#2SLGBTQI+

[tattooed-alchemist]

Canada has issued a new travel warning to its LGBT citizens planning to visit the United States.

Anti-LGBT protests in the US rose 30-fold last year compared with 2017, while legal moves to restrict LGBT rights are on the rise.

Global Affairs Canada warned that some state laws may affect them on their travels, but did not specify where.

Such warnings are usually reserved for countries such as Uganda, Russia or Egypt.

"Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons. Check relevant state and local laws," reads its US travel advice page.

The term 2SLGBTQI+ is widely used in Canada for people who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex.

[coochiequeens]

The "2SLGBTQI" cult loves to use any marginalized community to make themselves look inclusive until someone dates to criticize them. Even if that someone is a woman and survived addiction

By Shay Woulahan November 25, 2023

A museum in London, Ontario, has removed a female powerlifter from an exhibit on resilience in apparent retaliation for her vocal opposition to males participating in women’s sports. April Hutchinson said the move quickly followed her suspension from the Canadian Powerlifting Union.

Launched in October at the Museum London, the exhibition, titled “Resilient London: Meet Your Neighbours,” was intended to be an inspiration for the community and featured a diverse panel of locals alongside obstacles they had overcome. Hutchinson was featured not just as a local athlete, but also as a survivor of addiction.

But on November 10, Hutchinson received a letter from the Executive Director of the museum saying they were removing her feature from the exhibit. They stated their reasons were due to Hutchinson’s media appearances where she commented on male athletes competing in female sports. The letter accused Hutchinson of being at odds with the values of the museum, and claimed she was “denying” the existence of “transgender women.”

Signed by the museum’s executives, the letter continued by implying her public comments went against the Ontario Human Rights code, stating: “Misgendering someone intentionally is a form of discrimination.” The letter ended by saying they had made the decision to remove her from the exhibition because her comments were harmful to the “2SLGBTQI community.”

Speaking to Reduxx about her removal from the exhibit, Hutchinson expressed anger and sadness over the decision, which she says was a sudden, decisive move. Hutchinson says museum administrators were already aware of her views prior to her inclusion in the exhibit, and had still sought her out and worked with her on developing her contribution. At the time, the board director reportedly told Hutchinson that they would not police her online activity.

“I was devastated when they told me this information. I’m still so hurt. My friends and family and tons of people came out to support me. I’m still very angry and disgusted,” Hutchinson told Reduxx.

Hutchinson notes that it was only after she was suspended from the Canadian Powerlifting Union for her outspoken stance on women’s single-sex sports that the museum decided to take the opportunity to remove her display.

“The museum is basically telling women they don’t care about us. Our safety or our sports. It’s absolutely wrong. I am standing for truth and saying the things that 99% of society thinks. I will not lie to myself. I will not play charades and I will not give in to delusional thinking.”

After the Museum London removed Hutchinson, another member of the community who was featured in the exhibit celebrated the decision on social media.

Stevie Bees, a trans-identified female, took to Facebook to praise the museum for removing Hutchinson’s contribution.

“I am EXTREMELY proud to be on that wall and I also want everyone to know that Trans Women ARE Women! April Hutchinson SHOULD be deplatformed for spouting garbage like this,” Bees said, providing screenshots showing Hutchinson discussing her suspension from powerlifting for her stance on fairness in women’s sports.

Hutchinson has been outspoken in her defense of women’s sports, both in interviews and on social media. She appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored in August of this year where she argued that males should not be allowed to compete against females in powerlifting due to their inherent biological advantages.

Hutchinson has also spoken about how she approached Canada’s powerlifting governing body, the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU), about the issue of males participating in female competitions.

During an event hosted by Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) in June of this year, Hutchinson said the CPU told her the issue wasn’t a concern because there weren’t many trans-identified males competing in female divisions.

Earlier this month, Hutchinson was suspended from competing and is now potentially facing a two-year ban from the Canadian Powerlifting Union for airing her grievances with biological males competing in women’s sports.

