The Murder of Venus Xtravaganza From Paris is Burning

In the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s a brand new event called a “Ball” had been created by the gay community to give queer members in society the chance to express themselves in ways society did not want them too. At each ball, there were different categories which house members would walk in. One member of the House of Xtravaganza was Venus Xtravaganza, a young transgender woman who had aspirations of being a model in a “far away land”. Sadly though, Venus’ life would tragically come to a surprising end when Venus’ escorting would change her life.
Time Stamps
Intro: 0:00
Venus Xtravaganza: 1:52
Early years: 2:50
Moving to NYC: 4:45
Joining House of Xtravaganza: 5:15
Escorting: 8:50
Murder: 11:45
Legacy: 15:35
Conc: 17:50
Sources:
Paris Is Burning (1990 FIlm)
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Thank you for those who actually read the description box LOL

[@hollyobaby6949]

I really wish Venus got what she wanted from life. Her story really did make me cry.

[@astraldante]

just tragic and heartbreaking

[@hollyobaby6949]

@@astraldante thanks for choosing to cover her. I know she’s legendary in a cult classic way so it’s not the most searched for topic. I do think it would give her some happiness to know that a few thousand people really continue see her as a person that shines and has a gentle heart.

[@astraldante]

@@hollyobaby6949 yes yes... se deserved the world and if all I could do was spread her story to a few new people that's fine with me

[@evelyna_paula1747]

@@hollyobaby6949 Do you believe in life after death, reincarnation, etc?

[@m.a.3772]

Venus met Hector Xtravaganza in the early 80's which was the founder and creator of the house of Xtravaganza. The Hector that is mentioned was a member of the house who then took over the house as father in later year's after Ian Xtravaganza passed on. Venus Xtravaganza was the main daughter of Angie the mother at that time. She's forevermore the favorite of Paris is burning Documentary. R.I.P Venus Pellagatti (Xtravaganza) 🙏🕊

[@laminage]

Sadly he may have died of Aids in 1985 the same year Rock Hudson did.

[@laminage]

Sadly he may have died of Aids in 1985 the same year Rock Hudson did.

[@laminage]

Sadly he may have died of Aids in 1985 the same year Rock Hudson did.

[@m.a.3772]

@laminage Unfortunately yes he passed around that time of Aids related complications.

[@OctavioXtravaganza70]

I am Octavio Xtravaganza …..you showed the wrong photo of Hector… you showed the Grandfather Hector Xtravaganza… not the founder of the House …. The House Of Xtravaganza is considered Royalty in the ballroom till this day…

[@allenmaa7064]

That’s amazing to introduce yourself as an Xtravaganza! 😮❤🎉 It is royalty!!

[@kennyroman9589]

This is; Magenta! Who was a bangee boy of the House of Carrington in the 80s! My brother new Venus X. Everyone who hungout at Pier 45 in the village heard of her murder, and were shock! That a house member was murdered like that! Anyway thanks for sharing her story!!

[@covertLLC]

Touch this skin DARLING!! Touch This Skin HONEY!! TOUCH ALL OF THIS SKIN!!! You just CAN'T TAKE IT!! 😆 I loved her in "Paris Is Burning"..

[@chelseapowless2339]

I just found your channel and I’m so glad! You’re so sweet and I can tell you really do your research and care about the cases you cover. I can’t believe how much of an impact Venus has made on popular culture! I think I knew almost all of her quotes from drag race

[@astraldante]

YES YES it was crazy watching paris is burning becuz i literally knew SM OF HER LANGUAGE without even being exposed to her which is crazy

[@youre_totally_right_but_]

her story was so heartbreaking. thank you for making a video about her.

