Planners of a different kind of prom next month are inviting a wide range of young people -- gay, bisexual, transgendered, straight -- as well as adults, including parents, teachers and administrators from all over the region.

		More information For more information, e-mail safeprom@glsenpgh.org.

They just want everybody to be one same thing:

Safe.

The "Safe Prom for All" -- set for 6 to 11 p.m. on May 29, at the Pittsburgh Hilton, Downtown -- is put on by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a group that works for safe, respectful schools for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

This is the second year GLSEN Pittsburgh has organized the prom, which was started nine years ago by another group. GLSEN board member Keith Young, who's planned all nine proms, said last year's 200 attendees came from as far away as Somerset and Erie and eastern Ohio.

Young said GLSEN surveyed them and, "We found out a lot of students don't feel safe at their own prom, especially if they want to take someone of the same sex."

This prom, funded in part by the Lambda Foundation, is being promoted mostly via area schools' gay-straight alliance clubs and word of mouth/e-mail. Earlier this month GLSEN sent the survey report and a request to publicize the prom to more than 70 area principals and guidance counselors.

Young is expecting a record crowd of 300, including many straight students and their dates who attend as a show of support. Plus lots of parents and teachers, who last year "felt as comfortable as the students."

Otherwise, he said, "We try to keep it as close to a real prom as we can" -- with a DJ, dancing, food, even a best-dressed contest. Tickets are $10 for students and young people under age 23, and $25 for adults.