The suspension and potential ban follows Hutchinson voicing concerns about Anne Andres, a trans-identified male powerlifter who had bragged about beating women and labeled female competitors “weak.” Anne Andres recently set the all-time record at the Canadian Powerlifting Union’s 2023 Western Canadian Championship after scoring over 200kg more powerlifting points than the top-performing female in the same class.

Despite her removal from the exhibit and suspension from powerlifting, Hutchinson says she’s received an outpouring of support, including from other female athletes like Martina Navratilova. She also explained that her activism is motivated by a desire to ensure safety and equal opportunities for women in sports.

“Women need and deserve their own sports. The female category has always been protected,” she says.

“My platform is about fairness and women’s sports. It has nothing to do with hate or [being] anti-trans. The museum is basically sending the message that trans rights are more important than women’s rights … but women are fighting back and we will send a stronger message: Bodies play sports not identities.”

[thxnews]

Canada Champions Human Rights: Inclusivity Prevails

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Human Rights Day: “Seventy-five years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, enshrining our common belief that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. On this Human Rights Day, we reaffirm the spirit of the Declaration as we continue to work toward a safer, more inclusive world. “Canada will always defend human rights and democracy. Here at home, we continue to take action to uphold the dignity that everyone deserves, including for historically disadvantaged communities. Earlier this year, we released our 2023-2028 Action Plan, a roadmap to help achieve the objectives set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to advance reconciliation in a meaningful, tangible way. We are also working to implement the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, to advance equal rights and protections for 2SLGBTQI+ communities – helping build a more inclusive, prosperous Canada for everyone. “Housing is essential to people’s dignity and well-being, and that is why we recognized housing as a human right in the National Housing Strategy Act. Since launching the National Housing Strategy in 2017, we have created or repaired over 150,000 housing units to support the housing needs of those most vulnerable. And we have taken further transformative action to close the housing gap. Through the Housing Accelerator Fund, we are unlocking new housing supply, and fast-tracking the construction of thousands of homes across the country. “Beyond our borders, we are working with our international partners to uphold human rights. We continue to pressure human rights abusers through sanctions, including those in Iran and Russia. As Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, we are supporting Ukrainians in their fight for democracy and justice. “Through Canada’s 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights, we are providing funding to projects that help advance the human rights of women and girls, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights. “We also continue to advocate for those most vulnerable in the face of global challenges, such as the current crisis in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Thousands of families were devastated by Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, and Canada continues to call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza also remains critical. We continue to call for civilians to be protected, for international law to be upheld, and for sustained, rapid, and unimpeded access to life-saving assistance for civilians, including food, water, fuel, and emergency medical supplies. All life is equal in worth. All people – in Israel, in the West Bank, in Gaza, and around the world – deserve to live in peace, security, and dignity, without fear and with equal human rights. “Today, as we mark Human Rights Day under the theme ‘Dignity, freedom, and justice for all’, we reflect on the progress we have made and the work still to be done. Together, we can build a more just and fairer world where human rights are protected and respected.”   Sources: THX News & The Canadian Government. Read the full article

[nerdykeppie]

In its decision, the court found Webster’s statements failed a basic “public interest” test since “perpetuating hurtful myths and stereotypes about vulnerable members in our society” does not represent speech anti-SLAPP rules are “intended to protect.” “I agree with the Plaintiffs that perpetuating such stereotypes and myths about members of the 2SLGBTQI community is not public interest speech,” the decision explains. “It is not a matter about which the community has a genuine interest or genuine stake in knowing.” “If the post merely questioned the propriety of drag storytime for children, or expressed his opinion that drag storytime is not appropriate for children, I may have been inclined to find that the matter was social commentary and public interest speech.” The court also noted Webster appeared to have no valid defence since his statements were “not recognizable as an opinion” and there appeared to be “no factual basis for the allegation.”

[humanrightsupdates]

Canada Cuts Gender Equality Minister

As Dangerous Backlash Intensifies, Canada Should Support Women’s Rights

In his first major move as Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney eliminated roughly a third of all cabinet positions, including the crucially important Minister of Women and Gender Equality. This decision marks a major setback for women’s rights in Canada at a time when these rights are under threat around the world.

