Nothing but a good time

FERNDALE – On Saturday, May 6, the Gerry Kulick Community Center in Ferndale was hopping with 130 young people dancing and throwing back soda pop at the largest Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center Prom ever.
It was the kind of dance older LGBTs could only dream of as kids.
"It's the prom we all deserved to have," said Jason Owens of Royal Oak. Owens, a counselor for Birmingham Public Schools, said he's been volunteering as a chaperone at the Affirmations Prom since 2001.
Events like this one, in addition to the other offerings for young people at Affirmations, have garnered the program dedicated volunteers.
Brian Wootton of Birmingham has been volunteering with the youth group for 15 years. "I do it because there was nothing like this when I was in high school and had there been I might have come out a little sooner," he said, gesturing to the hallway crowded with youth adorned in everything from evening gowns to feather boas to suits and ties to t-shirts. "I always want to be a part of it for as long as I can."
Sydney Burton and Jaycee Porritt, both 15 and both from Troy, attended the prom together as a couple. The two got a lot of attention, but it wasn't because they were both female; something not out of place at this prom. Eyes followed them because Burton sported a fully spiked Mohawk nearly a foot high.
"It takes about 18 minutes to do," said Burton, who added that she sometimes wears it down because she's "too lazy" to do it, but tonight was a special occasion.
Dart Nichols, 21, of Detroit was also impossible to miss. Nichols, who is on the Affirmations youth program staff, sported a brightly colored suit, fully coordinated with shoes and tie. "I think it's orange because I'm a boy," said Nichols, commenting on his suit. "The girls say 'coral' or 'peach.'"
Affirmations Youth Services Coordinator Cass Varner was thrilled with the evening's turnout. "There was one point in the room there were so many people you couldn't even think you could get any more people in the room," she said.
Varner attributes the large turnout to a recent chain of events that helped bring young LGBTs in the community together. "Back in the fall we started the Regional GSA, which kind of unified local GSAs throughout southeast Michigan," she said. "I think [it was] the chain of events – the regional GSA, the safe school advocacy day [in Lansing], Day of Silence – that brought all the youth together, so prom was kind of the end of the event circuit, so to speak."
Her favorite part of the evening? "Just everyone having a really good time," she said. "I've gotten a lot of really good feedback, a lot of positive responses from the youth."
Each year the prom has a different theme. This year was the Emmys. "We had everything there from the red carpet all the way from the front door to the ballroom, there were lights surrounding the room and we handed out awards throughout the night," said Varner. Awards given out included Prom King and Prom Queen, cutest couple, best hair and make up and most unique.
Nichols was voted Prom King along with Prom Queen "Katrina," who just happened to be wearing a fitted dress the same color as Nichols' suit.
Both Varner and Nichols remarked about the diversity of the youth who attended the prom.
"It's not every day you see cross-color lines of the community getting together and having a good time," said Nichols.
"With all the bridging the gap stuff that goes on and still needs to be worked on, it's nice to have an event where everyone gets along and where everyone feels welcome."
For most of the youth, however, what mattered most was having a good time.
For Montez Mays, 20, of Detroit, prom was about "being together with my friends and having fun without any drama. That's the highlight of my night."