 | Promming It Part 2: Walking the WalkBy Grace Brightman |
(Note: this post is a follow-up from my previous post called ‘Promming It’ – I suggest you read that first (if you haven’t already) to grasp the situation, but you could probably get away without doing so.)
So, one night this week I attended my school’s prom (or an exhibition of one thousand crap songs chosen by the pre-pubescent DJ), and, it has to be said, it wasn’t quite as horrendous as I imagined it may be. Sure, there were quite a few slapperesque outfits, and quite a number of the boys looked totally insecure wearing a suit, but there weren’t as many breaches of dignity (yes, this may well be a snobbish phrase) as I expected, and certainly the predicted orgy near the end never happened, which is great news! However, I am not going to go off on a tangent about the event in general (much to your relief!). I am simply going to report on the uplifting acceptance of diversity that occurred.
You may recall the outfit I said I’d wear (19th century period drama style) and indeed I did wear it! There have been several requests for pictures of it, so to let you know what I’m talking about, here are a couple. (I had to black out my face because the beauty of it would surely blind you. Also, my mum banned me from revealing my face on GTS, and as she pays for the internet in this house and has the power to cut my connection from the interweb, I must obey.)
So, whatcha think? Regardless of whether it makes me look dorky or super-cool, you have to admit, it’s pretty Out There! And, surprisingly enough for a back of beyond village school, I got a great reception at Prom, which is masses of points for open-mindedness and diversity in England. Of course, my friends loved it as they are embracing of my eccentric idiosyncratic ways – Megan (the loveliest and best looking girl I’ve never resented for being straight) kindly said I really looked like I’d stepped out of a period drama, so mission accomplished.
The minute I walked into the prom coach-house, I was mobbed by people I know, and even some I didn’t, telling me how great I looked and how brave I was for dressing like that and attracting all that attention (I beg to differ, I am a born extrovert), and wanting a picture of me and them wearing the top hat. Naturally, a few people made rude comments and shouted stuff at me, but I figured that opposition from ignorant gits is kinda a status symbol in some cases. All the great people in the world who tried to change things for the better got lots of opposition, so I figured it’s a mini-honour to be treated like a great, in a way 
. Besides, there is no reason for me to give a damn what some losers think – they can’t vote against gay marriage over here! Overall, I hadn’t expected such a refreshing attitude towards self-expression and deviation from gender norms to be exhibited that night, so rock on Wootton Upper School!
However, that is not the funniest and most subversive part of the evening. Oh no, it gets better. To further Americanize the evening, the committee decided that we were going to vote for a Prom King and Queen. This provided me with the perfect opportunity to sell myself to the masses with the idea that they should vote me Prom Queen! At first it sounded silly, me, the graceless wonder in the top hat and braces (with a working pocket watch) Prom Queen? But then people were like ‘Hell yeah! High-five for differentness!’ and ran off to vote. After the initial hour persuading people, word of the scandal spread and all evening people I’d never talked to were coming up to me telling me they’d voted for me. I think it was the combined mixture of me representing that little bit of a rebel inside most people and the thought of getting one-up on the ‘popular’ clone girls that made me such an attractive vote, rather than my actual self. As it was, I didn’t win, a predictable girl did, but only, as I hear, because each of her friends voted 20 times for her. Still, I came a close second which, considering how outwardly gay I am, is a damn good victory!
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July 8th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I even bought you a crown to be Prom Queen at my party >.<
I think your outfit beat them all! you totally should have been queen. However, if you think about it, as second place, that makes you the Princess and thats even funnier!
July 8th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Yes, Prom Princess does sound even more feminine therefore *cough* even more me
July 8th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
haha exactly!
July 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
The outfit is impressive, the reception is impressive…I am impressed!
Beats the hell out of my last prom ensemble – way too short fuzzy leopard print halter dress and combat boots. I looked like a deranged hooker. You, young Grace, have done well.
July 8th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Supercool. I love the outfit, love the Prom-Queen story. Lovelove.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
The outfit was very smart looking, glad you had a blast!!
July 9th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Thanks everyone for the nice comments
Melissa, I love your ‘deranged hooker’ description!
July 9th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Ahh cheers for putting these up
You look absolutely fantastic in these pictures, especially without the jacket
July 10th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
yet that deranged hooker look sounds similar to someone’s outfit at our prom except without the awesome combat boots!
July 10th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Peggy – Thanks as ever, I didn’t think I looked too bad either
The photographer guy there told me I could be a model, but I suspect this is because he thought I was a guy rocking that male androgeny thing that seems to be all the rage nowadays, rather than my feminine charms 
Katie – Are you thinking of your outfit by any chance? I jest, I jest, and combat boots really are awsome!
