Worked like a debutante’s coming out used to… (incidentally the debutante’s coming out is where we get the terminology) and so being gay or trans or what have you meant getting presented to the reigning monarch.
“Your majesty, may I present… a gay”
I would love this as a story conceit? Like, an upper class who have to engineer elaborate confections to present the younger generation of queers in the Appropriate Manner for Social Advancement.
“Have you heard about Lady Hemington’s youngest? They’ll be coming out as genderqueer!”
“Oh, poor dear Lady Hemington – so hard on the heels of the first two. She can hardly arrange a come-out until the first two have had their chance to shine…”
“And the cost of another nonbinary ball – !”
“The costume changes alone will be terribly hard to bear. But, of course, one mustn’t skimp. Not when that wretched Lucrezia Netherbottom threw such a come-out for her first.”
“Oh, I know, my dear, I know. I’m so terribly grateful that my wife was able to present our boys at Court herself – I’d simply die if the Netherbottoms had an advantage in wooing the Prince, just because Lucrezia’s quite willing to spend thousands on a French cosmetic surgeon.”
“And you’ve got that dear little daughter who’s looking quite Hard Butch, isn’t she?”
“Oh yes, we do hope it isn’t just a phase; ‘twould be such a nice change to throw a proper Lumberjane Ball…”
#OKAY BUT IMAGINE THE AMAZING COD-REGENCY FIC YOU COULD GET #THE AMAZING DRESSES THE FEMME GIRLS AND BOYS COULD FLIRT IN #THE WONDERFUL QUEER WOOING THAT COULD BEGIN!!! (by @des-zimbits)
No seriously, I need a series of romance novels set in this universe.
I need a LIFE set in this universe.
Consider the nature of the Regency period, and consider the fact that you’re not guaranteed to end up an aristocrat.
I really wish this post hadn’t gone in the direction of valorizing aristocracy.
i once read a novel, i think it may have been georgette heyer, wherein one of the characters was constantly dodging his wine merchant because he (like much of the upperclass) was living so far beyond his means he literally couldnt pay for his booze. we all of us are more likely to be the wine merchant who keeps delivering their product to their social betters and not getting paid.
This was fun until the historians arrived.
Also rich people are massive homophobes. They like to pretend it’s just poor folk because they’re ‘uneducated’ but like seriously.
Why are debutante balls not still a thing? Where did the classiness of the upper class of yesteryear go?
If I was a 16yo girl I’d totally want a debutante ball.
They sort of are for a very specific set of like old money people but they’ve mostly vanished as the rich have tried to be less conspicuous
If I ever get wealthy enough and have a daughter, I’d so try to repopularise the concept of debutante balls. And not putting a 21st century spin on it (what would that even be? A debutante rave? lol), but just a really classy, traditional debutante ball – giant dresses and chamber music and all.
Sure, times change, and things back then definitely weren’t as great as we like to romanticise them, but so? Why can’t we keep the nice things going or revive them, and leave the bad bits behind? 🙂
How is “rich dudes come look at a who’s old enough to marry and pop out an heir now” nice and not… the actual worst?
No, not that part of it – that’s the creepy part! I meant the ball, the dances, the pretty dresses…not creepy old guys looking for young brides.
The dudes were a range of ages… also isn’t that just called prom/formal/having a fancy party
Thoughts From The Peacock Angel 