Insight
Pride prom at Covenant House New York last week was the most well-attended, most joyous Pride prom that either Lyndell Pittman or Galen Bryan could remember. It was so, they say, because of CHNY’s diverse and welcoming community of LGBTQ+ youth, staff, and supporters and their allies.
"Our theme was Pride and Sole, and it was part prom, part sneaker ball," says Galen, who is CHNY’s youth development recreation specialist. Lyndell, senior vice president for support services, says the theme choice was about creating an environment where everyone would feel welcome. “We have a large population of migrant youth, who, culturally, probably haven’t really been exposed to the LGBTQ+ community as we know it. We wanted to make sure they felt welcome at this celebration also.”
Sneakers were the great equalizer.
A Culture of Sneakerheads
“Pride and Sole gave us an opportunity to stay true to our Pride prom, but also to connect — 99.9% of people relate to sneakers, whether because they enjoy sneakers or because they enjoy being comfortable on their feet all day,” Lyndell says.
He calls CHNY “a growing culture of sneakerheads, ”where youth and staff find new ways to bond through their passion for sneakers.”
Some of the young women came to the prom in their best shoes, but by the end of the evening, changed out of them. “I guess they realized that, well, this would be a lot more fun and a lot more comfortable in sneakers!"
He also notes how the Pride prom theme plays on the words “sole” and “soul,” where the deeper connection of unconditional love and absolute respect resides.
Absolute Respect
Throughout Pride month, CHNY residents were invited to panel discussions and workshops with corporate and community partners. Galen says the workshops included jewelry-making, the creation of Pride logos, self-care, and other events. “Pride prom was the icing on the cake,” he says.
But the first workshop of the month was challenging for youth who had had little exposure to LGBTQ+ communities and Pride, especially migrant youth. At the earliest workshops, they asked seemingly harsh questions of the panelists that reflected the limits of their experience.
By the end of the month, Lyndell says, as the youth participated in various events, many began to open up. Even if they still didn’t fully understand their LGBTQ+ peers’ pride, their respect for them had become much stronger. “I saw a number of those same youth dancing with some of our transgender youth at Pride prom, really enjoying being present at the prom,” Lyndell says.
Soul Connection
“There’s something about Pride prom that connects people differently,” he says. “Whether it’s the music or dressing up — it breaks down barriers. All the young people were enjoying themselves so much. You can see how the purpose of this program is to bring people together, and it absolutely does at Pride prom.”
All the youth got the opportunity to see how a community of young people, staff, partners, and volunteers rallies to create an unforgettable experience where every single person feels welcome. The excitement of the event was shared throughout the day — and month — by staff and volunteers who did all they could to ensure a joyous Pride celebration.
Barbers from The School of Fresh, a nonprofit organization, provided male residents with free haircuts, and a volunteer from Mitzie’s, a beauty salon, did hair and makeup for dozens of female and gender-nonconforming residents. A CHNY security guard, who also works as a hairstylist, also worked on youths’ hair and makeup for hours leading up to the prom. And a temp employee sewed alterations of youths’ attire for the best fit.
Throughout the month, youth felt the support of corporate and community partners who engaged with them in the panel discussions and workshops mentioned earlier. They included volunteers from QBE, Tapestry, the NBA, MetLife, CVC, IKEA, Morgan Stanley, Tatari, Spotter, Ventas, Starbucks Foundation, Broadway Inspirational Voices, and Accenture.
Several groups of corporate volunteers packed kits filled with water bottles and rainbow items for the upcoming Pride Parade, in which at least 40 youth and staff are expected to participate, riding the CHNY float through the streets of New York City.
The talent agency WME and stylists from Black Beauty Roster also supported the hair and makeup preparations for Pride prom. TAO donated all catered food for the third year in a row, with TAO volunteers on hand the entire evening. And, just a week before the prom, the nonprofit HavASole partnered with Excel Sports to donate 145 pairs of sneakers!
Personal Pride
“The youth have expressed to me that they appreciate the support they get here, including from their peers,” Galen says. “The LGBTQ+ youth don’t expect their peers to accept them the way that they have. But they also see how the staff interacts with each other and all the youth, and that we’re one community.”
“I think for the young people, to be validated, to be part of something that makes them feel welcome and seen, is really important because many of them come to us because the community or the people that were supposed to support and see them denied them or rejected them, oftentimes, because of who they are,” Lyndell says.
“I understand what it means to be pushed to the shadows because of how the world sees you — or doesn’t see you, doesn’t accept you for who you are. What we do for the young people here at Covenant House has allowed me to walk and live in my own truth,” Lyndell continues.
“I spent my whole life not being able to be honest with my friends, colleagues, family, or myself about who I was. It was because of the young people at Covenant House, and seeing how strong they were to live in their truth, that helped me to find my truth and my freedom. I attribute that to being part of the Covenant House community. And that’s why it’s so important to me to be a part of what we do to support our young people.”