[@deepconnection1169]

My heart hurts for Venus. She never got the chance to find her happiness. It’s so terribly unfair. She should be here with us living her dreams. You do a great show, and you are so easy on the eyes. What an adorable and very handsome guy you are. Just wow. Damn. ❤

[@adrianh332]

He is kinda cute and that's from a staunch heterosexual 🤭

[@antoniamcgregor3285]

My heart brakes for venus I hope she's safe in heaven 🙏 💔 this story is so heartbreaking watching paris is burning and pose has educated me a lot about trans people I'm learning to be a better ally 💖💖❤🌈

[@deepconnection1169]

Thank you so much for your support. You have no idea how important your understanding and acceptance of our life is so powerful. You change how people treat us by leading the way. So, I thank you so much for your support. Blessings to you. ❤😊🎉

[@prettybwillowbee7584]

Lady, you're delusional

[@Copiaswife]

YAYY YOU’RE BACK

[@ShevasSlave]

You’re back! Yasss

[@astraldante]

I AM YESSIR

[@AngelDelight69]

I don't get how this crime wasn't solved. Now it would be more difficult to find her killer but it was estimated she had died four days prior to her body discovery. The police should have checked the check-in history for that specific room between the 19th of December all the way to the 25th. Anyone in that period would be a suspect for her murder but police didn't even attempt this in what would have likely easily given them their killer. This goes to show how bad the police treated trans people because this murder would not be hard to solve as it's not pre-meditated it's 100% the heat of the moment. With the killer strangling her. In fact even today it would be solvable because they need to keep a record of who stays in their hotels.

[@Seamstrix]

At that time, especially in dive hotels, they just had you sign in with whatever name and didn't check ID's and the customer probably paid cash. At the very least the person she was with thought they were hooking up with a sex worker and wouldn't want that to be traceable even if the murder was unplanned.

[@piffblanco2507]

Prolly was a Police

[@evangeline77x]

In those days you didn't need any ID or a credit/debit card for a hotel room, in fact you just paid cash ($20ish for a whole night) and absolutely no questions were asked. You could sign the registry as whoever you wanted and there was no way to trace guests except maybe eyewitnesses. But, at a place like the duchess motel, where people would go just to get high or meet prostitutes and you could pay an hourly rate (literally just rent the room for an hour or 2) there were constantly dozens of extra sketchy people coming in and out, so nobody was paying attention. And it's very unlikely anyone would come forward even if they had witnessed the killer, just because they would have had to explain why they were there, and the employees certainly weren't keeping tabs.. Also closed circuit security cameras were in their infancy, quality was grainy black and white and and either completely overexposed or barely visible low light like an ink blot, and most places didn't even have them. Barring a deathbed confession, which is unlikely at this point, I don't think we'll ever know exactly what happened to Venus.

[@essaeldridgeYoBro]

All I see on Instagram is trans people being murdered and the perpetrators getting away with it. The police don’t want to solve trans crimes, they probably find it funny, sadly. 💔💔

[@AngelDelight69]

@@essaeldridgeYoBro it's ridiculous tbh

[@JV-hu1rs]

Welcome back!

[@astraldante]

ty!

[@skyleneescobar7398]

Growing up in the ballroom myself Venus’s story is legendary sadly they’re many stories like this a few even with other girls from the house of xtrava. Also the character of candy on the tv show pose is based on Venus

[@rosemaryrogers1478]

Venus was not a house “leader” ..she was just a member of the house of extravaganza who got in the house by charm,not deed

[@evelyna_paula1747]

The guy explained that. How did you miss it?

[@XBloodxStainedxLipsX]

Justice for Venus!✊🙏

[@ricardobermudez8453]

First of all. Thank you for keeping the memory of Venus alive. I came out in 1992 in the West Village. My roommate is a LatinX TG woman who is the same age as Venus and Octavia. Octavia was a character. Venus and her use to go to the place for hormones. There was a serial killer targeting TG women back then. Unfortunately, we knew a lot of girls who were killed the same way. Cops did not investigate those murders. Be careful using the term “ lifestyles” That is offensive. I am one of the last surviving members of my original peer group. My mom was supportive. A lot of my friends got kicked out of their homes and needed to resort to survival tactics such as sex work that was often tied to drug use. It was not a lifestyle but survival. I am not in the ball scene but have a lot of friends who are Xtrava. I don’t think they would appreciate you saying that they were a force as they still are. This was not the peek of ballroom it was the beginning. This scene has since got international. You could have reached out to them before posting out of respect.

