what is a drag queen

A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses clothing, makeup, and other accessories to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Drag queens are primarily associated with gay men and gay culture, but they can be of any gender and sexual identity. Drag queens are distinct from cross-dressers, who typically dress in clothing of the opposite sex for sexual or gender-related fetishes. Drag queens often perform in drag shows, which are typically staged in nightclubs and Gay Pride festivals. Drag performances often incorporate humor, camp, and over-the-top aesthetics, and they often poke fun at what is considered normal and offer commentary on culture. Drag queens have a long history, and the first known person to call themselves a "queen of drag" was William Dorsey Swann, an LGBTQ activist who hosted drag balls with his friends in the 1880s. There are various types of drag queens, including "camp" queens, "pageant" queens, "spooky" queens, and "comedy" queens.