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Crystal LaBeija (born 1930s, died 1990s) was an American drag queen and trans woman who co-founded the House of LaBeija in 1968. The House is often credited as starting the house system in ball culture .
Learn how Crystal LaBeija, a proud Black trans woman and drag mother, protested against a rigged drag pageant in 1967 and sparked the House culture movement. Discover how she founded the House of LaBeija and influenced voguing, Paris is Burning, and Pose.
- Joe Skinner
Jun 16, 2019 · A vibrant piece of queer history, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negative. "The mother of all drag documentaries" (NYTimes) is...
- 2 min
- 1M
- Kino Lorber
Mar 23, 2018 · Drag Herstory: How Crystal LaBeija Reinvented Ball Culture. The legendary queen helped form the house system that still exists today and pushed back against racism in the community. By Elyssa Goodman. March 23, 2018. Crystal LaBeija (left) in a still from The Queen (1968), directed by Frank SimonGrove Press/Photofest.
- Elyssa Goodman
Official website: http://www.pbs.org/americanmasters | #AmericanMastersPBSA proud Black trans woman, a drag mother and, a pageant girl, Crystal LaBeija was t...
- 6 min
- 206.6K
- American Masters PBS
Crystal LaBeija is the founder of the first house of ballroom, established in 1972 in response to racist drag pageants. Learn about her history, the house's global chapters, and its appearances in media and culture.
Learn about the origins and legacy of the first ballroom house founded by Crystal LaBeija in 1972. Discover how LaBeija inspired self-expression, civil rights, and pop culture through ballroom culture.
