47: Out & About pt.2: Swann Dive

Apr 3, 20242 min read

Drag is art, drag is exciting, drag is… old? This week, Maia explores the history of drag. From drag in Ancient Greece and Rome and male only casts, to more contemporary artist like the work of Julian Eltinge. Maia shares the life of William Dorsey Swann, who was America’s first drag queen, or at least one of them. Taking us to the Drag Balls of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and the extravagant homes of DC that first held drag gatherings. Swann’s life proves that drag has history in America. Take a swan dive in the life of “William Dorsey Swann”!

00:22:21 Story starts

Photos/Videos Referenced:

*Diving performing in 1983 - courtesy of Fryderyk Gabowicz/DPA via AP*

Ginger Mink - Spotify Artist Picture	Julian Eltinge - Silent Film Superstar
Julian Eltinge - dressed in drag	Frederick and Park Duo; Left photo: Stella (left), Fanny (right); Right photo: pair holding mallets in the back - public domain via Wikimedia commons
1888 Raid reported in the National Republican Newspaper - courtesy of the Library of Congress/Channing Joseph	Reporting on a raid on a drag ball - courtesy of the Library of Congress
	In Ancient Greece, Children Wearing Drag Was a Religious Obligation! - The blog post Maia reads from at the end of the episode