The parents of a gay teenage boy recently threw a āgayceaƱeraā on his 15th birthday to celebrate his coming out and make him feel more accepted among family and friends. The celebration included dancing gymnasts, rainbow-colored cakes, sequined unicorn stuffed animals and a photo booth.
The event ā which was held on January 5 at the Sunset Restaurant and Lounge, an Italian restaurant in the town of Glenn Burnie, Maryland ā was thrown by Heidi Irene and Terry Trammell in celebration of their teenage son Aiden.
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The gayceaƱera was a queer twist on the QuinceaƱera, a celebration common in Spanish-speaking countries which marks a girlās transition from childhood to young adulthood on her 15th birthday. While the ceremony varies from country to country, it often involves a young person wearing a beautiful dress, being presented at a public banquet, eating a special birthday cake, and then dancing with male friends and family members.
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In similar form, Aiden made his appearance at the event wearing green-hair and a rainbow-colored suit. His teacher reportedly served as the eventās disc jockey while gymnasts twirled rainbow-colored ribbons on the dance floor. The event featured rainbow-colored cakes and place-settings for guests, a photo-booth, and an āAiden trivia quizā to test attendeesā knowledge of the birthday boy.
Irene said she wanted the party to honor Aidenās development into his authentic self and to help him come out to his community āall at onceā so he wouldnāt be forced to repeatedly come out to individual friends and family over and over again.
She said that throughout the night, servers and patrons spoke to her about how they and their loved ones were rejected from their own families in the past. She added that she wanted Aidenās young friends to know there are safe spaces in the world where they can be themselves.