Carney, sworn in as prime minister on Friday, has justified the trimmed-down cabinet as a “smaller, experienced cabinet” positioned to move fast and secure Canada’s economy in the face of US President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and other threats.

But deprioritizing gender equality does not help Canada’s economy, and risks entrenching serious gendered harms. The gender wage gap and gendered poverty and inequality persist in Canada. Women and gender diverse workers also face disproportionately high levels of harassment and violence at work. Much work also remains for Canada to ensure and support sexual and reproductive health rights at home and abroad.

The role of Minister of Women and Gender Equality has existed in various forms since 1971. Under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the minister was tasked with developing a 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and Canada’s first 2SLGBTQI+ (Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex) Action Plan, as well as supporting all ministers in advancing gender equality, particularly as it relates to economic participation and poverty reduction.

The department Women and Gender Equality Canada will now report to Steven Guilbeault as Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity. But in the absence of a designated minister for women and gender equality, this portfolio risks being sidelined.

As stated by Canadian feminist organizations in a joint statement released Friday, “Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention – none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.”

[jestheredsfreaky]

Just a reminder, there is a reason so many of us in the BG3 community don't talk about Dammon. Don't read fics about him and ship him with no one. As far as many of us are concerned, he is a nothing burger character because his VA is an absolute jerk. As someone who used to be part of his community and was duped by his friendly exterior, it still hurts a bit. If you are unfamiliar, Blaxland turned out to be a massive homophobe and tranphobe. He wishes death and injury upon us even though he knew many of the people in his community were 2SLGBTQI+. All under the mask of being just your average kind family man. Who openly supported some of the worst anti-2SLGBTQI+ organizations that are working towards legislating away our very existence. He refused to apologize, change, or learn openly. He blew up his professional life and blamed the community he sought to destroy.

[snaccpopstudios]

Happy Trans Day of Visibility!

Transgender Day of Visibility is recognized internationally each year on March 31st. Today, we celebrate the strength, joy, and resilience of transgender, Two-Spirit, non-binary and gender diverse people across the globe. Let’s continue to stand up, show support, and create a world of respect and equality for all– not just today, but every day!

As anti-trans legislation spreads and attacks on healthcare, sports, and basic rights increase, we must stand in solidarity with our trans siblings. If you’re itching to make a real difference for our trans community today (and honestly, every day), why not consider donating to some of these amazing organizations that are doing such vital work? Your generosity would be greatly appreciated!

Point of Pride focuses on helping vulnerable members of the queer community feel seen and have access to life-saving health and wellness programs and supports like their Annual Transgender Surgery Fund, their HRT Access Fund, Free Chest Binders + Free Femme Shapewear and more! They have awarded almost half a million dollars in direct financial assistance and donated thousands of gender-affirming garments to trans youth and adults in all 50 American states and around the world. Donate to Point of Pride here!

FOR THE GWORLS is a Black, trans-led collective that curates parties to fundraise money to help Black transgender people pay for their rent, gender affirming surgeries, smaller co-pays for medicine/doctor’s visits, and travel assistance. There’s two donation options for this collective: the rent assistance fund and the medical assistance fund. Take your pick~!

G.L.I.T.S is a Black, trans-led advocacy and direct services organization that is dedicated to fighting systemic discrimination against marginalized communities, in New York City and beyond. Founded in 2016, G.L.I.T.S addresses barriers faced by community members at the intersection of gender, race, and class through direct services, advocacy, mass mobilization, media engagement, and public education. Their initiatives include sustainable housing projects and plans for a dedicated health clinic, all documented as pilot projects for broader application– you can read all about their initiatives here and donate to them here!

El/La Para TransLatinas works towards a world where TransLatinas are protected, celebrated, and loved, where trans/intersex/gender diverse Latinx people are welcome, safe, represented and valued in all spheres of life. They envision a future in which the human rights to migration, housing, healthcare, food, and safety are respected and protected. For more than 30 years, El/La has been an advocate in the transgender community seeking justice for translatinas. They were THE first translatina HIV prevention program in Northern California. Donate to them here~!

TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia) is a trans-led nonprofit for the rights and wellbeing of trans people in Europe and Central Asia. TGEU was founded in 2005 under the name Transgender Europe e.V. Since then, they’ve established themselves as a legitimate voice for the trans community. In 2018, they expanded their regional scope to include Central Asia. TGEU now serves trans people in over 50 countries in Europe and Central Asia. TGEU envisions a world free from discrimination where gender diversity is celebrated, where trans people are valued, and where trans movements are self-aware, intersectional, and evolving to meet the needs of a diverse and resilient community. You can donate to them here.

Egale is a Canadian charity advocating for equal societies and systems free from homophobia, transphobia and all forms of oppression. Founded in 1986, the organization recently replaced “LGBTQ+” with the acronym “2SLGBTQI” in recognition of “Two Spirit” people. In 2023, Egale’s work included six research reports, 75 workplace inclusion trainings and 120+ resources in French and English. Egale envisions a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias. See their mission, values, history and more here and donate to Egale here!

[eeveeas123]

😡Things I Think Are Stupid😡 1. Racism. You can’t tell anything truly important just by someone’s skin colour: Their kindness, honesty, intelligence, etc. because everyone is different regardless. You should never choose to ignore or hurt someone just because of skin colour. It’s heartbreaking 2. 2SLGBTQI Hating. If someone were to see a ciswoman dating a cisman, a surprising amount of people wouldn’t even care how healthy the relationship is, just because they’re in an opposite sex relationship. They’d be more comfortable having somebody with a toxic partner than someone of the same gender who they love! Love is beautiful and people shouldn’t feel bad for being with the right person. People also shouldn’t feel guilty for being transgender either, everyone needs to live their lives while being the person they were meant to be. And stop trying to “Cure” asexuals, they’re not broken! That’s just who they are 3. Disability discrimination. As an autistic person who needs many supports, I think it’s unfair that people like me can’t get help either because of financial difficulties or lack of urgency. Service dogs are needed by quite a few people but waiting lists as well as high costs ($25,000 or even more) can make things harder. Support in school is greatly needed, experienced/responsible educators are important! Also, just because a child or adult is disabled, it doesn’t mean they’re a “Waste of resources”. They’re people! People who have fun, people who care about others, people who could make you smile and even change the world! Overall, be respectful, kind, keep an open mind and heart🥰As always: Questions are welcome!

[glassolastainedglass]

Window clings of photos of my fandom stained glass are on sale now at my shop! Get 15% off all window clings from now until Nov 30! (Discount applied at the checkout).

Get that stained glass look of your favourite characters from Star Wars, Star Trek, Sherlock, X-Files, Good Omens, and Doctor Who at a fraction of the price of real stained glass. Simply peel and stick to any glass surface. Most of the stickers measure 4x5" (except Good Omens and Star Wars which measure 5x7" and 6x7" respectively). And they leave no residue if you ever need to remove them. They make great holiday gifts!

Please note: A portion of the sales of the Harry & Hedwig sticker will be donated to Egale Canada, a 2SLGBTQI human rights organization, working to improve and support the lives of 2SLGBTQI people through research, education, awareness, and legal advocacy.

[astralbondpro]

I hate that I have to post this, but we live in a world of abject hatred. I post a lot of Kids in the Hall content. One of my absolutely favorite things ever. Yet, out of context some of the gifs may seem hateful for those not in the loop. Kids in the Hall has always been very progressive. A comedy troupe of people who have always been very anti-authority, anti-cop, with one performer (and therefore writer) being an openly gay man, in the 80s and 90s, going all the way back to the 80s. Therefore, there are a lot of extremely hysterical sketches that are brutally mocking bigots, that may seem very homophobic to those on the outside. They're not. They're very much the opposite. They're using the hatred to turn it back on those projecting the hate. So when you see gifs of people calling people fags, it's not bigoted propaganda. It's mocking them.

This blog is vehemently pro 2SLGBTQI+, anti-right wing.

