The First Self-Proclaimed Drag Queen in the US Was Born Into Slavery
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on June 29, 2023
Two black actors, one in drag, dance together on stage in 1903 James Gardiner via Welcome Collection Gallery
- Born into slavery, William Dorsey Swann went on to become known as the "Queen of Drag."
- Swann hosted covert gatherings of drag performances, which became legendary among the Black working class community.
- Swann was subjected to countless arrests, and is now credited as a pioneering LGBTQ+ rights activist.
William Dorsey Swann gained notoriety for hosting clandestine drag balls in the 1880s. Nicknamed the "Queen of Drag," Swann nurtured a social . . .
