Leslie Langford
10-01-2012, 09:16 AM
Here in Canada, we have an organization called the Royal Canadian Legion which is a non-profit veterans social group open to current and former military personnel, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), provincial and municipal police, as well as direct relatives of members who can join as affiliated members.
There are branches in virtually every city and town of any size, and their facilities usually combine the functions of a pub, pool hall, dance hall, bingo hall, and banquet hall etc. By definition, it is a very macho, male-centric organization which allows the "boys" to congregate, shoot the breeze, and reminisce over old times and fallen comrades while hoisting a few.
So why the affinity for crossdressers and drag? Two recent examples come to mind, so am I starting to see a pattern here?
- For two years in a row now, the Kingston/Gananoque/1000 Islands area Gal's Spring Fling dinner and dance has been held at the Gananoque Royal Canadian Legion Branch #92 in Gananoque. Two years in a row now? They must like us...
http://www.galsspringfling.com/index.html
- Just last week, I saw a prominent, 1/4 page ad in the local community newspaper of a neighboring town advertising a drag show starring female impersonators Miss Conception, Farra N Hyte, and Savannah Davenport which took place this past weekend at the town's Legion hall. These performers routinely appear as well at a local LGBT bar that opened up about a year ago, is still going strong, and in a in-your-face gesture including the prominent display of gay iconography (rainbow flag etc.), established itself in a former restaurant directly across from a major shopping mall.
On it's website, the Legion coyly refers to the performers as comedians, but those in the know "get" the joke. I can only hope that old WWII vet Bill (or his ilk) didn't unwittingly bring wife Mabel to take in this "comedy act", only to have his dentures promptly fall on the floor from shock.
So what's this new-found fascination by the Canadian ex-military with drag and crossdressers? A new twist on DADT? ;)
There are branches in virtually every city and town of any size, and their facilities usually combine the functions of a pub, pool hall, dance hall, bingo hall, and banquet hall etc. By definition, it is a very macho, male-centric organization which allows the "boys" to congregate, shoot the breeze, and reminisce over old times and fallen comrades while hoisting a few.
So why the affinity for crossdressers and drag? Two recent examples come to mind, so am I starting to see a pattern here?
- For two years in a row now, the Kingston/Gananoque/1000 Islands area Gal's Spring Fling dinner and dance has been held at the Gananoque Royal Canadian Legion Branch #92 in Gananoque. Two years in a row now? They must like us...
http://www.galsspringfling.com/index.html
- Just last week, I saw a prominent, 1/4 page ad in the local community newspaper of a neighboring town advertising a drag show starring female impersonators Miss Conception, Farra N Hyte, and Savannah Davenport which took place this past weekend at the town's Legion hall. These performers routinely appear as well at a local LGBT bar that opened up about a year ago, is still going strong, and in a in-your-face gesture including the prominent display of gay iconography (rainbow flag etc.), established itself in a former restaurant directly across from a major shopping mall.
On it's website, the Legion coyly refers to the performers as comedians, but those in the know "get" the joke. I can only hope that old WWII vet Bill (or his ilk) didn't unwittingly bring wife Mabel to take in this "comedy act", only to have his dentures promptly fall on the floor from shock.
So what's this new-found fascination by the Canadian ex-military with drag and crossdressers? A new twist on DADT? ;)