It’s hard to believe that we’re less than a month away from our very first Gay Prom! “A Whole New World,” prom’s theme, will have talented performers, a gifted DJ, great food and a night to remember.

The reason I know is because our prom committee has been working diligently day and night to ensure attendees have the event they always dreamed of. These individuals have spent countless hours shopping, talking, emailing and even calming the president to fulfill one important promise: that LGBTQ members have a prom that celebrates their diversity, their uniqueness and their beauty, which can’t be measured.

The most important element, however, isn’t the crowns or the food or the music or even the performers. It’s the attendees, the ones who give the LGBTQ community the diversity and elegance we’re known for. Our prom needs you to attend as symbols of these wonderful elements that so many see every day.

Prom is Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at Spicewood Vineyards, 1419 CR 409 in Spicewood. Tickets are $50 each and includes two glasses of delicious Spicewood Vineyards wine, food and dancing.

Thanks to our donors, the HLEC has free prom passes available, but people must apply at hlequalitycenterprom.weebly.com. Scroll to the bottom and fill out the Prom passes portion on the web site.

Prom is our first fundraiser to ensure our programs continue to help those who need them the most: the gay individual who just moved to the Highland Lakes but is struggling to find like-minded friends; the transgender person who suddenly loses their family and friends and is so down they don’t know where to go; the parent who suddenly finds herself apart of the LGBTQ community, a community she never thought she’d be in, and needs a therapist for their child and a support group for herself. All of these people have reached out to us needing counselors, attorneys and others who have experienced the same obstacles.

But Prom also is a night to celebrate. We’ll celebrate the chance to escort who we really want to bring as our dates. We’ll take prom portraits thanks to a professional photographer. We’ll have a photo booth with numerous props, so that we can take silly pictures together. We’ll eat way too much and dance way too badly for anyone to care. We’ll crown six people who will reign during prom. And we’ll have drag performers who are busy rehearsing new material they are proud to present.

All we need is you. Please join the prom committee, our board of directors, and me. Find us on the dance floor, at the bar, in the food line, or at the door as we eagerly welcome you into “A Whole New World.” We’ll be dressed in our formal wear and look forward to seeing you dressed in yours.

Go to hlequalitycenterprom.weebly.com to buy tickets or to request a pass.