Ball Culture and Community

Ball culture is an LGBTQ+ subculture and safe haven for Black and brown queer people. Through participating, or “walking,” in a ball, participants get the chance to compete for titles, prizes, and trophies—and, most importantly for many, to build community. While ball culture is said to have emerged in the 1920s in New York City, historic accounts show that drag balls have occurred since the 1800s.