Lavender Ranks
Overlooked and erased stories of queer life during the First World War.
When you picture the First World War, you probably think of barbed wire, artillery fire, and mud. What you probably don’t think of: drag shows, love letters passed between soldiers, and queer lives hiding in plain sight.
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.
Credits:
Written by Emily Gioskos
Hosts Emily Gioskos & Karbon
Executive Producer Ryan Barnett
Series consultant Sarah Worthman
Additional Research Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta
Featuring original interviews with Sarah Worthman, Mitchel LaFramboise, Cameron Telch, Andrea McKenzie, and Martine Roy.
