Lavender Ranks

The Front’s Favourite Gal

What if I told you the roots of Canadian drag weren’t in a nightclub, but in the mud and mayhem of the Western Front during the First World War? In this episode of Lavender Ranks, hosts Em and Karbon introduce you to Ross Hamilton, adored by audiences as “Marjorie” and remembered today as one of Canada’s earliest drag performers. Under the guise of “boosting morale,” the military somehow became the perfect stage for queer aesthetics, performance, and desire to emerge in plain sight. Today, Em and Karbon are spilling the tea on wartime concerts, the ingenuity in creating glamour at the front, and the blurry line between performance and identity during the First World War. And yes, in this episode, you’ll even hear from Ross Hamilton himself. Lavender Ranks explores queer life during the First World War and contains frank discussions of war, discrimination, repression, sexuality, and historical violence. Listener discretion is advised. Written by Emily Gioskos Hosts Emily Gioskos & Karbon Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Edited by Sonia Gemmiti Series consultant Sarah Worthman Illustration by Henry Fong [https://www.henryfongdesign.com] Additional Research Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Featuring original interviews with Sarah Worthman, Mitchel LaFramboise, Cameron Telch, Andrea McKenzie, and Martine Roy. An original production of Knockabout Media This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Coming Soon! Lavender Ranks

lavender (noun) /ˈlæv.ən.dər/ A symbolic colour associated with LGBTQ2S+ identity, queer culture, and queer resistance. ranks noun / ræŋks / The members of a military force considered collectively. Hosted by The Queer Collective’s Emily and Karbon, Lavender Ranks explores the stories that didn’t make it into the official record because they were too tender, too queer, or too dangerous to preserve. From Canadian soldiers performing in drag at the front, to forbidden love in the trenches, to nurses whose lifelong relationship was dismissed as mere “friendship,” the series uncovers a hidden history buried beneath the mythology of war. If you’re interested in queer history, Canadian history, the First World War, or military history, follow Lavender Ranks now and discover the stories history tried to leave behind. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.