Born into Slavery, He became America's first Drag Queen

William Dorsey Swann's Legacy of Resistance

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“Born in Maryland around 1858, Swann endured slavery, the Civil War, racism, police surveillance, torture behind bars, and many other injustices.

“But beginning in the 1880s, he not only became the first American activist to lead a queer resistance group; he also became, in the same decade, the first known person to dub himself a ‘queen of drag’ – or, more familiarly, a drag queen.” ~ Channing Gerard Joseph

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William Dorsey Swann was born into slavery. He was the fifth oldest child in a Protestant family with 13 children. He was enslaved in Hancock, Maryland. After the Civil War, his parents were able to buy a farm. Swann's first job was working as a hotel waiter.

During the 1880s and 1890s, Swann organized a series of drag balls in Washington, D.C. He called himself the "queen of drag". Most of the attendees of Swann's gatherings were men who were formerly enslaved who gathered to dance in their satin and silk dresses.

This group, consisting of "former slaves and rebel drag queens", was known as the "House of Swann". Because these events were secretive, invitations were often quietly made at places like the YMCA.

Five African-American dancers perform a cakewalk, 1903.

Swann participated in dances such as the cakewalk, a dance performed by enslaved people in America, mimicking the mannerisms of plantation owners.

Swann was arrested in police raids numerous times, including in the first documented case of an arrest for female impersonation in the United States, on April 12, 1888. This event was Swann's thirtieth birthday celebration.

According to The Washington Post, he was "arrayed in a gorgeous dress of cream-colored satin". After the birthday celebration was raided by police, Swann was "bursting with rage", as he stood up to one of the arresting officers and declared "you is no gentleman".

The National Republican ~ 1888

Swann's choice to resist that night "rather than to submit passively to his arrest marks one of the earliest-known instances of violent resistance in the name of gay rights". Twelve other African-American men were arrested at the raid and as many as seventeen others escaped that night.

The arrests made at Swann's parties were published in the local newspapers, so townsfolk risked their reputation by attending. However, "acts of public shaming like this one are the only reason we now know who Swann was. The identities and stories of the men who escaped capture have been lost to history."

This public shaming made it more difficult for Swann to throw parties in secret. In 1896, he was convicted of "keeping a disorderly house", a euphemism for running a brothel, and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

Evening star. (Wash, D.C.), 13 Jan. 1896 ~ Chronicling America: Lib. of Congress

After his sentencing, he requested a pardon from President Grover Cleveland. This request was denied, but Swann was the first American on record who pursued legal and political action to defend the LGBTQ community's right to gather.

When Swann stopped organizing and participating in drag events, his brother, Danial J. Swann, continued to make costumes for and take part in the drag community for almost 50 years.

Swann died c. December 23, 1925 at the age of 65 in Hancock, Maryland. He was cremated. After his death, local officials burned his home. ~ Wikipedia

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