ABOUT

Founded in 1992, REACH LA is a Los Angeles based organization aimed at providing HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and treatment for youth of color. In 2006 REACH was granted CDC funding addressed to Black and Latinx gay men, men who had sex with men, and trans women as especially vulnerable demographics. Because many of REACH LA’s new community members were involved in the house/ball scene, the organization homed in on this subculture, seeing an opportunity to connect creatively with their extended community. In 2006 REACH LA and the Icon Sean/Milan Garcon hosted the first Ovahness Ball.  Over the years the annual Ovahness Ball became one of the main West Coast ballroom functions.

​

The Ovahness Archive site documents 13 years of ball through promotional materials, including posters, printed ball categories as well as videos and photos dcoumenting each event