Aly Firth offers an assessment of transgender roles and crossdressing in performances for the troops during the First World War.

The myth of a singular masculine identity during the First World War endures in the literature, where wartime heroism has been strongly associated with the brave, heteronormative, masculine soldier. However, in the horrors of trench warfare, gender expression cannot be simplified to a single stereotype, as the inherent need for morale and patriotism opened a space for men to explore more feminine gender roles that challenged this monolithic model of identity. This talk examines the role patriotism played in defying gendered expectations through drag performance. Stories of queer soldiers’ convictions and performances of ‘patriotic drag’ from the Dumbells showcase how the war blurred the lines of gender roles and sexuality in a period contextualized by a change in stoic Victorian masculinity and coloured by intense emotional experiences.

Doors open at 6:30 pm and the presentation starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a question period.

“Borderlines of the Military Masculine Identity” is presented by Aly Firth. The lecture premieres in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation will be available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal.  Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.

About Aly Firth

Aly Firth is a master’s student at Wilfrid Laurier University who earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Wilfrid Laurier University. Their SSHRC-funded research focuses on drag performance, sexuality, morality, and diverse masculinities in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during the First World War. Firth also has significant experience working as an archivist and presenter in museums. Along with their current project, Firth focuses more widely on queer and disability histories in twentieth-century Canada.