[@caylapelkey3305]

She should be remembered, thankyou for sharing

[@NatashaRaisorGlam]

Thank you for keeping Venus’s memory🙏🏾

[@karenwilson9528]

Thankyou for the extra information on Venus. I watched the film years ago, but wanted to know more about her death. She was such a delicate little thing and you couldn't tale your eyes off her - at least I couldn't.

[@sh-wa-na8255]

you gotta put school first! so happy for you 💕

[@haunt420]

I missed you brother!!!

[@SANTIAGO1979PR]

One correction: Ballroom culture is still very big in the mostly black clubs even more so in Europe and even Asia.

[@robertshearer6551]

So young. So sad. Pose brought me to Paris is burning, she was just so young. 😢

[@amyevans1118]

Happy your back.

[@colleenperez5607]

Paris is Burning is a MUCH watch!!!! I LOVED it!!!

[@astraldante]

TRULY A WORK OF ART! still tryna figure out why it’s not a required viewing in colleges

[@rosemaryrogers1478]

YOU OWN EVERYTHING!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING IS YOURS🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.YESSS

[@tsdiggs78]

If you watch pose what happens to candy is very very similar to what happened to venus.

[@mauricehawkes2674]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This makes me so sad that Venus’ flame was extinguished in such a horrific and devastating way. She wasn’t allowed to live her best life and do all the things she wanted to do. So so sad 😞 . We will never forget u Venus! You were a star 🌟 than shone so brightly. Ur an inspiration to so many people. I hope your resting in peace Miss Venus. #justiceforvenus #gonebutneverfogotten #rip #venusxtravaganza #inspiration 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩶🤍🤎

[@centurycountess4949]

this was really sad, a friend and I were watching paris is burning last night. mainly because of Dorian Corey, i had to stop mid way because it was late and a friend and i plan to finish it next time they come over, but the name Venus sounded familar, then i saw this video pop up about her and was very sad to learn she was killed. I'm suprised this case was never picked up because normally the hotel archive their guest sign in lists. I'm sure if they look they might be able to find it. Even if this person used an alias normally an alias might of been a nickname or something connected to them still. and a simple exposure to the public kinda like what they do with unknown reconstructed face sketches. if anyone still around that might know the name or the alias they might be able to find them. That is if hotels still have maintained and preserved that old tradition of archiving now that everything is archived on the computer.

[@PlayBoiPriince]

I love this video but let me tell u ballroom houses are just as popular today or more today because we’ve made it to main stream media now

[@astraldante]

interesting!! i think i was thinking more underground performances in new york city… but i see ur point with legendary coming out on tv

[@Ariel692769]

Very sad story. Venus's bf in the film was murdered too.

[@Missab4000]

Oh man. Didn’t know that. 😢

[@ladivinapr]

For real?

[@kellymendez]

Venus will always be remembered

[@reneesimone5713]

I saw her a few times she did jump in and out of cars at the pier I used to think damn she’s bold and as for the cops most cops in and around Manhattan was kinda nice to us and looked out also those sleaze hotels didn’t check guess visitors they just walked on through.

[@evelyna_paula1747]

Explain how it is weird for people in her days to mix up those words (transgender, transvestite, cross dresser). You use the word "weird" unnecessarily.

[@astraldante]

A time stamp would be helpful but if I'm understanding you correctly, I most likely used weird becuz the terms you listed all represent different things. In my research it seemed like at the time there was no differentiation between crossdresser or a transwoman which is a bit bizarre or "weird" to me as today these are commonly understood and accepted as different words which refer to different types of people.

[@evelyna_paula1747]

@@astraldante Using a wrong word is not weird if the differe3nce is not drastic, like night and day.

[@soy_0scar7]

May GOD bless and protect you!

[@Kiro6666]

The one who killed venus was the guy that almost killed her the last time she was on a date with a guy he fone out she was a guy she jumped out the window she got away with it maybe he finds her and kill's her that was the story she was telling people at tracks the club

[@adrianh332]

Unlikely Venus would hook up with a trick that had previously attempted to kill her, maybe think a little before putting pen to paper (so to speak).

