In 2010, Constance McMillan’s battle to attend her school prom with a female date became a huge national news story and, in addition to covering the actual story obsessively, we also created a “Lesbian Prom Gallery.” (Not everybody in the gallery was a lesbian, obviously, many are bisexual, queer, or otherwise-identified, but using “lesbian” in headlines helps girls-who-like-girls find our content on search engines.) We wanted to show the world how ridiculously cute we’d look if they just let us take our girlfriends to prom. The post was a hit and we still get submissions to it, five years later!
Now that it’s that time of year again, and finally we can realize our dreams of resurrecting and bringing this gallery back into the light — with some new photos added (if you have a photo to submit, directions for doing so are at the end of this post! We’re especially looking for photos from women of color and trans women!) All of these photos were submitted to us directly. (If your photo is on this list and you no longer want it included, just email bren [at] autostraddle [dot] com and she’ll take it down, no problem!)
So, without any further ado…
110 Same-Sex Female & Otherwise-Identified Queer Couples Going To Prom Together Like Champs
1985, Kansas City, MO
These girlfriends are posing with a gay male friend who went stag to prom. The submitter told me: “My inspiration for going to the prom with my girlfriend in tow in tuxes was my sister who is gay as well and had to go thru all of the bullshit of wearing a dress that she hated and looked like a freaking dork in the year before I was to go… My girlfriend and I were the only gay couple to attend but we had absolutely no issues, no wisecracks, no nothing from anyone at prom. They all either supported us, tolerated us or knew better than to say a word to me. Like I said, I got big shoulders.”
1993, Pennsylvania: Gwyn & Michele
1994, Bakersfield, CA
1994, Milton, MA
1995, Maui, HI: Noël & Sierra
1997, Berkeley, CA: Ariel Schrag & Date
1997, Guilderland, NY: Kristin Russo & Date
2000, Ephrata, PA
“I grew up in Ephrata and it was a very conservative, small, Amish town. We got plenty of glares and several snide comments, but the people in charge let us in and we weren’t hassled by staff.”
2000, Newtown, PA: Johanna & Marion
2001, Asheville, NC
2002, The Bronx, NY: Jenn (tux) & Frances
2002, Edmonds, WA: Rochelle & Morgan
2003, New Hampshire
2003, Long Island, NY: Design Director Alex Vega & Date
2004, Raleigh, NC
2004, San Francisco, CA
2005, Florida
2006, Seattle, WA
2006, Plainsville, OH
2006, Connecticut
2006, Palm Desert, CA
“The girl on the left (Katie) is the principal of the high schools daughter. The girl on the right (Haylee) was the president of the gay-straight alliance :)”
2006, Topsfield, MA: Managing Editor Rachel & Date
2006, Rochester, MI
2006, Colorado
2006, Chicago, IL
2006, Terre Haute, IN: Brittany & Britni
2006, Maryville, MO: Ashley & Trisha
2007, Corinth, NY: Kate & Barb
“We got in trouble for kissing so we went overboard.”
2007, Jacksonville, FL: Emily & Taylor
2007, Murray County, GA
2007, Orlando, FL: Editorial Assistant Chelsey & Date
2007, Springfield, MO
2007, Idaho
2007, Birmingham, AL
2007, St.Louis, MO
2007, Kansas:Â Kylenn & Debbie
2007, Ridgefield, CT: Sara & Caroline
2008, Maryland
2008, Yonkers, NY
“The picture was taken on the party bus on our way to prom.”
2008, South Carolina
“The girl on the left was my date and neither of our schools had a problem with us coming together. We went to two proms in two consecutive nights!”
2008, Little Rock, AR
2008, Herndon, VA: Margaret & Hope
2008, Woodbridge, VA
2008, Victoria, BC, CANADA: Julia & Maddie
2008, Portland, OR: Grace & K.
2008, Houston, TX
2008, Hampton Bay, NY: Brie & Megan
2009 & 2008, Belleville, NJ: Alex & Gabbi
2009, South Carolina
2009, Florida
2009, Chicago, IL
2009: New York, NY
2009, Reno, NV: Charlene & Gina
2009, New Jersey
2009, Pennsylvania
2009, Muncie, IN: Chrissy & Kara
2009, San Antonio, TX
2009, Eugene, OR: Martha & Ashley
2009, Shawnee, KS
2009, Columbia, MO: Ally & Sarina
2009, San Francisco, CA
2009, Missouri: Tracy & Cat
2009, Largo, FL: Kimberly & Brittany
2010, Natchitoches, LA: Baylea & Britney
“I was Prom KING!!!” – Bayela (she’s in the tux)”
2010, Santa Cruz, CA: Rebecca & Joya
2010, New York: Erica & Juliana
2010, Oregon: Taylor & Katie
2010, Rhode Island
2010, Eure, NC: Caitlin & Katie
2010, Ohio: Sam & Kate
“Waiting for marriage legalization in Ohio. Still in love.”
