A high school student from Derby in the UK has created a crowdfunding page to raise money for an LGBT+ prom.
Teenager Brett Stone and her LGBT+ youth group have set a target of £600 ($1000AUD) to create a safe event for 13-18 year olds in the Derbyshire area.
"Homophobia is still quite big in schools,” Stone tells the . “I know a lot of people at my school who don't seem to understand not being heterosexual or aren't sure about it."
She continues: "I know a lot of parents would want their kids to go to prom with a heterosexual partner. But if we made our own prom where everyone is safe, and they know they can be themselves, it would all be a lot easier."
Brett Stone and her LGBT+ youth group have raised just over half of the funds needed for their goal. Source: Facebook
The group writes on their fundraising page that: “Prom is always a big thing for teenagers and most often than not makes memories that'll stay forever.
“Fundraising our own prom would be an amazing opportunity for all LGBT+ people to go to and be themselves, all within a carefree zone."
Stone’s mother Kay says the youth group has provided a much needed support network for her daughter since she came out as lesbian.
"It was only a few months ago when we said we'll try and find a group for her," says Kay. "She's just blossomed and now she's a lot more happy with who she is."
Kay notes that the idea of the prom was to connect more LGBT+ teenagers in the area.
"There is a bit of a issue with teens not knowing where to go, and not knowing that there's actually a big network out there," she says. "We hadn't heard about Derbyshire LGBT+ and we're an open family, so there must be loads more people who don't know where to go. That's why we want to get this out there and let people know."
