William Dorsey Swann (1858-1925)

William Dorsey Swann (circa 1858-1925) was the first known drag queen and first known to lead a gay liberation organization in the United States. William was born into slavery and called himself the "queen of drag".

Modern Articles About Swann

• PBS (2021), "William Dorsey Swann: The First 'Queen of Drag'"
• The Nation (2020), "The First Drag Queen Was a Former Slave"

Gallery

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• Library of Congress, Evening Star (1887) publishes an article about a police raid which Dorsey Swann was tried after.
• Library of Congress, Evening Star (1896) reports on a raid against Swann.
• Library of Congress, Evening Star (1896) describes Swann's "Hell of Iniquity" and the "downfall of young men".

External Resources

• American Academy in Berlin, William Dorsey Swann, Queen of Drag: Uncovering America’s Black Queer History