Micro-post #40: Drag in the U.S. Military during WWII [Pride Month 2025 #5]

Drag has a long history with how soldiers blow off steam while waiting for the fighting to start. It's also been long-tied to queer history because a good chunk of those soldiers also found out or explored their own queerness during those downtimes. While it was banned from the military in 2023, drag was apparently encouraged (especially during WWII, which is this post's focus) as a way to entertain the troops.

As a micro-post for this Pride Month, I'd like to share some articles that go into more detail about this, especially within the current context of a U.S. military that's trying hard to erase much of that history out of the official record.

"The US military’s long history with drag" by Sarah Sicard (Military Times)

"GIs as Dolls: Uncovering the Hidden Histories of Drag Entertainment During Wartime" (National WWII Museum)

"Drag in the military: How drag queens helped U.S. soldiers win World War II" by Dan Tracer (LGBTQ Nation)

A thread about WWII drag shows on r/interestingasfuck (Reddit)

"That Time Ronald Reagan Starred in a World War II Movie Featuring Several Drag Performances" by Matt Novak (Paleofuture)

"When WWII Was A Drag: WWII Men Performing As Women in War" by Matthew Peek (NC Stories of Service)