By Angel Ravelo
The sound of music, movement and celebration filled the Church of St. Luke in the Fields in Manhattan as the Hetrick-Martin Institute hosted its monthly Kiki Ball: a free event that gives LGBTQ+ youth a safe space to express themselves through vogue performances and runway competitions. Young teens to young adults ages 13 to 25 gathered to celebrate identity, artistry and community in a supportive environment that’s become a cornerstone of New York’s queer culture. It all went down on Sept. 26.
The Hetrick-Martin Institute, which first helped launch the Kiki scene in the early 2000s, continues to nurture that legacy by creating spaces for young people to feel seen and empowered. Organizers say the monthly balls are about more than competition; they’re about self-expression, mentorship and belonging at a time when the LGBTQ+ community faces growing challenges nationwide.
WRHU’s Angel Ravelo attended this month’s Kiki Ball at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields and has this report:
- Asha Alexander, assistant director of counseling and case management at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, in her 30s. Photo by Angel Ravelo. ↩︎
- Jermaine Ellison, 46, of Brooklyn, performs as J’lin Lanvin ICON. He is director of community engagement and program operations at the Hetrick-Martin Institute. Photo by Angel Ravelo.
↩︎ - Community organizers (left) serve pizza to youth participants at the Hetrick-Martin Institute’s monthly Vogue Fem Ball on Sept. 19 (right). Photo by Angel Ravelo. ↩︎
- A Vogue Fem dancer competes in her qualifying round during the Hetrick-Martin Institute’s monthly Vogue Fem Ball. She earns tens across the board and finishes with a dramatic dip to accentuate her final move. Photo by Angel Ravelo. ↩︎
Contributor: Antonio Schoenhardt