July 11th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Hahaa, I bet your feminine charms are just fine
July 11th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
hahaha!! Well, out of all her great characteristics i don’t think feminine charms are one :S sorry Ab :p
July 11th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
(Ab is my real (shortened) name by the way Peggy)
What are you saying Katie? *shuns the non believer* I have feminine hands and eyes! I do rock androgeny though. Thanks for the faith Peggy!
July 11th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
haha that you do
I wouldn’t like you if you were different though!
July 12th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Amazing! You look fabulous, square blackened face and all!
July 12th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Thanks G-Fox, and I had to do the sqare black face thing to make it completely authentic – I hear they’re all the rage in period dramas
July 13th, 2010 at 3:58 am
I second Grace Fox. AWESOME.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I LOVED your outfit =D So, so awesome. And I agree, you look fabulous even with the square blackened face and everything.
Every year at school events like these (New Years Ball etc) I’m forced to wear a dress by my family (although I kinda feel like a drag queen in them, it’s just that a ‘little black dress’ doesn’t go well with my faux hawk =D) but at my prom I intend to wear a classic-cut tux =D Just to shock people a little, although I’m quite out in my everyday life, they wouldn’t expect me to go like that =D
And again, I’m LOVING your outfit =D
July 18th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for the LOVE Fiddy
(cool name)
Luckily we don’t have any other dances apart from this prom and he sixth form leavers do in 2 years time, so I dont have to dress up often! Some girls can rock the whole faux hawk-dress combo, but if you’re not feeling it then deffinately go with the tux! So long as you’re confident in it, you will probs look way better than all the guys. Thinking about it, tuxes were seriously made for women’s bodies!
July 18th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Heheh thanks
Been using that nickname since I was 3 =P It’s Fidan actually 
We have like 2-3 every year, unfortunately =D Although people give me nice comments when I dress up, it’s just uncomfortable for me. I’m a musician and go on stage a lot, I usually wear suit-pants and a nice shirt, and my dear uncle had a suit made up for my size, and yeah, that just looks (and feels) so much cooler =D
And I agree with you, tuxes look better on women
July 18th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Fidan… that is a pretty unique name in these parts – does it have overseas origins?
I know the uncomfortable feeling alright. My mother made me wear a summer dress all through lowerschool. Brrrrr! Band as in guitars etc musician or the other kind? I wish I had a full suit – I only have 2 jakets
July 18th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I’m Turkish
I live in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a small island in the Mediterrenean Sea =)
I’m a classical pianist, I’ve been playing for 12 years, that kind of music
)
I also used to play in bands, playing bass and guitar and whatever, but I prefer the piano.
Suits are awesome, but I’d still prefer your outfit for that night =P
July 19th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Oh righty, gottcha. My friend has a villa there on the island. Rich kid!
I’d like to be in a band someday – I play the drums (and percussion) pretty well by now.
I play the piano too, except not for as long and without any lessons, so I’ll never pretend I’m technically good. I just love to write music for it and then be able to play it! I think piano music is really cool – Ludovico Einaudi is my fav composer. I hear that, contrary to singers and guitarists, bass players are very low-key
July 19th, 2010 at 10:50 am
You know, the villas here are much cheaper than you would think
It’s just that it’s a holiday place, and most the houses are villas anyway.
I took lessons for a total of 1.5-2 years in that 12 year period, and people say I’m better than most people who have been taking lessons for 12 years (I’m not trying to brag, I’m just saying that the lessons aren’t completely necessary, in my opinion, you either have music in you, or you don’t, I’ve heard some people play that made me want to pull my ears off, but they think they’re amazing because they’ve been taking lessons for 4-5 years.) If you can write your own music, and play it, for me that means that you’re good with piano
I love Einaudi too! You should check out Yann Tiersen and Clint Mansell, I think you might like them
It’s the insrument, the second I hold my bass, I get in a completely different mood =P I’ve always wanted to play the drums, I go over to my friend’s house just to play a little
You know, it’s difficult to find a decent drummer, if you lived anywhere close, I just would’ve made you an offer to join us:D
July 19th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I’m gonna FB message you my reply as I think this is one of those convosations that goes on y’know, and I’m not sure it’d be appreciate if we clog up the comments box here, let alone Grace Chu’s email box (we get an email every time someone comments I think).
March 9th, 2011 at 2:11 am
Here’s my prom story:
Not really a prom (we had it after 6 years of Uni) and located in the not-gay-friendly realm of Eastern Europe.
White shirt (fitted, mind you), skinny trousers, converse shoes (yes, black and white, just to give a hint of conformity), no tie.
Took the GF with me (drama included due to ex’s being present at the ball) and she had this little black dress, black shoes, all femmy and stuff.
Everybody congratulated us on our looks (or talked behind my back: “Why does she always get the hot ones?”).
All in all it was a fine experience, although we were the only queer couple around (myself being the only OUT LGBT community member in the 600-people congregation).
Feedback on this will be highly appreciated.