Presented By: Spectrum Center
Let's Have a Ball (LGBT History Month Kickoff)
LGBT History Month 2025
HAVE A BALL at our LGBT History Month kickoff, featuring performer and house mother Legendary Monica Revlon! The kickoff will emulate the Kiki ballroom scene and provide historical context and personal experiences. The audience will be immersed in show—get ready!
Open to the U-M community members of all sexualities and genders.
ABOUT BALLROOM
Ballroom culture, drag ball culture, and the house ballroom community is described as an underground queer subculture in which people "walk" (compete), perform, dance, lip-sync, and model in different categories. The categories were designed to epitomize and satirize gender constructs, occupations, and social class. Connected through hardships, resistance, strength, and joyfulness, Kiki ballroom scene was created for the youth as a sub-scene of main scene ballroom culture. Representation of ballroom can be seen in shows like Pose, Legendary, and other historical documentaries that showcases life as ballroom participants and their legacies.
ABOUT LEGENDARY MONICA REVLON
Lon'Dyn M. Hudson (Legendary Monica Revlon) was born in the Jefferies Projects of Detroit Michigan. I was raised and grew up on Detroit's Eastside Mack & Bewick and 7mile area. While attending High School, I found myself joining the INFINITI Project in 1997. The INFINITI Project was a major part of my life for it taught me life values and also guided me through my confusion of who I was. After graduating high school, I took what I learned from the INFINITI PROJECT and utilized it to help others. This is where my participation in Community Services came into play. In 1999 I volunteered for Men Of Color Motivational Group for 3yrs before being hired as a Community Peer Educator before being promoted to Prevention Specialist in 2002. From that very point I found my purpose in my community and that was to Educate, Assist, Advocate and Help my community from which I have been doing with the help of Community Based Organizations but also without the help and will continue to do so until my heart stops. In 2011 I began a journey with the Ruth Ellis Center during that time I joined forces with some amazing women and became one of the Founding Mothers Of The Trans Sista Of Color Project where they do a phenomenal job with assisting Trans Women Of Color with emergency assistance. Currently I'm employed at Matrix Human Services as The PrEP Navigator, Heard Family Funeral Home as the LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Vice President Of Detroit Black Pride Society INC. First Black Transwoman To Co-chair Michigan HIV/AIDS Council, Recipient Of Michigan’s Home Health Hero Award and Tribute From Governor Whitmer and The State, Legendary Monica Revlon is a legendary figure in the ballroom scene, making waves since 1997 With a career spanning over two decades, Monica has produced and mentored numerous legends and icons in the Ballroom Community from state to state. As a transgender drag entertainer, she has been dazzling audiences with her performances since 2002 as Monica Devereaux. Inspired by the iconic queens of drag culture, Monica also embodies the spirit of confidence, inclusivity, and joy that defines this vibrant community. As a performer, Monica aims to inspire audiences with her charisma, talent, and dedication to the craft.
FIND MORE LGBT HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/lgbt-history-month
FIND MORE SPECTRUM CENTER EVENTS
https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/events
Open to the U-M community members of all sexualities and genders.
ABOUT BALLROOM
Ballroom culture, drag ball culture, and the house ballroom community is described as an underground queer subculture in which people "walk" (compete), perform, dance, lip-sync, and model in different categories. The categories were designed to epitomize and satirize gender constructs, occupations, and social class. Connected through hardships, resistance, strength, and joyfulness, Kiki ballroom scene was created for the youth as a sub-scene of main scene ballroom culture. Representation of ballroom can be seen in shows like Pose, Legendary, and other historical documentaries that showcases life as ballroom participants and their legacies.
ABOUT LEGENDARY MONICA REVLON
Lon'Dyn M. Hudson (Legendary Monica Revlon) was born in the Jefferies Projects of Detroit Michigan. I was raised and grew up on Detroit's Eastside Mack & Bewick and 7mile area. While attending High School, I found myself joining the INFINITI Project in 1997. The INFINITI Project was a major part of my life for it taught me life values and also guided me through my confusion of who I was. After graduating high school, I took what I learned from the INFINITI PROJECT and utilized it to help others. This is where my participation in Community Services came into play. In 1999 I volunteered for Men Of Color Motivational Group for 3yrs before being hired as a Community Peer Educator before being promoted to Prevention Specialist in 2002. From that very point I found my purpose in my community and that was to Educate, Assist, Advocate and Help my community from which I have been doing with the help of Community Based Organizations but also without the help and will continue to do so until my heart stops. In 2011 I began a journey with the Ruth Ellis Center during that time I joined forces with some amazing women and became one of the Founding Mothers Of The Trans Sista Of Color Project where they do a phenomenal job with assisting Trans Women Of Color with emergency assistance. Currently I'm employed at Matrix Human Services as The PrEP Navigator, Heard Family Funeral Home as the LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Vice President Of Detroit Black Pride Society INC. First Black Transwoman To Co-chair Michigan HIV/AIDS Council, Recipient Of Michigan’s Home Health Hero Award and Tribute From Governor Whitmer and The State, Legendary Monica Revlon is a legendary figure in the ballroom scene, making waves since 1997 With a career spanning over two decades, Monica has produced and mentored numerous legends and icons in the Ballroom Community from state to state. As a transgender drag entertainer, she has been dazzling audiences with her performances since 2002 as Monica Devereaux. Inspired by the iconic queens of drag culture, Monica also embodies the spirit of confidence, inclusivity, and joy that defines this vibrant community. As a performer, Monica aims to inspire audiences with her charisma, talent, and dedication to the craft.
FIND MORE LGBT HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/lgbt-history-month
FIND MORE SPECTRUM CENTER EVENTS
https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/events
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