For high schoolers who don’t fit into the traditional gender binary, prom can be a painful and sometimes traumatizing experience. Some students are told they can’t wear the clothes they want or bring the date they’re attracted to. Others are just told they should stay home because they don’t belong.



But if prom is supposed to be a celebration of personal achievement and new beginnings, why should any student be made to feel like they can’t attend?



Embracing who you are and knowing your truth is an act of bravery - especially for kids who don’t fit in with the often narrow gender norms of high school. We firmly believe prom is for everyone, which is why MTV News asked 12 young adults with diverse gender identities to help us create a series of looks that celebrates the fashion and true joy that’s possible when no one is excluded.



Our hope is to spread a message about compassion and inclusion that can be heard from the streets of Lebanon, Ohio, to the gymnasiums of Charlotte, North Carolina: No one deserves to be told what to wear to the party.