MOTHER HAS ARRIVED! Queer Kinship, Care Practices and Reconfigurations of (M)otherhood within Ballroom Culture

This paper uses the documentary Paris is Burning as a case study to explore how ballroom culture allows us to reimagine the notions of motherhood and kinship, challenging the traditional nuclear family model that emerged with capitalism. By examining the chosen families within the ballroom community, the study reveals how these articulations consist in familial bonds based on mutual support and a shared identity and struggle. However, it also critically interrogates queer kinship structures for potentially replicating authoritarian heteronormative dynamics. Hence, the analysis delves into both the liberatory aspects and the constraints of queer kinship. To address these issues, the paper proposes an ethics of care, solidarity, and critical love by advocating for kinship models that emphasize empathy, support, and collective well-being. This proposal aims to foster more inclusive and equitable family structures that resist the power imbalances found in both traditional and alternative kinship systems.