Story by George M. Johnson / Photography by Mason Poole / Styling by Shiona Turini / Hair by Nakia Rachon / Make-up by Rokael Lizama / Creative direction by Andrew MakadsiIf we’re lucky, we get to die several times in our lifetime. Not a physical death, but one where we shed the person we once were for us to become who we are in the present, changing the trajectory of our future. Realigning ourselves mentally and spiritually, tapping into our higher being.
We know visibility and representation are just a starting point. But for a community that has been castigated many times by society,means much more. It’s an opportunity to share our culture with the masses without co-opting, as people from the actual community get to take center stage. This becomes a path towards education, showcasing the many facets of Blackness and queerness, and how we play a major role in influencing Black culture.
When my time came in Houston on September 23, I went all pink, paying homage to Beyoncé’s look in the 2001 “Bootylicious” music video. I practiced my lines, trying to get my breath control in check when it came time to rap “HEATED.” When hours got late and society shut down, ballroom opened its doors. Houses would compete in various categories, winning bragging rights, trophies and cash prizes. The ball was a safe space. Shared identities supporting, loving and caring for one another. This space would now be displayed on the biggest stages on Earth from its biggest star. A space once hidden from the masses out of protection now had 60,000 fans a night cheering it on.
This time around, it was Uncle Johnny. Uncle Johnny was her mother, Tina Knowles’, nephew, who was two years older than Tina. But if you know anything about Black families, your older cousins often get titled as “Aunt” or “Uncle” if there is a large age gap. All of my mother’s first cousins have that title. He was Beyoncé’s late gay uncle. He helped make many of her outfits early on in her career and even made her prom dress. Uncle Johnny was her connection to Black queer culture.
For the current generation of Black queer people who live with the virus both openly and in silence, this moment was for all of us. The originators of House music. The leaders of ballroom whose lives were lost to this, too. This jubilant moment, night after night recognizing a person who lived with the virus, and inspired, loved and supported our icon Beyoncé. And now we all get to share him with her.Towards the end of the show, “PURE/HONEY” brought us back to Ballroom heaven.
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