Pride Prom

On April 11, Deerfield Academy hosted its sixth annual Pride Prom, an interscholastic dance designed to celebrate identity, inclusion, and community. Open to students of all backgrounds—LGBTQ+ and allies alike—the event provided a space where attendees could choose their own attire and participate in dancing and other activities. Pride Prom brought together a range of participants, including those who identified as bisexual, transgender, questioning, and others. 

Over time, the structure and scale of Pride Prom have changed. The event began as a school-specific gathering but later expanded to become interscholastic in 2024. Additional elements have also been implemented, such as themed events and performances; in one year, for example, a drag artist was invited. Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Board Member Noah Bennett ’27 and other organizers have contributed by introducing themed proms to shape each year’s experience. Previous Pride Proms centered around themes like masquerades. This year, the theme centered around the Roaring 20s and the Harlem Renaissance. 

This year, organizers modeled the Hess lobby after a 1920s speakeasy setting. Bennett explained: “Because alcohol was illegal, people created speakeasies, and those became places where different groups, including queer people, could gather.” He added that these venues operated outside formal regulation, which meant “they weren’t always closely monitored by authorities or high-status groups, so people who didn’t fit into mainstream spaces could find room there.” As a result, speakeasies allowed for interactions that were less visible in more formal settings, including interracial socializing and same-sex relationships. The theme highlighted such historical conditions while shaping the event’s design. 

Henry Fuller ’28, a participant at Pride Prom, commented, “I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, given this was my first time attending, but it felt more relaxed than a typical prom.” Fuller explained that Pride Prom was less structured than traditional dances, particularly in terms of expectations around dress and behavior, which made him feel more socially engaged with other attendees. “I could actually enjoy myself without feeling like I was surrounded by expectations,” Fuller said. 

This year, Pride Prom invited students from four schools—Stoneleigh-Burnham School, The Hotchkiss School, Northfield Mount Hermon School, and Choate Rosemary Hall—along with Deerfield students and faculty. Bennett described the event as “a big dance with goods like cupcakes and a mocktail bar,” adding that “anyone is welcome—you just have to be an ally.”