Although ballroom culture has been around since the 1980s, documentaries like Paris is Burning and FX’s hit series, Pose, introduced a larger audience to the scene while others gained a more in-depth understanding. The world was able to see that there is more to this community than dancing.

Ballroom is about family and community and is a safe space for the LGBTQ+. Several terms used in today’s pop culture, like “tea” and “shade”, were born there. When the outside world didn’t understand—including family members—ballroom provided a safe space to live as your authentic self. Ballroom allowed people from all walks of life to come together and feel loved.

Within the larger community, there are houses, and each house has members. For James Conley III, the overall father (a term designated for

See Full Page