Quotes from Dominique Jackson

A woman reveals so much by what she's wearing.

Growing up I was told, 'Stop acting like a girl. Don't stand like that, don't act like that, deepen your voice.' But for me, it came naturally.

People talk about ballroom, but they don't really understand the history. Crystal Labeija, Avis Pendavis, Paris Dupree, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey. These were the women that really brought ballroom to life.

We all want to be normal, but it's relative to individuality. My normal is not your normal.

Writing about my life was a 13-year process where I had to face my demons as I wrote and take the time to understand them, then defeat them.

Once you start crossing over and displaying feminine ways, you're a target. It's sad, it's humiliating, and it's confusing.

We celebrate pride every day of the year - whether it's black pride, whether LGBTQIA + pride, whether it's the pride of being a woman, whether it's the pride of being a mother, we should be proud of who we are each and every day.

Don't tell me what I need. Start looking at the people in front of you, appreciate the diversity in the community, respect it. Don't debate it.

Ball culture saved my life, and many people don't understand that. But ballroom is where I found chosen and proven family.

I learned that I have purpose and my experiences no matter how horrible taught me heart, strength and forgiveness!

Whenever I have to go out or do something, it must be glamour.

I learned that there is an inner strength that blossoms when one cleanses themselves by processing and attempting to comprehend their situation and/or experience. Writing became my therapy!

I started hormone therapy illegally and I thought I looked good enough for my family to accept. I was wrong. It was a disaster. My sister ran screaming calling me the demon with blue eyes. Using her Christianity as the base for her insight into seeing me as a demon.

I realised that I couldn't live in a box. It was not for me.

Even though it is fictional, 'Pose' has really tapped into some realities that I know would come from someone who really took the time to investigate ballroom.

Trans men and women have always been thrown to the sides, but... have always been the nurturers, especially trans women.

People have to realize that it is not OK to hurt another human being. And that is what we forget.

I did not realize how many people would not be happy with my success.

We live in this realm where things exist but we pretend they don't exist, so that makes them, you know, nonexistent.

In the realness categories, what happens is you walk and your peers judge you, because if you're not able to walk amongst your peers and pass as being cis male or cis female, then it's obvious that you haven't done enough work. They wanted you to be able to go outside and come back home safely.

Don't tell me about tolerance. Don't tell me about acceptance. Look at me as the woman that I am and respect that.

You will not tell me that you accept me. You will not tell me that you tolerate me. That is not your power. I take that from you. You will respect me for who I am.

I had a regiment of psalms that I said each day.

We are human beings, we matter, and we will not be erased.