Drag is nothing new. It has existed proudly and out loud for centuries. If you attended a performance of William Shakespeare’s plays at The Globe in 1599, your Juliet, Lady Macbeth and Desdemona would have been played by men dressed in drag.
In the states, former enslaved person William Dorsey Swann (Born: March 1860 – Died: Dec. 23, 1925) is credited with being the first self-identified drag queen. Dorsey Swann, like many other drag queens and performers of past and present, was also an activist for LGBTQ+ rights before we even had the terminology.
Drag has always subverted the oftentimes strict definitions of gender. Queens and kings have entertained us, inspired us and stood on the front lines of opposition. At a time when drag is once again under attack, the members of News is Out have shared archival drag imagery from as far back as the 1950s. Click through the slideshow to see drag from around the country and pivotal times in LGBTQ+ history.
Marilyn in a white dress next to a grand piano. Written on back: “Winter – 1958.” Photo: John J. Wilcox. Jr. Archives 
“Herb Hayes in drag, Frank Brown, Herb Hayes, Bert Colon, 802 Morgan St., Morgan Village, Nov. 1958.” Sammy Brown’s 20th Birthday Party. Photo: John J. Wilcox. Jr. Archives 
Marilyn in a nightclub. Written on back: “October 1958.” Photo: John J. Wilcox. Jr. Archives 
Lypsinka at Philly Pride 1997. Photo by Eddy Palumbo/Philadelphia Gay News 
Bay Area Reporter Vol.3 No. 8 (Sept. 5. 1973) featuring the San Francisco Empress candidates. Photo: Bay Area Reporter 
An advert featured in Bay Area Reporter Vol. 18 No. 51 (Dec. 22. 1988) featuring Divine. Photo: Bay Area Reporter 
Cover of Bay Area Reporter Vol.5 No.14 (July 10, 1975) Photo: Bay Area Reporter 
Black Gay Pride Day via the Washington Blade archive. Photo: Kristi Gasaway 
Halloween via the Washington Blade archive. Photo: Kristi Gasaway 
Gay Pride Day Photo: Washington Blade/Leigh Mosley 
Night of a 1,000 Drag Queens in Chicago, IL appearing in the Windy City Times, Oct. 27, 2010. Photo: Windy City Times 
“Don’t Act Like a Girl” cabaret promo in Windy City Times, Dec. 28 2011. Photo: Windy City Times 
An advertisement for Big Daddy’s Bar and drag performer Charlie Summers. Appeared in the Dallas Voice May 5, 1995 edition. Photo: UNT Dallas Voice Archives 
International Gay Rodeo Queen winner Victoria Weston, featured in the Dallas Voice, Jan. 13, 2012. Photo: UNT Dallas Voice Archives 
Chi Chi LaRue featured in the Valentine’s edition of Dallas Voice, 2010. Photo: UNT Dallas Voice Archives 
The DC Drag Kings celebrated their 15th Anniversary with a show at The Lodge located in Boonsboro, MD Hosted by Ken Vegas and Rocky (pictured), the show included a diverse group of drag kings and gender queer performers. March 20, 2015, Photo: Josette Matoto, Tagg Magazine 
Naomi Smalls from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 performs on the Capital Pride Main Stage during the 2016 Capital Pride Festival, Photo: Kristin Horgen 
DC Drag Kings performing at “Drag King Race” show at Phase 1 of Dupont in Washington, DC on Feb. 1, 2013. Photo: Chris Jennings
Do you have archival drag images you’d like to share with News is Out? Email us at newsisout@localmedia.org.