Queer Youth Prom in Erie Aims to Create Safe, Inclusive Space for Teens

By Julia Carden

"Knight to Remember: Queer Youth Prom" will take place on Saturday, May 30, in Erie, offering a free, inclusive celebration for queer, trans youth and allies.

The prom is a community-led effort organized by local groups and volunteers, including Compton's Table. The event is designed to provide a safe, affirming environment where young people can express themselves openly-something advocates say isn't always possible in traditional school settings.

In regions like Erie, which serves a broader rural population, LGBTQ+ youth may have fewer opportunities to gather in spaces built with their needs in mind. Organizers designed the Queer Prom to help fill that gap.

"Events like this matter deeply in communities like Erie. Too often, queer and trans young people are navigating spaces where they have to shrink, code-switch, or question their safety," Founder of Compton's Table Tyler Titus said. "A dedicated, affirming space doesn't just offer a night of fun, but also sends a clear message: you are seen, you are valued, and you deserve to take up space exactly as you are. These moments build connection, reduce isolation, and help sustain a visible, thriving queer community."

The event will feature music, dancing, themed decor, and light refreshments, structured similarly to a traditional school prom but designed to be fully inclusive and welcoming to all attendees.

"For anyone new to queer spaces: come as you are. There is no 'right' way to exist here," Titus said.

For more information, visit https://givebutter.com/queer-prom-erie.

About the Author

Julia Carden Julia Carden (she/her) is a writer and editor from Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. She joined Erie Gay News in 2026. Julia holds a degree in Journalism and Professional Writing from Pennsylvania Western University - Edinboro. She also earned a Master of Arts in News, Magazine, and Digital Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Her research and writing in gender and women’s studies inform both her professional work and her approach to storytelling.