Realness was originally rooted in sort of trans identity before we had that terminology. So on a street level, you would usually be born male and then at a certain point, you would go to a ball and walk realness as a woman. But then it branches off into categories that are identity defying as well to certain degrees of seriousness. Intelligence Square today is sponsored by We Can Be Heroes, the new book by Paul Burston,. The emotional and often witty memoir is a journey through the LGBTQ plus story of the 80s, 90s and Nodies told from the perspective of a gay man who only just survived them.
With roots in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, ballroom culture evolved into a vibrant movement that has since been a haven of self-expression, creativity, and community for the LGBTQ individuals, particularly those from the black and latino community. It's a world of flamboyant fashion, fierce competition, and above all, a celebration of identity. In this episode, we're not just exploring the sequins and voguing, we're delving deeper. We discuss the significant impact of ballroom culture on popular culture and its commodification in the mainstream, and we address its crucial role as a form of protest and its influence on the fight for LGBTQ rights and acceptance.
And the Category Is…Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community, By Ricky Tucker
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