And the Category Is...

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A 2023 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Nonfiction and an Electric Literature “Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Book of 2022” selection, this work serves as a love letter to the vibrant Black and Latinx LGBTQ underground subculture, highlighting its rich legacy and influence on popular culture. Ballroom is not merely a song or a TV show; it is an underground movement that originated over a century ago in Harlem, created by LGBTQ African American and Latino individuals. This arts-based, intersectional subculture transcends identity, standing as a bold response to the systemic marginalization faced by minority populations. Ricky Tucker draws from his deep connections within the community to explore the cultural complexity and enduring significance of house and Ballroom—a space where trans lives are celebrated, and queer youth find family and acceptance. Each chapter is framed as a “category” (such as Vogue, Realness, Body), providing an impressionistic entry into this subculture, its intertwined history, and its appropriation by mainstream audiences. Exclusive interviews with prominent LGBTQ/POC Ballroom figures—like Lee Soulja, Benjamin Ninja, and Twiggy Pucci Garçon—underscore the essence of each category. Amidst growing public interest, particularly through shows like FX’s Pose, Tucker’s narratives illuminate Ballroom’s relevance in pop culture, dance, and public policy regarding queer communities. Welcome to the norm-defying realne