Iconic & Legendary
"Ball culture, also known as ballroom culture or the ball or ballroom scene, is the underground LGBTQ+ subculture in the United States in which primarily Black and Latinx queer people “walk,” or compete, for prizes and glory at competitions known as “balls.” It initially emerged in the 1920s in and around New York City and became a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people of color and Latinx populations in the 1960s (Grinnell College, n.d.). The ballroom scene has made its way into the mainstream in the past, and sometimes controversially, as with the documentary Paris is Burning and Madonna’s Vogue. TV shows and movies such as Pose, My House, and Kiki show that ballroom culture is once again rising in popularity..."
I love Ballroom Culture. It's such a save haven for LGBTQ+ BIPOC that it needs to be acknowledged as such. And to get to meet (and see) some of the figures of the Ballroom scene is always a joy. These are people who have more than three strikes against them: they're usually poor (one), they are queer (two) and they are BIPOC (three) then you add Transness and you have a perfect shitstorm to make your life almost impossible, thanks to transphobes and TERFS.
The resilience, valor and drive of some of these Mothers is incredible. They offer LGBTQ kids a family when their own families have abandoned them. They offer these kids a creative outlet that keeps them off the streets, off of violence and off of dangerous situations, most times. The chosen family they offer is both a ray of light and a lifesaver.
These performers did not KNOW what was possible for them because society had shut them down every step of the way. They were invisible to most of society and at best considered oddities and at worst, freaks. The Ballroom scene was created with the help of so many Trans girls that it's time that is recognized. For some Trans girls, the Ballroom scene is the only and first place where they can see that transitioning is possible and even celebrated.
But I'm not gonna tell you more about them. I'll let them tell their own stories. I invite you to be as amazed and impressed as I was with their eloquence and incredible positivity. We need more of this. Ten. Ten. TEN across the board!
XOXO
P.S. LGBTQ rights are in danger. Remember to register to vote!
P.P.S. : some food for thought.
Joy and Empowerment; a beautiful thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes ..... CAST A GODDAMNED VOTE!!!!
They're beautiful in and out.
DeleteThe strength, the drive. And yes, people need to VOTE the assholes out.
XOXO
HuntleyBiGuy:
ReplyDeleteWe always need to hear these stories. Stories of struggle and ultimate success. They affirm that there is hope, but also illustrate there is much to be done.
And yes, VOTE. Here in Illinois, they passed a bill this year allowing you to PERMANENTLY register to receive an absentee ballot so you don’t have to request it every election. I received my application in the mail Monday. Even if you decide to vote in person, you just have to surrender the ballot that was mailed to you, so you still have options.
VOTE, our lives and democracy literally depend on it.
XOXO 👨🏼❤️💋👨🏽
One of the things that most amazes me about the transphobes is that they think that Transpeople put themselves through all that hatred just because. Really. As if people would look to be hated and bad mouthed and persecuted for fun.
DeleteIllinois is lucky there's so many Dems in positions of power. The Repugs are looking to change that. Vote, people!
XOXO
Vote! Our future depends upon it!
ReplyDeleteNot exaggerating.
DeleteAt all. Because it does.
XOXO
Big says,
ReplyDeleteVOTE - VOTE - VOTE. I so enjoyed watching "Pose" and wished it would've kept going. Wouldn't it be great if a major feature film could tell the story and make it to huge popularity so a more mainstream audience would see it and show more understanding and compassion? XOXO
Oh, I loved Pose.
DeleteRepresentation matters, Big. People really don't think about that because they see themselves in media all the time. But also, that's what the bigots fear. Because they cannot control the narrative.
Vote, people!
XOXO
the transition - as far as I can see - must have been perfectly successful, because they all look 100% women. Simone de Beauvoir said and wrote that one is not born but becomes a woman! (On ne naît pas femme: on le devient)
ReplyDeleteDe Beauvoir was right.
DeleteAnd these women are very lucky because they can 'pass'. They're incredibly pretty, so even the most rabid transphobe really needs to come up with shit to say. But not everybody is this lucky...
XOXO
I first learned about ballroom culture in 1990 when the ground-breaking documentary "Paris Is Burning" came out. I think I saw it at the very first LGBTQ+ film festival I ever went to, if memory serves me correctly.
ReplyDeleteMy first contact with Ballroom Culture was with Madonna's Vogue, if I were to tell the truth.Then came Paris is Burning.
DeleteI have never been to a Ball. It's in my bucket list.
XOXO
And too think....Miss Crystal Labejia was it' s Mother...who left to give all queens a chance to compete in ball and have fun and a safe haven..she, herself checked every box in the minorities column...and took no shit from anyone....including the beauty pageant system that was very giving to the White queens. Yes....that's right Daaaaahling.
ReplyDeleteOh, MIss Crystal!
DeleteAnd icon. She started the Balls because Black and Brown queens did not get recognized in the pageant world. And she'll forever be remembered for that. She did have to take some shit. And was so gracious that came up with the idea to help people find their tribe so they didn't have to go through the shit she had to.
Icon.
XOXO
What incredibly brave souls to live out their dream... to forge that road. That's iron work. That is the stuff that builds strong spines and open minds. To be so proud. To know that kind of wealth. Good for them. This is history... living history. It has to be preserved. It has to be shared. These children today do not know all they should be thankful for. Thanks for sharing, hon. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteTrailblazers.
DeleteThat's what they are. And they have indeed made history. That's what the bigots cannot take.
XOXO