Recognising the vital role of the LGBTQIA+ community to dance music culture

As Pride month comes to a close, we are celebrating the vital role the LGBTQIA+ community have had in the origins of dance music culture and continue to have today.

It’s no news that house music was born at The Warehouse in Chicago, where legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles used to play to a predominantly queer, black and latinx crowd. The movement that started on that sweaty dancefloor would take the world by storm and become a cultural phenomenon. 

On this special occasion, we are looking back at some memories from Glitterbox, a party that holds the value of inclusivity at its core and one that we are proud to welcome back to the Press Halls year after year.

If you wish to know more about the history of dance music and its connection with the queer community, we recommend the following articles:

An alternate history of sexuality in club culture – Resident Advisor

How dance music evolved by re-embracing its radical roots – Mixmag

Dance Pride: The Gay Origins of Dance Music – Vice

**Photos by Jake Davis (Hungry Visuals)