- William Dorsey Swann, who was born into slavery, defied the odds and became known as the “Queen of Drag”.
- Swann hosted secret drag performances that became legendary within the Black working-class community.
- Despite facing numerous arrests, Swann is now recognized as a trailblazing LGBTQ+ rights activist.
William Dorsey Swann gained recognition for hosting covert drag balls in the 1880s. Known as the “Queen of Drag,” Swann created a vibrant social scene for the Black working-class community, many of whom were born into slavery and sought solace and community in the underground ballroom scene.
Swann was born into slavery as the property of Ann Murphy, a white woman from Maryland. At the age of 2, the DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 legally freed Swann and his family.
After the Civil War, Swann’s family purchased a farm near the plantation where they had been enslaved for generations. Swann, driven by the need to support his family, moved to Washington, D.C. as a teenager and worked as a hotel waiter, sending money back home.
As Swann became involved in the underground LGBTQ+ network in D.C., he began hosting his own drag ballroom gatherings.
‘Suspicious persons’
The early days of what would later be known as the “House of Swann” were far from extravagant. During this time, “cross-dressing” or “face disguise” were punishable by law, so invitations to the gatherings were spread through whispered conversations at local YMCAs.
The gatherings faced constant police raids, with attendees risking their reputations and freedom by participating. Police records show sentences ranging from three to ten months.
In 1887, the Washington Critic reported that “six colored men, dressed in elegant female attire,” were arrested and charged as “suspicious persons.” These reports endangered the safety of many men, as their names were often published, subjecting them to public scorn.
Despite the risks, the media attention, positive or negative, sparked curiosity and drew more people to Swann’s gatherings.
The drag balls featured men in silk and satin dresses, dancing to folk music, and engaging in “cakewalk” competitions. The cakewalk originated as a pre-Emancipation slave ritual mimicking their white captors and involved competitive displays of extravagant poses and dances.
Violent resistance for queer rights
Swann himself faced numerous arrests. In 1888, the Washington Post reported a police raid where “thirteen Black men dressed as women [were] surprised at supper and arrested.”
During the raid, Swann, dressed in a gorgeous cream-colored satin dress, attempted to stop the officers from entering and allegedly exclaimed, “You is no gentleman!” This confrontation is considered the first reported instance of violent resistance for queer rights in America.
In 1895, Swann petitioned President Grover Cleveland for a pardon three months into his harsh 300-day prison sentence for “impersonating a woman.” However, US Attorney A.A. Birney opposed the petition, stating that Swann had engaged in extremely offensive and unnamed acts, posing a corrupting influence on the community. Sadly, Swann’s petition was denied.
By the early 1900s, Swann retired from the drag ballroom scene, while his brothers continued the family tradition by designing drag costumes. The “House of Swann” served as a blueprint for modern drag balls, with cakewalk demonstrations evolving into voguing and the establishment of familial titles like “mother” and “queen,” creating a genuine community for marginalized queer youth.
No photographs of Swann are documented throughout his life. Like many Black freedmen, his story is primarily preserved through records of persecution. Swann’s dedication to the freedom of marginalized communities to gather has left an indelible mark on the vibrant and subversive culture he inspired.
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