Azula, who captivated in her performance at Pride Prom.
Azula knew how to keep the crowd on its toes. She took in the faces around her, her eyes glittering and bright. Her head seemed to snap quickly from side to side. As the audience clapped along to Danna Paola’s Agüita, Azula launched into a deep dip, and a sea of cheers and laughter followed.
This was the scene last Saturday at the New Haven Pride Center’s fifth Pride Prom, held at the parish house of the United Church on the Green. Revived once in 2018 and again this summer, it marked the first time since Covid-19 shutdowns that teens gathered in person for the event, held on the heels of prom season across Connecticut and the country.
In addition to the Pride Center, sponsors included Q Plus, Meriden Pride, and North Haven Pride.
Kylee Herold, youth services coordinator at the New Haven Pride Center.
“The whole idea is that LGBT kids don’t always get to be comfortable at prom,” said Kylee Herold, youth services coordinator at the New Haven Pride Center. “They don’t necessarily get to go with the partner they choose or in the clothing that is most affirming for them. So we wanted to create a prom space where they have the freedom to be themselves.”
While Herold said that the Pride Center had experienced some interruptions to its services that prevented the prom from being held annually—the past three years have included leadership changes, funding challenges, and a move down Orange Street— staff hope to turn it into an annual occurrence.
As performances bloomed on the parish hall turned dance floor, attendees milled excitedly about. After making the trip from Farmington, 17-year-old Ari popped into a clothing closet equipped with a variety of clothes and makeup stations for people to get prom-ready. After browsing for a few minutes, they emerged with a set of white flower dangle earrings.
Ari. “It’s just in general a wonderful organization’” they said of Q Plus.
As they put on the finishing touches for the evening, they said they are no stranger to the queer scene in New Haven. They’ve attended New Haven and North Haven Pride celebrations; this year, they heard about the event through Q Plus. They praised the accessibility of the organization for all queer youth.
“It’s just in general a wonderful organization,” they said.
With fake dollar bills, attendees got a chance to take part in tipping culture. Introducing herself as “America’s third favorite cleaning product,” drag queen Bleach stole the show in a bright orange tutu dress, with matching bedazzled above-the-elbow gloves. From her wigs to her outfits, all of Bleach’s looks are handmade.
“It was a lot of fun because [for] a lot of the kids it was their first drag show, so I think it meant a lot to me to be their first drag queen,” she said in an interview after her performance. “That to me is very special.”
Drag queen Bleach takes the stage and drops some knowledge.
Accumulating a stack of bills in her hands, Bleach threw them up in the air and a wave of cheers ensued. Dancing to Bobby Brown’s My Prerogative, her performance highlighted embracing self love and boundary setting.
“My purpose during drag is spreading joy and [to] showcase my art.”
Bleach has been a longstanding partner with the New Haven Pride Center. She was the host of New Haven Pride last year and is again reprising her role this year.
“These opportunities, I don’t take lightly, because I am, whether I want it or not, I am an inspiration for these kids, she said, “and I made potentially be the driving force, into one of these kids doing drag one day.”
Leon and Naomi Jones looking prom-ready and super chic.
Seventeen-year-old Leon Jones couldn’t think of a better way to build community than going to the pride prom. A senior at Wilbur Cross High School and ACES Educational Center for the Arts, Jones described how theater has served as an outlet to create friendships. Now, looking around at the group of people in front of him, Jones was excited to have a fun night.
“It was one of my days off rehearsing for Pippin, and I wanted to be around other queer people because I don’t get to do it a lot,” he said.
Jones also shared some words of advice for other queer youth.
“Find people who make you happy and hold onto them as tight as humanely possible.”
Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray and Susan Ray.
Saturday's festivities also brought in several allies. Susan Ray was one of the 14 volunteers at the event, and said it was her first time working at a pride prom.
“What I love about this is that it’s a coalition,” she said. “You know, it’s not just us, it’s not just the Pride Center. Everybody’s coming together. It’s beautiful.”
A member of the United Church on the Green, Ray partly attributed the event’s revival to her husband, Rev. Dr. Stephen Ray, who also serves as church pastor. After coming to the church in 2023, the pair was determined to bring back the pride prom, a tradition that was done before by preceding church leaders that was lost due to COVID.
“It’s critically important for people of good faith to come forward and cover, and come forward out loud, welcoming people, standing with people,standing as folk who are wanting to walk with them into the future because it’s our time,” said Rev. Ray.
“It’s [the world is] so dangerous and so mean … We need people to be welcoming out loud," he added. "We need for people to love out loud and so that’s one of the reasons why I wanted us to do this Pride Prom, was so that we can live and love out loud."