Thread by @JHMarble

I would like to be known as the
‘Mother of the House of Autism’.

Category is: BUTCH QUEEN, FIRST TIME *FLAPPING* AT A BALL.

“No more #QuietHands this evening. Put away that #ABA. Muffle that noise. Find your stim so the lights can dim. Sensory differences on full display!”

And yes (because, come on, you know my life is filled with stories like this), ball culture is something I have a history with. When I first came out as a young gay man and really struggling, I was taken under the wing of a house of ball (vogue) dancers. They saved my life.

Even 20 years later (wow, I just wrote that), I still collaborate on artistic endeavors with ball houses. The photos attached are of Marquis Clanton and his ball members from Baltimore (at an event we did). He’s one of my favorite artists to work with.

Here’s a video of Marquis teaching a vogue class to kids - just because I love it.

People most associate ball culture and ball houses with voguing (in which it plays a heavy part). But, there is so much more. In balls, there are other categories. And ball houses become a community and family (many of whom are those who have none).

‘Mothers’ of houses tend to be older, more experienced people who guide younger members. Here’s a clip of legendary ball figure and choreographer Willie Ninja.

And mothers often watch their house children grow with experience and set out to form their own houses. It’s the circle of ballroom life.

So, if I’m to be know as anything, I’m happy to be ‘Mother of the House of Autism’.

❤️♾🌈