TensOrChops Television Network
Our Story In Motion
See the culture. Hear the stories. Witness the impact.
The TensOrChops Television Network documents Ballroom culture, community events, conversations, performances, and stories while using digital media to increase visibility and connect audiences with information and resources.
Support TensOrChops Television Network
Contributions help TensOrChops continue documenting Ballroom culture, community events, and conversations across Dallas and beyond.
Media Gallery
Ballroom 4 Us — Pictures, Poses & Performance
Wednesday, August 26 · S4 Rose Room, Dallas.
Our community came together in the S4 Rose Room for a night of Ballroom 4 Us programming — where culture opened the door and resources walked through it.
The evening included a civic duties session so participants could learn their rights, their vote, and their voice; a free professional photo shoot so every person left with quality images to use for social platforms, portfolios, and job applications; a posing workshop and vogue session led by our instructors; and light refreshments so nobody had to choose between showing up and eating.
Ballroom 4 Us — Pictures, Poses & Performance
Learning our civic duties together
Behind the scenes at the free photo shoot
Free professional headshot session
Portraits for platforms and job applications
Professional headshots at no cost
Posing workshop in action
Every participant left with usable portraits
Confidence on camera
Community, culture, and career-ready images
Recognition
HRC & SHOWTIME® “Queer To Stay” Award
TensOrChops Entertainment LLC named a 2023 recipient of the LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative.
For Immediate Release: November 9, 2023
Ferris Business Named Recipient of Human Rights Campaign and SHOWTIME® “Queer To Stay” Small-Business Funding
FERRIS — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SHOWTIME announced TensOrChops as a recipient of “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative.” Supporting and uplifting small businesses that focus on LGBTQ+ people of color, women and the transgender community, “Queer to Stay” ensures that LGBTQ+ businesses can keep their doors open and serve their communities.
“Welcoming, safe spaces are at the heart of local communities—for LGBTQ+ people, these spaces are often havens for connection. Through this program, we’re investing in the futures of local LGBTQ+ business owners, employees and their customers.”
TensOrChops Entertainment LLC provides meaningful ways for LGBTQ+ young people to access information and utilize public services and resources catered to the LGBTQ+ community. TensOrChops finds ways to attack the underlying problems that lead to drug addiction, unsafe sex, homelessness, unemployment, and more. With this funding, the business is able to invest in equipment to film the stories of LGBTQ+ people of color thriving with HIV and other health disparities.
“No one is going to take care of us like we can—with so many anti-LGBTQ+ laws and bills passing, we need safe spaces to go where we know everything is going to be okay. I needed the next generation to know that they are not alone in the fight for better lives and equality in America. Sharing the untold stories of our community survivors is a testimony to our resilience and hope for tomorrow.”
Launched in 2020, “Queer to Stay” has supported LGBTQ+ small businesses navigating financial hardship and a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ extremism. In 2023, HRC and SHOWTIME supported 25 businesses reaching 19 states.
“We care deeply about empowering all voices within the LGBTQ+ community and are proud to continue investing in LGBTQ+ businesses in partnership with HRC.”
2023 Recipients
Alabama Extra Mile (Tuscaloosa, AL), Amaryllis Counseling (Greenville, SC), Anchor Health (Stamford, CT), Blaque/OUT Magazine (St. Petersburg, FL), dom+bomb (Spokane, WA), The Gender Doula (Los Angeles, CA), Jonathan Carver Moore (San Francisco, CA), Kweens Klub (San Juan, PR), The Lipstick Lounge (Nashville, TN), Manny’s (San Francisco, CA), The Space Salon (Fort Wayne, IN), Outbox (Brooklyn, NY), Pride Health Clinic (Omaha, NE), Prismatic Speech Services (Greensboro, NC), Queers Remodel PDX (Portland, OR), South Press (Knoxville, TN), Southern Utah Drag Stars (Hurricane, UT), Spill the Tea Cafe (Honolulu, HI), Stories Like Me (Pittsburgh, PA), Sugarwitch (St. Louis, MO), Sum of Us Festival (San Francisco, CA), Sway (Little Rock, AR), TensOrChops Entertainment (Ferris, TX), Water Bear Bar (Boise, ID) and Wunderbar (Syracuse, NY).
Media contact: Aneesha Pappy · aneesha.pappy@hrc.org
Video
Watch The TOC Foundation
Full episodes, community coverage, and cultural documentation. Captions and transcripts are provided for published videos.
Video Gallery
TensOrChops Feature
Ballroom culture and community documentation.
Watch on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
TensOrChops Feature
Community conversations and cultural coverage.
Watch on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
TensOrChops Feature
Culture, connection, and community in motion.
Watch on YouTube(opens in a new tab)