[the-cimmerians]

In a letter released Friday evening to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the United States Department of Education Office For Civil Rights has declared a formal investigation into alleged Title IX violations at Owasso Public Schools. They are also investigating potential Section 504 violations and Title II violations under the Americans with Disabilities act. This is in response to a letter alleging a pattern of abuse, bullying, and harassment of LGBTQ+ people at the school, and the impact this might have played into transgender teen of Choctaw heritage Nex Benedict’s death.

The letter states that it will look into two potential avenues under which violations of student’s civil rights might have occurred:

Whether the District failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title IX.

Whether the District failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 504 and Title II.

The letter comes after a formal complaint from HRC asking for an investigation into the school as well as superintendent Ryan Walters. HRC alleges “Nex’s death is the natural consequence” of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments perpetuated, in part, by attempts to paint transgender and nonbinary people in girl’s bathrooms as inherently predatory. According to HRC, Nex first began being bullied shortly after the state’s transgender bathroom ban was signed into law.

“We are deeply concerned about the failure of Owasso High School to address documented instances of bullying, violence, and harassment against Nex, which occurred in earnest over the course of the previous school year and were in violation of Nex’s rights under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972,” says the complaint from HRC.

This is the first federal response to the death of Nex Benedict in Oklahoma that has been made public. According to HRC, other efforts to bring a federal response to discrimination in Owasso Public Schools are still underway. These efforts include a second letter asking the department to open a full investigation into discriminatory practices by Superintendent Ryan Walters. Ryan Walters, the complaint notes, has recently appointed Chaya Raichik from Libs of TikTok, whose posts were followed by threats to a teacher in Nex’s school district who he admired. They also include a call for a Department of Justice investigation into Nex’s death.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters has recently come under fire for fundraising with an anti-LGBTQ+ extremist, Ron Causby, who urged his daughters to “kick the shit” out of transgender people if he encountered them in the bathroom.

In a statement provided by HRC, HRC President Kelly Robinson says of the letter, “Nex’s family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+)  community in Oklahoma are still awaiting answers following their tragic loss. We appreciate the Department of Education responding to our complaint and opening an investigation–we need them to act urgently so there can be justice for Nex, and so that all students at Owasso High School and every school in Oklahoma can be safe from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.”

[thxnews]

Trudeau Champions Entrepreneurship: Fostering Growth and Diversity

  Official Statement by Justin Trudeau

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Global Entrepreneurship Week: “Today, we mark the beginning of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a time to celebrate entrepreneurs’ creativity, drive, and innovation, here in Canada and around the world. “Entrepreneurs are problem solvers. They demonstrate great adaptability and resilience when faced with hurdles such as supply chain issues, affordability challenges, and global economic instability, and seize opportunities to redefine how we do business. From the community members running our favorite local businesses to the visionaries fostering trade links between nations, entrepreneurs create good jobs, drive new ideas forward, and boost the global economy. “The Government of Canada is working to remove barriers so that entrepreneurship can continue to thrive. With the support we provide to organizations such as Futurpreneur Canada, and federal initiatives including the Black Entrepreneurship Program, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program, and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, we are working to ensure that under-represented groups have equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed in business. In October, we announced $2.7 million in funding to the École des entrepreneurs du Québec FAIR­·E project to help provide learning programs to support women in their entrepreneurial endeavors. And, we recently committed up to $25 million through Canada’s Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative to help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Canadian venture capital ecosystem, enhancing access to capital for diverse fund managers and entrepreneurs to help businesses scale and grow. “As Canada continues to welcome talent from around the world, we remain committed to supporting newcomer entrepreneurs as they build and grow their businesses here. This summer, we announced over $3 million in funding for the Toronto Business Development Centre to support 100 newcomer entrepreneurs and create 200 jobs in Ontario. “This week, we recommit ourselves to supporting a flourishing entrepreneurial culture in Canada and working to ensure that everyone, no matter their background, has a chance to realize their vision. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I thank all entrepreneurs for the role they play in building a better and more prosperous future for everyone.”   Sources: THX News & The Canadian Government.   Read the full article