[@bandygreen2456]

That’s a very large stretch. Keep in mind this was in the 80’s. Unless she was working the same corner and didn’t recognize him, how could that first man try to find her. Even years later. It’s much more likely it was another man in a similar situation.

[@adrianh332]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGaYkottgrl0aKs Here is a link to a video of outtakes from Paris is Burning, with a long interview with Venus which gives us much greater insights into her life.

[@Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

Thanks for sharing. I would recommend anyone who watched “Paris is Burning” to watch the outtakes, because it gave a deeper picture on a lot of the subjects in the movie, especially Venus.

[@donaldstevens2392]

Baby..please go back and research your story more..I was there for all of the 80 and 90 ballroom. It's not like a team....they took care of each other as a family.....

[@astraldante]

This is true! I think I was just trying to explain how i understood the competitive nature of ball culture where people were awarded for the different categories. You’re right that it is more like a family, as in the 80s/90s it was essential gay people had certain areas they could find community especially during AIDS epidemic when societal stigma was at a peak. Thanks for pointing this out!

[@kellymendez]

Her murderer is still out there

[@Chrisdoesntlikenoisecore]

she was so beautiful :(

[@ViveLaResistance11011]

¡Venus Xtravaganza no calla!

[@louisved]

did you know where exactly was the duchess hotel ? maybe we could make a mini memorial

[@phillyguy199]

No tea, no shade but this is more like a summary from the movie. I'd hoped to learn a bit more. For example, that shade she threw, as I heard it, was for the cameras, but not really what Venus was like at all in real life. Also as s another commenter wrote, the Candy story arc mirrored Venus's. I'd like to add that Pose completely shied away from the reasons behind transgender violence, but you did hit on it. Often times the Johns don't realize they were with men or they do realize they are with biological men and when they have "post nut clarity," they begin to think they are gay and in the black community in particular, that's verboten.

[@taylordottie5858]

I feel so sorry for Venus! She should have been able to live her dreams. NYC is not as open and accepting as people claim.

[@trao1938]

You made a 20 minute video where all you did was regurgitate information from the documentary.

[@MadonnaGoldfan]

Ector extravaganza died after the second season of pose

[@ayeshahills]

5:15 The house are still a big thing, bigger than they were. Yes now its all about how much they pay you but they still do exist but its mostly all about voguing now instead of drag

[@astraldante]

i may need to attend one of these balls u got the addy 🤭

[@ayeshahills]

@@astraldante it depends where ur from there are facebook groups that show where some balls are for example im from austria so its a bit less here than in the us but i believe ballroom is almost everywhere now.

[@Kiro6666]

Venus was Fierce Fiercely made to Rock the Runways and Preforming Vogueing and carry out the Catalogs embrace the beautiful Moment’s of our life’s journey because it’s very short Remember to always record take lot’s of videos Remember to leave a Mark on this crazy Planet we call Earth we are the Aliens we we’re out here to see who Serve’s and who Doesn’t wishing everyone a wonderful journey on there’s journey Much Peace and love and happiness to all

[@matthewharjo7512]

If you want to say something and come across educated, deep, and poetic. Use proper punctuation and spelling. Because trying to come across like you’re deep and poetic, but your comment lacks proper spelling and punctuation, you just come across as ignorant.

[@Meesoo-nu5pj]

Ok

[@Reminisce212]

And ballroom culture is bigger than it ever was…. Like where are you from??? You fkd up a lot of information

[@alancronberger9898]

Your videos are good, but I felt just cut to the chase.

[@astraldante]

noted!

[@rosemaryrogers1478]

Can we just get Into the story please?

[@astraldante]

no i love to talk blah blah blah

[@rosemaryrogers1478]

@@astraldante ok.I still found your story interesting...I wanted you to get straight to it

[@lizt4592]

Angie was her mother

[@EllanDay-hz2ib]

Stop raving and get on with the story ! Most people know about Paris is Burning as we all older then you ……👎

[@Kiro6666]

I think you are very intelligent and interesting very handsome Guy very cute as well New York City Rocks