when they did some moves and waving flags and signs during the performances.
Biotechnology and forensic science senior and DAISE Treasurer Alejandro Garrido-Pacheco found it important to be a part of putting the prom together as that allowed him to be more involved with the community.
“I’ve never been to my high school prom because it was an opportunity that I never felt comfortable to go to,” Garrido-Pacheco said. “Throwing these events has allowed me to be as inclusive as possible in these open spaces. I love doing bigger events like this when we’re bringing out this out to people, showing that we’re still here.”
Social work senior and President and Co-founder of DAISE Al Alley found that making the Second Chance Prom occur in March would be the best time for students, as far as coming together as a community.
“I think it’s really important to take time and have a moment to breathe and celebrate with each other without judgment. Having an event like this where students can forget about things I believe is very important.”
The Ferris community hopes to bring back the Second Chance Prom for the third straight year for the next academic year.