The Prom Project
Tori M., a member of GSTOP Media Corps, had the pleasure of sitting down with Gold Award Girl Scout Jupiter T. (he/him) about his Gold Award project, "The Prom Project." Jupiter is a member of Troop 2700 and has been a Girl Scout since 2011.
As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s important to help our LGBTQ friends feel safe and loved. One particular Girl Scout named Jupiter T. has gone above and beyond in doing this with his Gold Award project, an inclusive Pride Prom.
Jupiter’s Gold Award began one night when his Girl Scout troop was watching a musical called “The Prom”, about a lesbian woman being cast out of her own prom, and he realized that this was a very real problem he had the power to address. He came up with “The Prom Project”, a way for any student who felt uncomfortable or wasn’t allowed to attend their school’s prom with their date to still get the prom experience.
Jupiter partnered with LGBTQ Saves, a pride-centered organization, to help him accomplish his project. Over seven long months, Jupiter and his team managed to organize the event and raise just more than $5,000, despite him noting that it was more difficult than he had anticipated. The night of the first Pride Prom, Jupiter was finally able to see his vision come to fruition. He says he had “never seen so many people like me all having fun in one place”, and that “the most rewarding part was seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces.”
The impact that just one night of validation can have on queer youth is astounding, and the work Jupiter put into the event is downright admirable. He didn’t stop at one Pride Prom either, he helped to organize a second one as well, and when he can no longer help, LGBTQ Saves will keep the project going as long as possible. In the future, Jupiter says he “wishes to see more organizations hold their own inclusive proms all over the world” and see people be generally more accepting of our LGBTQ youth. Jupiter’s courage and dedication to make those who need a safe space is inspiring, and we should all try to emulate some of that during this Pride Month.
June 12, 2024
