Ballroom culture is an African-American and Latin underground LGBTQ+ subculture that traces its origins to the drag balls of the mid-19th century, with roots linked to William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved Black man who hosted secret balls in Washington, D.C. in the 1880s. By the mid-20th century, racism in integrated drag spaces led to the evolution of house ballroom, where Black and Latino attendees could compete (or "walk") in various categories for trophies and cash prizes, forming "houses" as chosen families for those often estranged from their biological families. A pivotal moment came in 1972 when Lottie and Crystal LaBeija founded the House of LaBeija, the first ballroom house, which also raised benefits for HIV/AIDS awareness. The scene's rich history includes writer Langston Hughes, who described Harlem drag balls in the 1920s as "the strangest and gaudiest of all Harlem spectacles," and it grew through the 1930s with integrated balls before the rise of Black balls in the 1960s. Today, Ballroom's influence is seen in dance, language, music, and popular culture—such as the term "yassify"—and the community remains prominent, showcasing its enduring legacy of creativity, resilience, and self-expression.