Armando Huipe has an alternate personality. Her name is Charon and tonight she will be wearing a Ke$ha-inspired black and gold dress to prom.
Huipe is one of the hundreds of UCLA students attending the third annual Pride Prom, an event celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and its allies.
“We see it as a kind of second chance at prom ““ this time, you get to go with the person you really wanted to go with,” said Darlene Tran, third-year psychology student and recruitment chair of Gamma Rho Lambda, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersexed and allied sorority for anyone who identifies herself as female.
Gamma Rho Lambda is co-hosting tonight’s event with Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men.
This year’s theme is “Burlesque,” inspired by the eponymous movie starring Christina Aguilera.
Huipe, who just finished his term as president of Delta Lambda Phi, said he attended two proms in high school. Both times, his date was a girl.
“In high school, I was still in the closet,” said Huipe, a fourth-year English student. “I was really worried about what coming out would do to my image ““ I didn’t want it to define me.”
This time, he’s showing up in drag, which is something Huipe said he never would have fathomed in high school.
“It’s so liberating. The environment here at UCLA is incredibly supportive. I’m so excited to share this night with my allies,” Huipe said.
The prom comes at the end of Ally Week, four days of activities that recognize supporters of the LGBT community.
The Ally Project is a collaboration of Undergraduate Students Association Council General Representative Gatsby Miller’s office, the Office of Residential Life and numerous LGBT student groups.
Today in Bruin Plaza, many LGBT student groups will be available to speak to interested students about getting involved with the cause. Attendees can also decorate squares of an “Ally Quilt” that will be on display at the LGBT Campus Center.
Later tonight, the LGBT community will recognize some of its most prominent UCLA allies at the Ally Awards Ceremony.
Honorees are staff member Pam Cysner of the Center for Student Programming, chair of the LGBT Studies Program and English Professor Arthur Little, and fourth-year Chicana/o studies and women’s studies student Jeanette Zuniga. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will also be honored as a Bruin Ally.
“These individuals are not passive allies ““ they are bold and selfless in their support,” Miller said.
Betty DeGeneres, mother of talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, will speak about her experiences as an ally not only to her daughter, but to the entire LGBT community.
The week ends with the Day of Silence on Friday. Supporters are encouraged to stay silent all day in solidarity with the LGBT community.
“Day of Silence is a way to recognize the negative effects of anti-LGBTQQIA harrassment,” said Verton Banks, director of finances for Queer Alliance and a fifth-year political science student. “Silence reminds everyone that the movement for equality … is a constant struggle.”