The Men of Victorian England Who Dared to Cross-Dress

The scandalous case of Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton

Frederick Park (right) and Ernest Boulton as Fanny and Stella in 1869 | Image source: Wikipedia

The scandalous affair between Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton has attracted widespread attention since the 1800s. The English Victorian era was a strict period. Most things that are now considered acceptable were unimaginable back then. Practices like cross-dressing were looked down upon and could even get you arrested — which is what happened when Park and Boulton tried cross-dressing in 1870.

Quick background

Boulton as Stella (left) and in male attire (right) | Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Park and Boulton were best friends. Both belonged to ordinary, middle-class families and had office jobs that cared for their expenses. However, they would dress as women in the evenings and perform in drag. At night, Park was known as Fanny and Boulton as Stella. They were pretty popular in London, especially in the theatre, as cross-dressers.

Lord Arthur Pelham-Clinton with Boulton and Park | Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Crossdressing, especially in the theatres, was not unusual during that time and age…