2011 Right to Prom Queen speaks with Action 4 News
Sergio Gonzalez has held several titles including Homecoming King but the most recent was “2011 Right to Prom Queen.”
"I have had probably about five or six crowns, but I really, really was interested in running for prom queen,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez got the chance to do just that in an event kept under the radar Saturday.
He was crowned queen of the valley's first prom for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered.
“To wake up the Rio Grande Valley,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez believes the Rio Grande Valley is behind in times in its tolerance for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
"I would go as far as to say there is discrimination and there is at times even hatred toward our community,” said Gonzalez. “I think it's time that things change."
Fear of protests kept advertisement for the dance at a minimum.
Police were on hand, and few pictures are being released to protect prom-goers from backlash.
Still Gonzalez said the prom served a purpose for some valley youth.
"I think some of them got to go to their real prom, and some of them got to go to an alternative prom,” said Gonzalez. “Which if you ask me is pretty cool, because they got their cake and they ate it too."
Right to Prom Queen is a title Gonzalez said will be tough to give up, but he will gladly do so if the event is held next year.
The Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Stonewall Democrats put on the event.
Action 4 News spoke with its president Eli Olivares.
He said the idea for the event came in response to the recent number of teen suicides spurred by the hardships of being gay.
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