🧚🏹January Collaboration Announcement

Dear Blackbirds, 

Like many folks, the foremost Peter Pan in my childhood was the animated Disney version, and I enjoyed the spunky, mischievous fae-aligned boy who didn’t want to grow up as well as anyone. But as a young queer, when I first discovered that Peter Pan was a role traditionally played by women, I felt a pull to the character that never left me. Eventually I would discover how many transmascs and genderweird girls felt the same, and the degree to which Peter Pan has long been a trans and gnc icon. 

One of the first young ladies to play Peter Pan on the Victorian stage was a dazzling premier actress, one of the first great American starlets, a face that many of you would know but fewer could name: Maude Adams. Maude Adams was an incredibly charming and talented actress who grew up in the theater and dominated American stages across the end of the 19th century, and she was J.M. Barrie’s first pick for Peter Pan when he came across the ocean to launch his play in the United States. And as fittingly as could be for this character’s long-established kinship with queers, the history of Maude Adams’ relationships suggest that she was absolutely a lesbian. 

Earlier this year I had the privilege of connecting with Kaz Rowe, a stellar video creator who makes informative, entertaining, and well-researched videos about history and pop culture — often, as it relates to queer people. Kaz and I jumped on a video call with enthusiasm about the idea of cooking something up together. I very barely missed getting to jump in with their video duology about Evelyn Nesbit and the Gibson Girl! But by the end of our call, we’d stumbled upon a mutual adoration of Maude Adams. And thus, a collaboration to put our rings of power together and appreciate this queer Victorian actress who defined the role of Peter Pan was born. 

Kaz’s video, “Maude Adams and the LGBTQ History of Peter Pan“, will come out later this week, and I’ll be revealing an illustration that I’ve made to celebrate the same theme! That illustration will be January’s Postcard of the Month! I hope you all enjoy learning more about a lady we’ve both got passion for. 

Your Society President, Penpal-in-Chief, and Prince of Neverland, Marlowe Lune