[girlcrushart]

Here's the final poster in the Kristen Chanel Pride Collection that I've been making. The other posters each move thru the traditional rainbow Pride colours and this one features the more newly-added part which includes people of colour, trans folks, and even asexual people! And ya, it can be a bit exhausting that stuff keeps getting added on, or maybe a little difficult to keep track of all the things, but it's all in the interest of inclusivity—things are added to include more people! And I'm all for inclusivity. In Canada, the full official acronym (which I actually found on the Government of Canada website, along with a complete explanation, which made me happy and proud) is 2SLGBTQI+. The 2S at the beginning is for Two-Spirit, which is essentially the indigenous version of queer. Kinda. It's more profound than that, but that's the basic idea. On the government website it describes "Two-Spirit people as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities." Which is so awesome. Sometimes I'm very proud of my country. Anyways, I know Kristen would be down for all of this—and I think that lately there has been an attempt by the hateful assholes of the world to divide the community by attacking Trans folks even more than all the rest and try to get some of us to drop letters and colours and things from the flags and labels and whatnot, and fuck that! Add more letters! Add more colours! Sure, one day it would be great to just drop it all and go with "people", but sadly we're a long ways off until that kind of equality is reached. Today's girlcrushart guardian is Kristen Stewart.

[humanrightsupdates]

Canada Cuts Gender Equality Minister

As Dangerous Backlash Intensifies, Canada Should Support Women’s Rights

In his first major move as Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney eliminated roughly a third of all cabinet positions, including the crucially important Minister of Women and Gender Equality. This decision marks a major setback for women’s rights in Canada at a time when these rights are under threat around the world.

Carney, sworn in as prime minister on Friday, has justified the trimmed-down cabinet as a “smaller, experienced cabinet” positioned to move fast and secure Canada’s economy in the face of US President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and other threats.

But deprioritizing gender equality does not help Canada’s economy, and risks entrenching serious gendered harms. The gender wage gap and gendered poverty and inequality persist in Canada. Women and gender diverse workers also face disproportionately high levels of harassment and violence at work. Much work also remains for Canada to ensure and support sexual and reproductive health rights at home and abroad.

The role of Minister of Women and Gender Equality has existed in various forms since 1971. Under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the minister was tasked with developing a 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and Canada’s first 2SLGBTQI+ (Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex) Action Plan, as well as supporting all ministers in advancing gender equality, particularly as it relates to economic participation and poverty reduction.

The department Women and Gender Equality Canada will now report to Steven Guilbeault as Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity. But in the absence of a designated minister for women and gender equality, this portfolio risks being sidelined.

As stated by Canadian feminist organizations in a joint statement released Friday, “Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention – none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.”

[bettyhofstadtdraper]

Canadian WW1 drag performer Ross Hamilton as “Marjorie”

Ross Hamilton was born in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, in 1892. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916 during the First World War. Ross first served as an ambulance driver before joining an all-male team of performing soldiers. Using a high falsetto singing voice, he played a female character on stage named Marjorie. The first outfits Ross put together were made from tent canvas, old curtains, pillow feathers and rosary beads. Hamilton became a member of the famous vaudeville-style acting troupe, the Dumbells. For the rest of the war, Ross performed in shows for the troops. He and Marjorie were so popular he had to change out of costume before going back to the barracks for fear of being mobbed by fans. As one soldier said, “When [Ross] marched into a mess in costume, every officer would stand to attention until he was seated. Then, in a truck driver’s voice, he’d call for a drink—and the illusion soon vanished!” Ross volunteered for service when the Second World War broke out in 1939. Once again, he found himself entertaining soldiers as part of a group called “Chin up.” This time, his female character was a middle-aged opera singer. However, military authorities discovered that Ross was gay and discharged him from the army. Unfairly, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community were officially barred from military service during the war years for no reason other than their sexual and gender identities. Ross retired to a quiet life in a log cabin back in Nova Scotia to read, garden and help others in his home community. He died in 1965 at the age of 76 (source).