Frank Lydston reports a “colony of male sexual perverts in Chicago and in every community of size,” with Milwaukee listed among the eight “homosexual capitals” of America.
Newspapers, including the Milwaukee Sentinel, scandalize the nation with stories of former slaves secretly gathering in women’s clothing. It was the first arrest for female impersonation in American history, the first time queer people fought back against police oppression, and the first time “queen” was used to describe a gender non-conforming person. William Dorsey Swann, the first “drag queen,” is arrested at his 30th birthday party in Washington DC. Leon’s show was such a smashing success that Jacob Litt booked Annie Hindle, the nation’s first known drag king, to headline the Milwaukee Dime Museum later that year. Leon is believed to be the first female impersonator to take the stage in Milwaukee - at a time when female impersonators were only glimpsed in circus freakshows.
As a result, European conquerors targeted them for extermination.įrancis “The Only Leon” performs at Nunnemacher’s Grand Opera Hall in City Hall Square. They often held more authority within their communities than the tribal leaders themselves. The “M’netokwe” were highly revered in tribal society for their extraordinary wisdom.
The Potawatomi, Winnebago and Ojibwe tribes of indigenous Wisconsin recognized and celebrated “two-spirit” tribe members who transcended the concept of gender.