Cross-dressing ball

LGBTQ Rights History

Gay balls, also called cross-dressing, pansy, or drag balls, were public or private events held mainly in the first third of the 20th century. They allowed cross-dressing and ballroom dancing with same-sex partners. By the 1900s, they had become important cultural events for gay and lesbian communities and attracted tourists. Their Golden Age was in the interwar period, particularly in Berlin and Paris.

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Type: Public or private ball
Main period: First third of the 20th century
Golden Age: Interwar period, mainly in Berlin and Paris

Sources and credits

Article: Cross-dressing ball (English Wikipedia)
Wikidata: Q1638401
Text: Card text is adapted from the English Wikipedia article by an automated summary. Wikipedia content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for its contributors. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Article history and contributors
Illustration: AI-generated illustration. Not a photograph or documentary image. (model: gpt-image-2.5-flare)
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