ORLANDO | Inspired by the hit FX show “POSE,” Mulan Williams, executive director of Divas in Dialogue, and Legendary Father Cliff Ebony will present Orlando’s first-ever Trans Awareness Ball at the District Event Center Nov. 20.
The event will combine New York City’s ballroom culture with raising awareness for Central Florida’s transgender community.
“This is an event being done by trans, for trans and the whole community as a whole,” Williams says. “It gives an opportunity to spread education, to spread love, spread what is going on with the trans community because right now it feels like we are under attack by government officials and with everything that is going on. And really it is the time to support the trans community.”
Divas in Dialogue is a sisterhood of transgender women who seek to educate, empower and strengthen fellow transgender women. Their vision is to create safe spaces, like this ball, that the trans community can be themselves without any judgement.
The evening will be filled with friendly competition in several different categories, with prizes awarded, including best dressed, best vogue performance, hand performance, runway, lip sync and more.
Williams says that ballroom events have seen a huge upswing in popularity within the LGBTQ community over the last several years.
“Balls are fun, balls are exciting. Its a friendly competition. It is a way to come dressed in your best, dressed in your whatever way you would like to express yourself without judgement,” she says. “I wanted to create something fun for the whole community to enjoy, while also having something fun, its a great way while we’re there to talk about trans issues. That way we have a broader crowd and gain more support while we’re having such a great event.”
The Trans Awareness Ball will be on Nov. 20, doors open at 6 p.m., at the District Event Center in Orlando. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $300 for a standard table and $500 for a VIP table. Tables seat 6-8 guests. For more information and for a full list of events and prizes, go here.
