Three Generations of House Mothers: Proudly Black and Trans

Icon Queen MUVA Azzedine Alaia, Icon Miasha Forbes, and Maya Juicy Couture discuss what it means to be a House Mother across three generations.

Legendary Mother Avis Pendavis (1990) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Founding Mothers

The Founding Mothers of Ballroom: Crystal LaBejia, Pepper LaBejia, Paris Dupree, Avis Pendavis, Angie Xtravaganza, Dorian Corey + Duchess, were Black and Latina Trans women, who were critical to the establishment of ballroom culture and house structures. 

Love Ball #2 Aids Benefit Roseland Icon Legendary Mother Pepper La Beija (1990) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Being A Mother

Being the mother of a house means being the matriarch and the feminine figure of that house. Many of the House mothers have been protectors and safe harbor, especially when HIV/AIDS ravaged the community.

House of Elite center Mother Moldayvia, left to right Robert, Father Devin,Raven, Andrew (1991) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Miasha Forbes, Mother of AlphaOmega Haus

"It's really about safeguarding the legacy, because we do come from a very rich tradition...that is an extension of the larger civil rights movement."

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Ballroom Throwbacks

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