Jameela Jamil Comes Out as 'Queer' Amid Ballroom Backlash

[BUtterfield 8 41,560]

Jameela Jamil came out as queer, explaining that she did not do it sooner — in part because of stigma, especially for people in the South Asian community. 

Jamil’s coming out coincides with the backlash to an announcement earlier this week that she would be a judge on HBO’s Legendary, a series that turns ballroom culture into a televised competition. Ballroom, which traditionally centered trans people and people of color.

The announcement that Jamil, who, as far as anyone knew, was not part of the LGBTQ community, would be the face of the series, sparked immediate outrage on social media, especially at a time when casting trans to tell trans history has gained momentum. 
 

“I know that my being queer doesn’t qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring [in] this show (as does Megan the Stallion) and is beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts,” Jami wrote. “Sometimes it takes those with more power to get a show off the ground so we can elevate marginalized stars that deserve the limelight and give them a chance.”

Jamil also explained that she is not host or emcee of Legendary but rather a lead judge who has 11 years of hosting experience under her belt. She adds that she comes to ballroom culture with impartiality and “fresh eyes.”

https://www.advocate.com/television/2020/2/05/jameela-jamil-comes-out-queer-amid-ballroom-backlash?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=television

[ltlmnstr 2,771]

This is not about her bring Queer or her Race. Like yay you came out the closet but this is a blanketing PR tactic with the real issue.

It’s about her not being a Ballroom veteran judging a competition she has no business doing. 

Ballroom and Voguing are revered underground Queer life culture but that doesn’t make every LGBTQ person automatically a Ballroom expert.

(Doing the Macarena extra fast is not Voguing fyi.)

A Ballroom expert should be the Judge. It’s like taking a male country superstar to judge Pop Girls or Rappers. It doesn’t work like that. 

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

the show is literally a slap in the face to all the ballroom girls in NYC, DC, Chicago, etc. who are all young trans, femmes, nonbinary, or gay men of color  who aren't well off. It's actually a shame that they are trying to monetize an entire culture created by poor lgbtq poc without them benefiting from it at all.

[StarstruckIllusion 53,032]

Congrats fake outrage twitter. You just outed a woman. Disgusting. 

[COOOK 76,406]

I’ll gonna have to get back to you, I’m pretty mesmerized by her beauty 

[Admin 24,441]

Wait... What does ballroom dancing have to do with the LGBT community? Do I not know something? Or am I thinking of a different Ballroom? Isn't it this?

[Red 98,325]

I love her so much, The Good Place ended not even a week ago and I miss Tahani so bad

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

1 minute ago, Admin said:

Wait... What does ballroom dancing have to do with the LGBT community? Do I not know something? Or am I thinking of a different Ballroom? Isn't it this?

 

 

[Admin 24,441]

1 minute ago, Gov Hooka said:

 

Isn't this vogueing?

Isn't ballroom dancing this:

 

[PEZ 6,297]

4 minutes ago, Admin said:

Or am I thinking of a different Ballroom?

Yeah. Same word used for different things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_culture

[Gov Hooka 8,008]

Just now, Admin said:

Isn't this vogueing?

Isn't ballroom dancing this:

 

Ballroom culture is the scene that birthed vogueing but it's a lot more than just vogue. It's named after the balls that the different queer families called "houses" had and still have today. It started in NYC in Harlem and Brooklyn in the black and latino lgbtq community. 

[Admin 24,441]

1 minute ago, PEZ said:

Yeah. Same word used for different things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_culture

Oh. 

Thank you.

Lol.

I bet this is going to make a lot of people outside the U.S. confused. I'd never heard about the other ballroom until now.

[Admin 24,441]

Just now, Gov Hooka said:

Ballroom culture is the scene that birthed vogueing but it's a lot more than just vogue. It's named after the balls that the different queer families called "houses" had and still have today. It started in NYC in Harlem and Brooklyn in the black and latino lgbtq community. 

Thank you. My confusion comes from the fact that the same word is used for two different things like @PEZ said.

[dit 46,525]

I love her and I'm glad she is came out. Wish she didn't feel pressured to come out like this but it is what it is.

[TWICE on hatius 4,746]

Love her so much love love love her. But she has zero attachment with ballroom culture and and shouldn’t be qualified to be a judge over any categories (maybe okay with the serving face and legs one). But I guessed she will help the show more mainstream. So stop attacking my fellow Asian queen .