Kiki (social gathering)
"Kiki" (alternately kiking or a ki) is a term which started in Black Gay American social culture, and currently, is loosely defined as a gathering of friends for the purpose of gossiping and chit-chat, and later made more famous in the song "Let's Have a Kiki" by the Scissor Sisters.[1][2][3]
Previous Definitions
While the current definition of the word does find its roots in Ball-room culture, the word kiki has been a part of the LGBTQ community for much longer. In the 1930s, kiki first came to be used as slang for a gay man that could be both passive and active during sexual intercourse. Between the 1940s and 50s this definition was extended to lesbians that were comfortable as either "butch" or "fem" presenting as well as women who did not choose to identify. When it made its way into drag culture, "kiki" came into its modern use as it meant having fun at a party or other social gathering, especially if there was gossip involved. In the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning, it was used to mean the sound of laughter.
From ballroom culture, kiki began to bud off into its own scene, one that is particularly friendly towards Black/Latino members of the LGBTQ community, as depicted in the 2016 movie, Kiki. Post 2010, thanks in part to the release of "Let's Have a Kiki" by the Scissor Sisters, and the popularization of Drag Culture through RuPaul's Drag Race, the word has found its way into mainstream culture as well.[4]
See also
General:
References
- Jacobs, Greg (20 August 2012). "Let's Have a Kiki". Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- Taylor Bennett, Kim. "Scissor Sisters interview". TimeOut London. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- Marion, Mitchell (19 June 2012). "Scissor Sisters popularise KIKI". GayStarNews. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
- "Kiki Meaning & Origin | Slang by Dictionary.com". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2022-12-02.