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Apr 4, 1000
800B.C.-500B.C.: Ancient Greece
800 B.C.-500 B.C.Women were not considered “good enough” to perform thus men played women roles, Plato and Socrates were concerned of the damaging effects” this would ensue. Photo courtesy of Playbill
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Apr 4, 1500
Shakespeare
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Shakespeare's plays used younger boys to play women roles since they had softer faces and had yet to develop broad shoulders or torso (and women were not allowed to perform).
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Kabuki
(Japan) Began as a female only practice, women would play both genders. But were banned from performing after the 16th century. The discipline consisted of entertainment and “erotic titillation” Learn more here
Photo courtesy of Playbill -
Victorian Era
The term “drag” was coined due to the long and heavy skirts worn by men in female roles.
Learn More Here Photo courtesy of Gabworthy -
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1950s: The Red Scare
1950s-national paranoia towards communism; the government punished anything that deemed "subversive" because it was a national risk which included homosexuals. Also, cross-dressing was banned. -
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Police Raids
1950 and 1960s- Police raided and arrested people in gay bars. Activism sparked against these raids the police conducted which entailed arresting gay women who were not wearing at least 3 pieces of feminine clothing. -
The Stonewall Riots
The only gay bar in NY owned by the mafia and was raided by the police. Drag queens and lesbians fought back, which was an unexpected reaction for the police.
Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were drag queens who stood up against the police. This riot ignited LGBT activism since it was the first time that they united in such a way.
Photo courtesy of Time
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First Gay Pride Parades
The first ever gay pride parades occurred in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago on the one year anniversary of the the Stonewall riots.
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Photo courtesy of Brain Pickings
