High school formals are meant to bring students together, but Harris Wardell remembers feeling anything but a sense of belonging.
The trans man was wrestling with his identity and found the rite of passage more of an ordeal than an occasion to celebrate.
"I felt judged at school and didn't feel comfortable bringing my partner at the time," he said.
It's an experience shared by many gender and sexually-diverse young people, but in recent years a more inclusive alternative has emerged.
The Queer Formal has become a valuable opportunity for LGBTQI+ teenagers across the country to connect in a supportive environment.
With around 1,000 participants attending Sydney's third Queer Formal on Friday, organisers are optimistic their message is getting through.
No longer lonely
Feeling alone in a city of five million people might seem strange, but it was a frightening reality for Mr Wardell.
After coming out, the 17-year-old was surprised by the lack of resources for high school students like him.
But going to his first Queer Formal two years ago changed everything.
"When I first went to the event I didn't have that many friends, and after leaving I basically exploded with friends," he said.
"It boosted my happiness and I felt more myself than I ever had before.
"It has taught me I shouldn't be worried about what other people think — I should just be myself."
The under-age events have been run since 2010 by the Melbourne-based Minus18 Foundation, an organisation that raises awareness for LGBTQI+ youth.
Since Sydney's first Queer Formal three years ago, chief executive Micah Scott said demand had grown exponentially.
"We had about 400 people sign up to our first event; this year we have had over 1,000, so it's definitely doubled in size," he said.
For the first time, the formal was held in partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Mr Scott said including young people in the celebrations represented significant progress.
"It was a huge step for us."
Anxious but determined
The lead up to this year's formal had been an anxious time for Sj Sparks.
Until recently, the 16-year-old, who identifies as non-binary, largely relied on the internet for social support.
"It's been a little hard for me to find people my age in the LGBT community ... I do wish there were more chances for me to go out and see real people about this," Sj said.
Despite feeling nervous, Sj was determined to find other people who shared the same experience.
"It means I won't feel so alone and it also provides me with a chance to make other people feel not so alone."
Watching the formal grow year to year has been uplifting for Skyler Howard, but the 18-year-old said she would like to see more events catering to younger members of the community.
"When I was growing up, there wasn't really anything other than Mardi Gras for LGBT people, and that was focused more towards older people," she said.
"There definitely needs to be more events for young queer people."
