The Escape of Lorri and Crystal

Joining the Merchant Navy allowed gay men to escape the atmosphere back home [and to] travel the world This comes from Professor Paul Baker in Fabulosa!, his wonderful history of the Polari language. In his chapter about the escape into the Merchant Navy for young queer men of oppressive 1950s Britain, Baker transcribes part of a drag performance by Lorri Lee about how she and her friend Crystal allegedly ended up on the ocean waves. It begins when they follow a pair of good-looking men into what transpires to be a shipping careers office: “where have they gone?” “they’ve gone in that door,” I said. “I bet it’s a club.” It’s only a shipping pool wasn’t it. And they’re all round the door these geezers, saying “go on, girls,” and pushed us right up the front. And the geezer giving out these jobs, he says “Yes? Do you want a ship?” So I says “in for a penny, in for a bleedin’ pound,” so I says “you got any?” So he said, “What are you? Are you a waiter?” I said, “Oh, yes, I’ve been…