A Canadian military base will be hosting a “drag queen bingo” event for soldiers.
The Huron Club at CFB Borden is holding the Mar. 2 event, according to the Facebook page for the Huron Club Jr Rank Mess.
Online advertisements for the cash event indicate that the Huron Club Jr Rank Mess is encouraging attendance from various ranks.
The event description states that attendance is only for members of the Huron Club Jr Rank Mess and that soldiers from different messes are required to have permission from their commanding officers. However, spouses who are in the service are allowed to attend.
The entertainment will be headlined by the Haus of Devereaux drag queen troupe.
Attendance costs $10 per Canadian Armed Forces member and $15 per guest with 150 spots available for pre-registration.
This event is not the first of its kind within the Canadian military.
In November 2022, the Fleet Club Atlantic, an official gathering place for Canadian Armed Forces members in Halifax, organized a similar “Drag Queen Bingo” event. The poster for the Halifax event featured drag performers Elle Noir and Brooke Rivers.
As reported by True North, there’s been a broader shift within the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces toward addressing concepts like equity, critical race theory, and gender ideology.
Internal communications reveal an increased focus on inclusivity and discussions around ethical considerations. One DND facilitator’s guide titled “Conversations on Defence Ethics: a Defence Team Learning Event” invites soldiers to engage with ethically questionable scenarios, often centered around fictional circumstances involving religious or right-wing CAF members.
To align with the Liberal government’s commitment to inclusivity, Canadian military bases and federally regulated workplaces were recently mandated by Employment and Social Development Canada to provide menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in men’s washrooms by December 15.
