A group of high school students in North Vancouver had their application accepted for an “It Gets Better” grant to do a Queer Prom and a series of events leading up to the main event. The club aims to be a safe space for queer students, allies and faculty. During their meetings they have discussions, do crafts, plan events, drink tea, share queer history and culture, and more. They have been working throughout the year to establish connections between queer youth groups to create more teamwork, a greater sense of community and ultimately a stronger fight against anti-queer discrimination in schools.
LET’S is helping with organizing, providing 2SLGBTQIA+ history, providing low sensory spaces, and doing an accessibility audit of the venue. We went to The Pipe Shop in North Vancouver, with the students and support teacher, to review the site and how best to arrange the Queer Prom. The venue is mainly accessible with accessible washrooms. The main accessibility issue is parking. It is near transit. We helped the students envision where to place the various compartments of the event and where best to locate the low sensory space. We also talked about safety and security to ensure the participants are able to focus on enjoying the event. We look forward to continuing to work with this keen group of students as we move closer and closer to the Queer Prom.