Pose continues its reign as the most fabulous show on television. Now in its second season, the Ryan Murphy-produced drama about the New York drag ball scene in 1980s and 90s New York has attracted a loyal fanbase and wide critical acclaim for a diverse cast and examination of queer history.
The new clip shares some candid moments with the cast as they returned to film the new season, as well as insight to the ways in which their lives have changed, and what they love about the show.
Related: ‘Pose’ gets an early green light for season three
“A lot of kids, young kids, are now standing firm in who they are and taking complete control of their life,” says star MJ Rodriguez, who plays the character Blanca, of the show’s impact. “A lot of them who have been ostracized are going places to make sure they find the right family to be around.”
“It’s beyond a dream come true,” adds star Billy Porter, who plays the ball emcee Pray Tell. “I didn’t know it’s what I needed. It was something that I wasn’t dreaming about.”
Season 2 debuted to positive reviews and strong viewership earlier this month. Pose airs on FX Tuesday nights.
RIGay
I’ve said it in several posts – this show is set in era when I came out. I feel so connected to this show, to the stories and the characters. The gallows humor, the absolute raw emotions, the communities… all of it.
In my own ignorance, I remember going to an event [ball], but did not understand it, nor did I appreciate it back in the day. I was an adult when I came out as gay, but had ZERO understanding of the whole community; I had very pea-brained, narrow-minded views of most of it, and my “gay mentor” (we were in class together when I came out) was a white gym-bot who looked down on anyone not like him. I watched all of [the show] going on around me in Boston’s Back Bay – drag, trans, leather, AIDS… all at once. It was very overwhelming, and at that time, I chose isolation over immersion, understanding and inclusion.
Only as I aged and met the right “mentors” over the years did I start to understand and appreciate what was around me. Around the mid 1990’s was when I first heard of the safe houses for GLBT youth throughout major metropolitan cities. I had (briefly) relocated to Florida. My minister (lesbian) in Tampa Bay decided to use her home as one to shelter several youth who had been turned out on the streets by their “good Christian” families. We made ourselves a community to support and nurture them.
I watch “Pose”, and I understand it, I understand the connections and I find myself weeping. It feels to a degree… liberating. I wish I would have wept a lot more back in 1989.