NIGHTLIFE AND BALLROOM

Pride usually brings up many different memories and thoughts for me. One of those- my love for the nightlife and the ballroom scene. It seems the LGBTQ I know either never liked the club scene and had no interest, or they did. I fall into the latter.  My, I will always have a fondness, connection and love for the nightlife, clubs, lounges and such, and at one time loved going to what was left of the heyday of ballroom. Even though I was never in the closet, or had any real bullying issues, I fell immediately in love with my first gay club night out and never looked back. It was so nice to have a place filled with people like me, no guards up, and you could act as gay and over the top as you wanted. Everyone was greeted with open arms, no judgements about your sexuality, no one cared. We were all there to drink, dance and be merry, and hell kids, even get laid. Dance the night away. It was like one big family even though you might not even know everyone. It was nice to feel that for a couple hours before returning to reality. I always did and still do feel more alive when I'm in a club and can dance my ass off. 

Ballroom was no different, a culture born from drag balls in the mid 19th century and flourished into house ballroom in primarily black and Latino LGBTQ communities in major cities, where even some of our own cast outs found, love, solace and acceptance in their own houses. For me the clubs and ballroom served as a safe haven and space for self-expression, especially by many who were rejected by their own families. While I did attend quite a few ballroom competitions from the sidelines, no way could I do all those moves. But I'm here to tell you, I can do a very mean walk with attitude on the runway. One of my schticks when out at the club, would be cutting runways to a song called I'm Beautiful, Damn It. While I'm far from a ballroom dancer, I do LOVE to dance to house and am pretty good if I can toot my own horn. I can still go for an hour or two of straight dancing. And don't get me started on some vogue moves. It was years later, once in New Hope, that drag was making a comeback, that I started my own drag house, House of Borghese with shows in New Hope and Philly every couple months. Surrounded here by Duke Borghese, Princess Borghese, Lady Borghese, yours truly in the center sitting, Miriam Webster, Queenie Borghese, Madsion Avenue, Empress Borghese and the Countess Borghese.

I sort of feel sad for the up-and-coming LGBT, that they will never know the feeling of ballroom, the energy of the big clubs, having church to the music, and good fun filled with campery and the magic of it all. If I hadn't had this, I feel I would be a very different person then I am now.  Even now, in my early 50's I can still move and love to hear the thumpa thumpa. 

And THIS is what I'm talking about kids!!! WERK, WALK.... 

And this bitch!!!! This BITCH...Honey Balenciaga

And these trailblazing and legendary MOTHERS.

Happy Gay Pride!!!

If you had a house, what would you call it?