Throughout the 1980’s, black men and women were stereotyped while facing intense amounts of racism. Include the fact that you were gay, and that opened a completely different world. The LGBTQ community had nowhere to go and looked for a place they could find home. This group of outcasts had built their own community with their own languages, norms, and values. In doing so they created “balls” where Black and Hispanic, gay and transgender men and women were able to go and be whoever they desired. Balls were extremely important because they made people feel like celebrities and gave them a sense of worth.
People who attended these “balls” had never experienced this feeling before. It was something new. Some people came to these balls starving and from all different parts of the city because of how dedicated they were to them. They would rather spend what little money they had on outfits and clothes rather than food. The different personalities at these events made sure that everyone included looked appealing, while feeling one-hundred percent. The film Paris is Burning shows how “balls” allowed individuals from the LGBTQ community to feel accepted by society in New York City.
Paris is Burning exposes the underground New York City that not many people have come in contact with. The structure of the “balls” is without a doubt one of the most intriguing parts of this film. Homosexual and transgender participants participate in a contest where they will be judged on the “realness” of their outfit and performance. They have to truly embrace whatever outfit they are wearing. Some contestants inspire to be military sergeants or in some cases, upper class white women, because they will never have the chance to be one.
The idea of women having to look like women and men having to look like men is not represented in this setting. Gender assigned roles are eliminated. They are showing society they can be whatever they want in the real world. It all depends on their preference. The purpose of this “ball” culture is to feel tragic and uplifting at once. The competitions gave the community a chance to be in someone else’s shoes, where they were accepted into society and a life of fantasized luxury.
On the other hand, these balls contain a real sadness to them as well. The lack of being accepted is highlighted in the film where one man says, “After all… how many gay black males are in the business of executive ranks.” This opens up the social injustice that is experienced by the LGBTQ community. Dorian Corey states, “In real life you can’t get a job as an executive unless you have the educational background and the opportunity…. Black people have a hard time getting anywhere. And those that do are usually straight.” Although the realness behind these messages are important, the nature of the supportive ball community is inspiring.
Since the initial filming of this movie, the LGBTQ community has made tremendous strides towards equality. For so long these people were misrepresented and sometimes afraid to embrace who they are. Same sex marriage is allowed in a majority of states in the United States and gay men and lesbians can now openly serve in the army. Other milestones have been reached and the LGBTQ community is thriving.
Outside of the “balls” that are held, many of the community live together in homes where there is a “mother figure”. They live together because most of their families threw them out because of their sexual status and wanting to be someone else. This “mother” plays the typical role of what a mom is, whether that is making sure they are safe or making sure people have a place to sleep, “mother” dedicates a lot of time and devotion to her family. This person plays the role of a mom for all of the neglected individuals who lack a family presence.
The houses of “Princess, Extravaganza, and Saint Laurent” act as their biological family due to them not having one. The “mothers” of the houses are rewarded at the balls for keeping their “children” intact. One of the men who live in these houses claims that their “mother” is a real hard ass on them, but they would not trade them for anyone else. This very important in the family setting because families sometimes need a respectable and demanding figure in their lives. The idea of having a mother figure is moving because some of these people grew up without families.
Paris is Burning is a film that shows the struggles gay and transgender men and women had battled through in the 1980’s. Through the “balls” they were able to express themselves and able to be whoever they wanted to be. The gathering in “balls” gave people a sense of family because most of the time, they had none. Since the initial filming of this movie the LGBTQ community has made great strides in reaching equality. The most important quote from this movie comes from a “mother” who says, “When someone has rejection from their mother and their father, they get out into the world and they search.” That is one of the harshest things they had to deal with, yet they overcame it. All of the people involved in the balls found a group of people they can call family.
