Jonathan Garcia
Staff Writer
Multiple offices and student organizations at the University of La Verne collaborated to celebrate LGBT pride with a virtual pride prom on Tuesday.
The pride prom was hosted virtually this year through the Throwback Time Machine, an online DJ and virtual party service, with DJ Gavin Boss who played music from all eras and genres. The theme of pride prom was the Evolution of Expression, Fashions from the 1920s to the 2020s, and students were encouraged to wear outfits from any era and participate in any of the three competitions including best dressed, best decorative space and the pets of pride.
“For people in our LGBTQ community they might not have been able to express themselves like they wanted to in high school for their prom, this is the opportunity for them to express themselves as they want to,” said Misty Levingston, associate director of multicultural affairs and black student services.
Levingston and the University had planned a pride prom for the same time last year in person but then COVID-19 hit, so this year they planned it virtually. She said that it was an opportunity to have fun and stressed that the event was all-inclusive, and also open to allies of the LGBT community.
DJ Gavin Boss began the pride prom with a moment of solidarity for the LGBT community.
“We stand in solidarity with everyone in the LGBTQ+ community at the University of La Verne,” Boss said. “We see you, we hear you and we stand with you. We want you to know that, and that’s also what we believe here at the Throwback Time Machine.”
Jazmin Alvarez Barragan, coordinator of student life operations, said that pride prom is a way for the University to help shine some light on the LGBT community and help bring the community together.
The pride prom was organized by several organizations, including the Office of Student Life, Campus Activities Board, Wilson Library, Academic Success Center, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Office of Civic and Community Engagement, the LGBTQ+ Coalition and the Center for Multicultural Services.
Barragan said each office helped out, whether it was coming up with activities for pride prom, or contributing financially, with CAB reaching out to the Throwback Time Machine.
Students and faculty members alike sang along and talked about their favorite artists and songs in the live chat. Students were encouraged to post on social media or email CAB to participate in any of the three competitions to win a ULV spirit pack.
The pride prom played music from every era spanning from Britney Spears to Earth Wind and Fire to Fall Out Boy and Whitney Houston. The livesteam was full of remixes, music videos, gifs, sound effects and energy from the DJ.
Megan Romo, sophomore educational studies major, who attended the event said she found out about it through CAB’s Instagram.
“I think it was a really good event,” Romo said. “I had fun. CAB does a great job at getting diverse events.”
“I thought it was pretty cool, I thought they did a great job with the DJ and chat feature,” said Olivia Magby, junior sociology major.
Jonathan Garcia can be reached at jonathan.garcia3@laverne.edu.
