General
house mother
What does house mother mean?
The matriarch of a ballroom house. Usually an older, respected member, a drag queen, gay man or trans woman, who leads the house, trains its children to walk categories, and provides the support, guidance and sometimes literal housing that the kids' birth families wouldn't. Think Angie Xtravaganza. A chosen-family mum in every sense that counts. The term has spread well beyond ballroom into wider drag and queer culture.
"She's house mother now, so the kids come to her before every ball."
Frequently asked questions
What does "house mother" mean in ballroom culture?
She's the experienced leader who heads a ballroom house and mentors its members, known as her children.
How do you use "house mother" in a sentence?
"The house mother took her under her wing and taught her to walk."
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