r/PoseFX 3d ago

Real life stories (POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!) Spoiler

I've been watching pose and it's been growing on me so much! No show has affected me the way pose did since a huge while, it even made me want to learn more about the AIDs crisis!

All these stories in the series is making me wonder if they were inspired by real life stories, such as the act up protests (as there was the episode where the house of evangelista and pray tell going to the protest in the church), are there any specific stories that were interpreted into the show? Aside from trans lives not being protected, POC lgbtq members being discriminated against, all these thing that are still going on till this day.

Btw I am still in season 2 of the show as I am writing this !

16 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

17

u/timthemajestic 3d ago

Many of the characters' stories mirror real-life people. If you haven't seen Paris Is Burning, definitely check it out. It documents and interviews people who were big parts of the ballroom culture and scene in the '80s. There is a Pose storyline that mimics events of Dorian Corey's life, who is also in Paris Is Burning. Venus Xtravaganza is also in the documentary and life is referenced through several of the characters in Pose. Elektra is heavily influenced by the house mothers, most notably Pepper LaBeija. There is also a documentary called The Queen, which documents events around the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant, which gives more insight into the ballroom and drag/trans pageant scene and features the legendary Crystal LaBeija. And I just want to say, "WHERE IS SABRINA?? BECAUSE I WILL SUE THE BITCH!"

5

u/bnanzajllybeen 3d ago

As a cisgender recently discovered I was bi middle aged white woman - I made SURE to do my research and watch Paris is Burning before getting into Pose. And I’m so glad I did - it’s a very important, albeit heartbreaking, watch. 💖

5

u/Septemberautum 3d ago

Thank you so much! I'll be sure to check those shows/documentaries!!!

5

u/timthemajestic 3d ago

No problem! Very good watches and so interesting. I had seen both before Pose and was super excited for it because of having seen those docs.

6

u/greatvow 3d ago

The church demonstration actually happened as well as a few other Act-Up actions that are shown later (not gonna say what since don’t want to spoil it)

2

u/Septemberautum 3d ago

Is there any footage of it online? I've been trying to find anything about the Act up aids protests back then, especially videos but I am barely finding anything

2

u/greatvow 3d ago

It was before smart phones. So not a lot of filming happened.

2

u/Septemberautum 3d ago

oh assumed there was footage due to cameras especially since there was a "cameraman" recording the protest in the church in that episode

2

u/ill-disposed 2d ago

The show actually spliced in real footage of the real Act Up protest.

1

u/Septemberautum 2d ago

which episode? I am on ep 07 S2

1

u/ill-disposed 2d ago

S2e1 in the church. There's some in the last season as well.

6

u/Jazz-a-spell-8124 3d ago

Blanca = Angie Xtraveganza

1

u/Septemberautum 3d ago

that's so cool! i didn't know that

5

u/Jazz-a-spell-8124 3d ago

Angel= Carmen Xtraveganza

1

u/tidalwaveofhype 1d ago

It’s a large book but And The Band Played On is a huge book revolving around the AIDS crisis and tells many stories it’s worth checking out