Crystal LaBeija was an American drag performer and transwoman who co-founded the House of LaBeija in 1968. The House is often credited as starting the house system in ball culture. She became a “mother” for homeless lgbtq young people. In the early60’s, NYC drag culture was divided along racial lines (white, black, and Latina).
During this time, LaBeija won a Queen of the Ball title at a ball organized primarily by white people. In 1967 she was crowned Miss Manhattan. La Beija can be seen in the 1968 documentary, The Queen. Toward the end of that film, we see La Beija confronting Flawless Sabrina, accusing her of rigging pageants in favor of white queens. Afterward, LaBeija working with others started a ball for Black queens. In 1972, Lebejia used the word “house” to promote events that she and her cohorts sponsored, and the “house” concept took off immediately.
RuPaul reportedly saw Crystal LaBeija perform in an Atlanta nightclub in 1979 as her first experience of drag. We see where that moment led. The television series POSE features characters and events inspired by LaBeija and the ball culture she helped pioneer. The house of Labeija still stands. What does the Queer god squad have to say about drag culture and the impact of the balls of yore?
