Brigid O’Malley ’29
News Editor
Last Friday, Holy Cross PRIDE hosted its first-ever Masquerade Ball, turning the Hogan Ballroom into a space for music, food, dancing, and community.
In the days leading up to the event, PRIDE held a craft night, where students could make and decorate their own masks to be worn at the ball. Those creations were in many ways the centerpiece of the night, with each one allowing the individual to express their own identity, and served as a nod to the significance of ballroom culture in the queer community. Attendees gathered to eat, chat, and take photos before hitting the dance floor.
Pride’s decision to host a masquerade ball was no doubt connected to the historical significance of ballroom culture within the queer community. The earliest manifestations of these balls were called Masquerade and Civic balls, which have a legacy dating back to the 1860s, where they served as spaces of freedom and visibility for LGBTQIA+ people. Modern ballroom culture, which flourished in Black and Latin queer communities in cities like New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, created a place for self-expression through dress, gender performance, dance, and artistry away from the homophobic and transphobic dominant culture in America.
At Holy Cross, the Masquerade Ball carried that same spirit. It offered all students a space to celebrate identity openly and connect with one another in a supportive environment. These kinds of student-led initiatives for inclusivity are an essential part of fostering belonging and inclusion here on campus. One alumnus of the College commented on the importance of PRIDE’s initiatives on campus, “It is amazing to see this happening at Holy Cross. I’m a proud gay alumnus of the class of 2012, and while the school was accepting then, seeing how far it’s come…makes my heart soar.”
The Masquerade Ball set the stage for what’s next, and PRIDE plans to build on this event throughout the year. With PRIDE continuing to lead inclusive, creative programming, the Holy Cross community upholds the standard of being the kind of campus where every student is welcome to celebrate identity.
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