GRAND RAPIDS,MI -- Grand Rapids City High School junior Isabel Morrison and more than 200 students from West Michigan schools proudly kicked up their heels on Saturday.

The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education West Michigan Chapter, The Fountain Club and Fountain Street Church high school youth group sponsored the fourth annual West Michigan Alternative Prom at Fountain Street Church on Saturday, May 3. The “Great Gatsby” themed dance was open to all high school students.

"The purpose of alternative prom is to create a classic high school experience for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual youth and allies in an environment that is safe and accepting to youth who otherwise may not feel comfortable or welcome at other similar high school events," states a post on the event's Facebook page.

The inaugural event in 2011 was created by Isabel’s sister who is passionate about gender equality and is now learning about gender studies in college, the 17-year-old said.

“A lot of (LGBT) people don’t feel comfortable going to their own school’s prom,” said Isabel, this year’s event organizer. “She just wanted to create a safe environment where they can have a similar experience.”

Isabel, who described her sexual orientation as “open,” has attended alternative prom since its inception and helped her sister with setup in previous years. After reviewing all the final touches for Saturday night’s event, the teen donned a red sparkly dress with a matching 1920s-inspired headband.

“I think it’s a really good way for them to experience this staple of high school in a safe environment where they feel comfortable,” said Isabel, who also plans to attend her school prom on Saturday, May 10. “I think it’s great that our society is moving forward in becoming more acceptable to diversity and include people who don’t identify you as straight.”

Greenville High School senior Justin Barr is also an alternative prom veteran – having attended every year since 2011.

This year, 20 Greenville students accompanied Barr, who serves as president of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance and co-chair of GLSEN West Michigan. He said this universal dance gives students the opportunity to not only unite with other peers going through similar circumstances, but also enjoy a high school rite of passage without being judged.

“It helps to connect them to the larger LGBT community in the area and to resources like GLSEN West Michigan that can help them back in their home school districts,” the openly gay student said. “Prom is a high school milestone and we believe that all students deserve the chance to go to prom and feel comfortable and safe, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case, and for the last four years West Michigan Alternative Prom has been working to provide this experience for LGBTQ and allied youth of West Michigan.”

Isabel and Barr have been following the recent historical proceedings involving a federal judge overturning the state's gay marriage ban.

Isabel said she was elated to hear stories of people who could “finally” be married and be recognized by the state. However, that excitement soon turned to disappointment when the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an indefinite stay on the lower-court ruling while the decision is appealed.

“I feel that our society is becoming much more accepting of diversity, and this just made me sad,” she said. “The alternative prom is one way that youth can show how the world is changing for the better.”

Barr agrees with the GLSEN's partner organizations, including Equality Michigan and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, which is expected to sue the state in an attempt to win recognition and benefits for the nearly 300 same-sex couples who received marriage certificates last month.

“It was highly encouraging for LGBT youth in every corner of this state, but at the end of the day, they still go back to their schools sometimes in districts without comprehensive enumerated anti-bullying policies or where they are targeted for who they are,” Barr, 18, said. “So while marriage equality is important, we believe equally important if not more important for LGBT youth is for the legislature to pass legislation requiring enumerated legislation to protect LGBT youth in schools.”

Kyle Moroney covers suburban schools and general assignments for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email her at kmoroney@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter or Facebook