Last night, Friday February 24, I had the pleasure of attending the second annual Intervarsity Queer Prom, an event held for LGBT+ students across all of Dublin’s third-level institutions. It was hosted last year by Trinity’s very own Q Soc, but this year the responsibility to organise the night fell to the students of the RCSI Pride Society from the Royal College of Surgeons.
Tickets were just €25, for which you received a champagne reception at the Davenport Hotel, a three-course meal, a drag show and entry to The George. I really have to commend RCSI for the affordability of the event – you may want to reconsider the extortionate amount you’re paying for Trinity Ball.
The venue itself was fantastic. The hosts waiting to greet us were warm and welcoming, making us feel as if we were honoured guests. One issue I did notice, however, was that the bathrooms still had male or female indicated on the doors. Given the nature of the event, I would have thought that the bathrooms would have gender neutral signage instead.
In the function room, students from the different colleges mingled and conversed, though tended to sit with their own friends for the meal. For starters we were given bread rolls and spiced tomato soup, which was a little hot for some but I found to be quite satisfying. This was followed by a choice between chicken and fish, and although I went with the chicken, both dishes seemed very appetising. Finally, the meal was topped off with a small chocolate cake, which was a little heavy for me but still pleasing to the taste buds.
We were then treated to a show from three drag queens who performed both lip-syncs and their own live vocals, which were surprisingly solid. Of course, their choreography was also quite impressive, with added floor-drops for good measure. Their show was quite entertaining, and I found their enthusiastic interaction with the attendees to be particularly amusing.
When the queens were finished, the dance floor opened and the DJ began playing music. However, myself and other Q Soc members decided to go to The George, where Queer Prom ticket holders were supposed to be allowed in for half-price. However, to our surprise, we were allowed into the packed bar free of charge, which put everyone in a good mood for the rest of the night.
Overall, the Royal College of Surgeons did a fantastic job organising this year’s Intervarsity Queer Prom. As someone who had an underwhelming debs experience in secondary school, I can say with certainty that this is what all prom and ball events should be aiming for. I don’t know which college will take on the role of hosting Queer Prom 2018, but if they can match the quality of this year’s event then they’ll surely be on to a winner.
