Source 11d

A white feminine-presenting person in a sparkling gown holds up their hands and smiles while posing in front of a crowd. They hold a piece of paper with the number 15 on it.
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1976: Photos from a Drag Ball at Porchester Hall in West London. Robert Workman Archive, Bishopsgate Institute.

 

Modern Ballroom culture developed in late 20th century New York as a Black and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture in which participants dress up and walk according to different categories, getting points based on their look and performance. In London, the Porchester Hall Drag Balls were originally run by drag entertainer and musician Jean Fredericks.

« Return to LGBTQ+ Rights in Britain
  • What do these photos tell you about the culture at these Drag Balls?
  • Return to these photos after reading Source 12. Taken together, what do these sources tell you about life for LGBTQ+ people in 1970s Britain?
  • Which members of the LGBTQ+ community are not present in either of these sources? Why do you think that may be?
  • Learn more about Ballroom culture in the 1960s and 1970s. What has been its impact on today’s LGBTQ+ community?