House ballroom community
(Noun) Refers to the underground subculture of mainly Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people who ‘walk’ to earn recognition and awards--as in a pageant--within their community. Most participants in ballroom belong to ‘houses,’ chosen families with which they compete and often live (see Chosen Family). Ballroom is said to originate in New York City in the late 20th century but exists today in various cities across the United States. Learn More