Sweet Evening Breeze Print

Have you heard of someone called Sweet Evening Breeze?

Sweet Evening Breeze, also known as Miss Sweets or Sweets, was born in Scott Co. KY in 1892 as James Herndon.

She was a black, gender non-conforming drag performer and activist that moved to Lexington & worked their way up to becoming head orderly at Good Samaritan Hospital.

They were generally accepted and embraced by the Lexington community at a time when LGBTQ+ and African American people were often not tolerated.

Starting in the 1920s, Sweets hosted public drag performances, and by the 1930s she appeared in Lexington’s newspapers, photographed in a bridal gown. Known for blending masculine and feminine attire, Sweets would often dress in drag and participate in “womanless weddings”, a theatrical event where an all-male cast performed the roles of a traditional wedding party. 

Sweet Evening Breeze was a safe haven for queer people in Lexington and even lead the dismantling of wrongful enforcement against the LGBTQ+ community.

Though Miss Sweets passed away in 1983 at the age of 91, their legacy lives on to this day. As a child of former slaves, Sweets lived in a racially segregated city where homosexual acts were illegal throughout her entire lifetime. Yet she refused to be anything but herself, daring to live openly and honestly. Becoming a mother figure to many in the community.

Her story continues to live on through things such as the Sweet Evening Breeze Foundation based in Louisville, KY who are dedicated to providing aid to young LGBTQ+ adults experiencing homelessness in the area.

As well as the @Fulkner Morgan Archive in Lexington, KY who continue to share Sweet's life through photos, stories, art exhibits and so much more.

.: Made with museum-grade archival paper for excellent printing fidelity and vibrant color reproduction
.: Paper weight: 175 g/m² (Sensaria), 189 g/m² (Printify Choice)
.: Find the perfect match to your customers' needs with 46 available sizes
.: For

indoor use only
.: Please note: Due to the production process of these posters, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/16"