Leisure as black survival: ballroom, vogue, and black queer and trans+ embodied activism in Canada

ABSTRACT

Within Canadian leisure spaces anti-Black racism can make survival difficult, not least for those who identify as two-spirit lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and trans+ (QT+). The Black QT+ Ballroom scene in Canada is a leisure practice that began in Toronto within groups of chosen families called ‘houses’ that offer participants a physical and social place of love, comfort, refuge, leisure, physical activity, fashion, dance, music and art. The events that bring these artistic and embodied skills to light are referred to as ‘balls’ in which participants gather to socialize and compete, showcasing their dance skills, runway walking/moving, fiercest outfits, and ability to tap into beautiful parts of their body, gender, sexuality, and race. This article describes Black QT+ ballroom and details how expansive and affirming bodily worlds created in and through ballroom afford true self-expressions and full vibrant lives. We answer the question: why is ballroom important to Black QT+ survival?

Résumé

Dans les espaces de loisirs canadiens, le racisme anti Noirs peut rendre la survie difficile, en particulier pour les personnes qui s’identifient comme bi-esprit lesbiennes, gays, bisexuels, queers et trans+ (QT+). La scène ballroom QT+ noire au Canada est une pratique de loisir qui a vu le jour à Toronto au sein de groupes de familles choisies appelés « maisons » qui offrent aux participants un lieu physique et social d’amour, de confort, de refuge, de loisir, d’activité physique, de mode, de danse, de musique et d’art. Les événements qui mettent en lumière ces compétences artistiques et corporelles sont appelés « bals », au cours desquels les participants se réunissent pour socialiser et concourir, en mettant en avant leurs talents de danseurs, leurs défilés, leurs tenues les plus féroces et leur capacité à mettre en valeur les belles parties de leur corps, de leur genre, de leur sexualité et de leur race. Cet article décrit la ballroom QT+ noire et explique comment les mondes corporels expansifs et affirmatifs créés dans et par la ballroom permettent une véritable expression de soi et des vies pleines de vitalité. Nous répondons à la question : Pourquoi la ballroom est-elle importante pour la survie QT+ noire?

KEYWORDS:

• Queer
• trans
• black
• vogue

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Queer
• trans
• noir
• vogue

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. We use ‘+’ here to include all possibilities of gender expressions/identities and sexualities.

2. Individuals competing in the category are referred to as ‘walkers’ and the area they walk as a ‘runway’. These terms, borrowed from the modeling roots of ballroom, have ableist connotations. Participants with varying mobilities and disabilities are welcomed, though there is an able-bodied dominance in ballroom competition.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by [University of Toronto School of Cities Anti-Black Racism/Black Lives] Fund.

Notes on contributors

Janelle Joseph

Janelle Joseph is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Founder and Director of the IDEAS Research Lab in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Naomi Bain

Naomi Bain is a Program Coordinator with the Toronto Freedom School and a Research Assistant at the University of Toronto