2010, Baton Rouge, LA: Chloe & Tabby
2011, Idyllwild, CA
2011, Atlanta, GA: Aja & Darya
“We’re still together to this day.”Â
2011, Frankfort, KY: Taylor & Keele
2011, South Bend, IN: Katie & Tiffany
“We’re the first couple – Katie’s in the vest and I’m in the black dress. Our school didn’t allow gay couples to go together.. So we each “took” one of our gay guy friends (the couple standing next to us). Once we walked through the door it no longer mattered, though. We danced the night away together and even got voted to prom court!”
2011, Arlington, TX: Mal & Ambra
2011, Chicago, IL
2012, Riverside, IL.
“I’m the redhead in the photos but we’re both genderqueer straddlers.”
2012, Worcester, MA: Emma & Catie
2012, Azusa, CA:Â Briana & Charli
 “I fancy you, it’s our favorite saying.”
2012, Andover, MA: Kate & Ciearra
2013, Dahlonega, GA: Lauren & Emily
“[We live in a] tiny little southern conservative town in northern Georgia. We went proudly to prom together and danced our little gay asses off.”
2013, London, England
2013, Vancouver, BC: Ashley & Clea
“She went to an all girl’s private Catholic school and decided to take me, the most outwardly, proud, flamboyant, dapper lesbian in the city, to her prom. We received nothing but love and acceptance from her friends and teachers and it was a beautiful night.”
2013, Escanaba, MI
2013, Southlake, TX: Jordan & Betsy
“This was actually our second prom together. We went together the year before “as friends”. But then we started dating and Betsy came back from Bryn Mawr to take me to my senior prom. It was a magical night. We’re still together today, and no one makes me happier.”
2013, St. Paul, MN: Melissa & Nikki
2014, Chicago, IL: Laura & Lindsey
2014, Toronto, ON: Elizabeth & Ashley
“We’re two lifelong best friends who both ended up being queer, so of course we were each other’s prom dates. Love this girl and I couldn’t ask for a better date.”
2014, Charleston, SC:Â Jenna & Bianca
2014, Bloomington, MN: Kate & Alexa
2014 Michigan
2014, Decorah, IA: MaKenzie & Kamryn
“I’m Bisexual, she’s a lesbian, and boy did we have an awesome night!”
2014, Minneapolis, MN
2014, Cincinnati, OH
2014, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY: Lyle & Natalie
2014, Reston, VA: Stephanie & Antonia
2014, Atlanta, GA
2015, Phoenix, AZ
2015, Ann Arbor, MI: Jaz & Sam
2015, Savannah, MO: Brooke & Tayler
2015, Clio, MI: Jennifer & Syd
“Not exactly prom but High School Snowcoming. Syd on the right (genderqueer; they/them pronouns) Jennifer on the left.”
2015, Michigan: Katie & Becky
2015, Eagle, CO: Dalia & Jojo
2015, Croton, NY: Maggie & Yas
2015, Jackson, MI: Madi & Savannah
2015, Clearwater, FL
“We are fortunate enough to live in a modern society where we are more accepted. I’m a lesbian and she’s bisexual, we’ve been best friends for years and I couldn’t be more blessed to love someone so dearly. We always stand proud together , no matter what looks or judgment we might get.”Â
2015, Yvonne & Amy: Riverside, CA
2015, Lakeland, FL
2015, Marietta, GA
2015, Jackson, MI: Haley & Hayli
“We’ve been together for a year and five months so far.”
2015, Newton, MS: Melisa & Chelsea
2015, Ambler, PA: Rebekah & Nicole
“Our favorite part of the night was when the dj played Get Low by Lil Jon and didn’t even bother to censor it because everyone sang along anyways.”
2015, Dover, DE:Â Brittney & Destinee
2015, London, England:Â Yash and Charliy
2015: Vienna, Austria
2015, Canada: Kelsey and Friend
Do you have a cute picture from your prom you wanna share with the internet? Send it to riese [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Say PROM PHOTO in the subject line and also the year and location, e.g., PROM PHOTO: Denver, CO, 1996. The photo has to be good quality, at least 600 pixels wide or tall. If you want your names included, tell them to me and let me know! Please only submit photos of high school proms and be sure your date is okay with her photo being on Autostraddle forever!
If your photo is included here ’cause you submitted it a long time ago and you don’t want it up anymore,  just e-mail bren [at] autostraddle [dot] com and she’ll take it down.