Saturday, January 18th The LGBTQ Center will host their 4th Annual Monster Ball, a night of fun and dancing geared toward middle and high school LGBTQers and their allies.
The dance, inspired by pop-a-la-avant-garde songstress Lady Gaga’s nickname for her supporters, the Monster Ball sets to provide a space where, as youth program director Kyle Bullock succinctly puts it, the youth have a chance to “dance the night away and meet new friends without fear of judgement or intimidation.”
As Bullock pointed out, there is a severe lack of LGBTQ dances—and he plans on altering just that, one year at a time.
“The Monster Ball started 4 years ago as a way to give LGBTQ youth a dance space that supports and embraces LGBTQ youth culture,” Bullock said. “Today we see our young people identifying in such unique and creative ways—ultimately destroying our old notions of what it means to be a gender and sexual minority adolescent. The Monster Ball gives our young people a venue to express who they are without fear of harassment and intimidation—this is sometimes hard to find, even in Long Beach. I think sometimes we forget that it can still be difficult for a young LGBTQ person, given how far our movement has come, but the Youth Services Department at The Center stands as a testament to why supporting and mentoring our LGBTQ youth is so very important.”
Last year’s event drew over 150 attendees from Long Beach as well as everywhere from San Diego to Pasadena—a true testament to the fact that such events are not only needed, but wanted. This year’s dance-a-thon will feature live DJ, performances, a photo booth to get your Vogue on, interactive art, games, and an assortment of other ohs and ahs Gaga-style.
The third annual Monster Ball is free and open to LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 13 through 18. The event will take place at MADHaus, located at 624 Pacific Ave., on Saturday, January 18, from 7PM to 10PM. Valid school ID is required for entry.
For more information or to RSVP contact Kyle Bullock at 562-434-4455 ext. 227 or visit MYTECenterLB on Facebook.
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