A short fiction film inspired by the world’s first drag queen, william dorsey swann.

William Dorsey Swann is the first recorded person in the United States to self-identify as a drag queen. Born enslaved in Maryland in 1860, Swann went on to organize clandestine drag balls in the District of Columbia.

  • attend the screening

    October 22nd live and virtual event hosted by Tudor Place has been cancelled. Stay tuned for updates.

  • Support the film project

    GOFUNDME: We're raising $10,000 to pay our cast and crew.

    We're more than halfway to our goal!

  • Read about swann

    CURIOUS? Learn more about the world's first drag queen.

    Check out these resources.

Recent Press

  • "People of the past will be present at the D.C. history conference"

    Swann Queen written up in The Washington Post.

  • "History conference to explore D.C.’s complicated past"

    Washington Blade writes about Swann Queen.

  • "swann queen: drag is resistance!"

    WPFW 89.3 FM featured our film’s director, star, and cinematographer.

Meet the Team

  • L Cedeño Miller

    they/them pronouns

    writer, director, producer, editor

  • Lee Livingston Perine

    he/him pronouns

    producer

  • Pussy Noir

    she/they pronouns

    starring as BILLY SWANN

    producer, costume designer, choreographer

  • King Molasses

    they/them pronouns

    starring as DAN SWANN

  • Alicia Rodriguez

    they/them pronouns

    director of photography