User:Autumn B03/William Dorsey Swann

The Life and Impact of William Dorsey Swann

William Dorsey Swann was a pioneer of the drag and queer movements in the 19th century.

In 1858, Swann was born into slavery on a plantation Hancock, Maryland.After the Emancipation Proclamation actualized on January 1, 1863, he was a free man. Later, Swann’s parents purchased a farm. Swann was the fifth out of thirteen children, and after the Civil War, his parents purchased a farm. Swann worked as a hotel waiter before becoming a host.

From 1880 to 1890, William Dorsey Swann hosted balls, events where cakewalking took place. Cakewalking is where modeling, voguing, and dancing are done for a prize (typically a piece of cake). He was the first to coin the phrase “queen of drag”. Ball attendees were typically formerly enslaved gentlemen. These events were very confidential, and invitees were quietly approached in public spaces.

While Swann’s balls were private, they were frequently raided by the police. In 1896 he was falsely convicted of “keeping a disorderly house”, or a house of prostitution. After being convicted and sentenced to ten months, he asked President Grover Cleveland for a pardon, and was denied. He is the first person on record making such a legal request on behalf of the LGBTQ community. William Swann was also one of the first to be arrested for impersonating a woman in 1988. The men who attended these balls risked their jobs and reputations to come to the events. When balls got raided, people would follow the men to the police station in order to observe them in their fancy apparel.

Swann lived a life along other historical figures in the queer community such as his intimate friend Pierce Lafeyette and his ex partner Felix Hall. These two men were the earliest recorded enslaved gay couple.

After Swann died in the city of his birth in 1925, his brother continued to host balls. After William Swann’s death, officials burned down his home.