Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a homosexual; in pl., a generic term for homosexuals.

1930		‘Dean Stiff’ Milk and Honey Route 201: Browning Sisters – The Angelina sorority. ‘He belongs to the Browning Sisters’ or ‘to the Brown Family’.
1941		G. Legman ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants.
1949		‘Swasarnt Nerf’ et al. Gay Girl’s Guide 4: browning queen (b-q): A homosexual whose principal sexual interest is anal. Properly used with reference to passive partner, loosely used for active too (for which, rarely browning-king).
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 5: b.q. (Browning Queen) (n.): A pederast, submissive or passive [...] browning queen (n.): A homosexual preferring pedication.
1966		Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 146: passive partner [...] browning queen [sister].
1972		R.A. Wilson Playboy’s Book of Forbidden Words 50: The Browning family or the Browning sisters is exclusively homosexual slang for those devoted to this pastime [i.e. anal intercourse].