A bridge too fab

New Hampshire photographer Andre Rosa combines two fabulous things


I’m originally from New Brunswick, a wholesome East Coast boy through and through, and I don’t mean to brag, but we have the longest covered bridge in the world.

I know, I know — it’s not about the length of the bridge, it’s how hardy it is.

The Hartland Bridge, just a few hours north of my hometown, measures in at 391 metres (1,283 feet) long. New Brunswick’s famous for its covered bridges, actually, as there are a total of 61 of them spread out over the province.

So now, take three of my favourite things — drag queens, the eastern seaboard and covered bridges — add them together, and you have one fabulous calendar.

The Advocate shared the work of photographer Andre Rosa, who set out to create a calendar of drag queens posing in front of New Hampshire’s covered bridges. What Rosa experienced was a tale of beauty, bigotry and redemption:

“The owners of the only bridge with a railroad in New Hampshire, Clark’s Trading Post Bridge, the one I wanted to use, changed their minds on allowing me to shoot on their property, when I told them the model would be a drag queen. When another owner, owner of the Barlett Bridge, denied me permission because his bridge was a ‘wholesome place,’ I drove away weeping; I didn’t know those two words could strike so hard. I wasn’t expecting these kind of reactions when I first started.”

Brought a tear to my covered-bridge-loving eye.

As a sidenote, there’s a drag queen name in there somewhere . . . Clove Eyre D’Britches? I’ll work on it.

Michael Lyons is a queer-identified, chaotic neutral writer, activist, misanthrope, sapiosexual, and feline enthusiast. He is a columnist, blogger and regular contributor with Xtra and has contributed to Plenitude Magazine, KAPSULA Magazine, Crew Magazine, Memory Insufficient e-zine, The Ryersonian, Buddies Theatre blog, Toronto Is Awesome blog and Fab Magazine and more.

Read More About:
Culture, Toronto, Canada, Vancouver, Drag, Ottawa

Keep Reading

The cover of Casanova 20; Davey Davis

Davey Davis’s new novel tenderly contends with the COVID-19 pandemic

“Casanova 20” follows the chasms—and—connections between generations of queer people
Two young men, one with dark hair and one with light hair, smile at each other. The men are shirtless and in dark bedding.

‘Heated Rivalry’ is the steamy hockey romance we deserve

The queer Canadian hockey drama packs heart and heat, setting it apart from other MLM adaptations
A colour photo of Dulce in front of a golden arrow pointing up, next to a black-and-white photo of Eboni La'Belle in front of a black arrow pointing down

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 6, Episode 2 power ranking: Queens overboard!

How do the power rankings ship-shape up after the first elimination?
Four drag performers stand in front of a green screen

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 6, Episode 2 recap: Yo-ho, yo-ho, a drag queen’s life for me

The queens hit the high seas for a cruise line commercial challenge