The Fascinating History of Drag: From Ancient Greece to Modern LGBTQ Culture

For many of us, the name RuPaul is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of drag. However, have you ever been curious about the history of drag? You’d be surprised to discover that drag originated in ancient Greece and Rome. It all started when male performers would play female characters and wear female attire. According to a few scholars, drag has been a huge part of Asian theatre since the 18th and early 19th centuries. Kabuki theatre in Japan and Peking opera in China traditionally featured impressive drag performances.

The phenomenon then slowly made its way to the British theatre in the 19th century during the Elizabethan Era. In the United States, the roots of drag culture date back to the 19th century, when female impersonations were a staple of minstrel shows. Historic records indicate that drag performances experienced a surge in popularity during the heyday of racist minstrel shows, where predominantly white actors donned blackface to caricature racial stereotypes of African Americans.

Early Drag Performances

One of the most popular early drag performers was William Dorsey Swann. He was a black freed slave in Washington, D.C. Dorsey was the first self-proclaimed “queen of drag”. He managed to get this reputation thanks to the flashy drag balls he hosted in his house. Men would wear elaborate women’s costumes and put on great performances.

He hosted drag balls in his home and dressed in elaborate women’s costumes. They would disregard the gender and social stigmas they predominantly encountered due to societal disapproval. At this point, black drag artists were excluded from the competitions where white drag performers were crowned winners. To counter this, they would host their own pageants. Most of these parties were held in secret. Historian Joseph Channing Herald stated that the parties were held in secret to prevent the risk of arrest for alleged prostitution or homosexuality-related charges.

The Pansy Craze

As the years went by, drag performances became incorporated into the LGBTQ+ culture and history. A remarkable and memorable era that comes to mind is the Pansy Craze from the early 1920s to mid-1930s. This was when LGBTQ+ visibility in America increased and drag queens, also known as “pansy performers” would hold elaborate, underground performances in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.

During this period, prominent cities like Paris, New York, Berlin, London, and San Francisco used drag queens to provide entertainment at high-end nightclubs and secretive drinking establishments. Given that the main target audience was heterosexual, these performances helped to broaden social acceptance.

With no time, drag performances started becoming mainstream. Gene Malin, a pioneering openly gay performer, was one of the first to make a name for himself in the Prohibition-era Speakeasy. His appearance in Hollywood and Broadway shows earned him the title, Queen of the Pansy Craze. Sadly, Pansy Craze was abruptly ended by the American Roman Catholics’ moral crusade, which considered the performances indecent. Nonetheless, the Pansy Craze era’s legacy includes a broader social acceptance and more tolerant attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community.

The Turning Point

As social acceptance grew, drag performances became more prominent. By the 1950s, cross-dressing was popular, and drag artists became more mainstream. Arthur Blake even became the first drag queen to perform at the White House for the Roosevelts. Even in the army during World War II, soldiers would hold drag performances to kill boredom.

As the fight to secure LGBTQ+ rights gained momentum, drag queen history became a big part of LGBTQ+ activism. Many drag queens showed up to support LGBTQ+ protests, such as the Cooper Donuts Riot in May 1959 and the Stonewall riots.

Modern Drag

Over the years, drag has become part of the foundation of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Popular shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race have elevated the art of drag and helped propel it as part of mainstream entertainment. Drag performances have played a big role in educating people on gender roles and stereotyping. It has also inspired many people to be creative and gave them the courage to express themselves. It has become a huge part of modern gay life and has increased transgender awareness. Even with the new moral panic that is growing in America, one can’t deny the influence of drag and the important role it has played in LGBTQ+ history.