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Flaggots
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Records show our roots started in . . . SEATTLE, WA?In 1983, James Williams returned to Seattle, WA after DCI Finals. He was the Guard Captain of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (Madison, WI) and they had just won Best Color Guard that year. James heard of a Talent Show at a very ghetto college and talked his friend Lane Biag into entering with him...they won! Soon thereafter, they twirled big marijuana joints as back up for a guy named Glenn in a show at a place called "Matsa Mamma's". It was so packed inside that some of the folks with reservations had to stand outside and watch the show through the front window! Talk about instant success! ROTC Seattle (1983) was started by James Williams, Lane Biag, and Ron Maier in Seattle, WA. The name Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps came from a drag queen named Larry Lefler, entertainment coordinator for the Tacky Tourist. In 1989, they went on TV with the Seattle Men's Chorus, with the original 6. James, Lane, Ron, Andy Cross, Erich Bernhardt, and Kurt Jull. Kurt Jull was replaced by Kurt Wouters in 1990. The Flaggots (1991) was started in New York City by Dan Douglass and Joe Pinkava. The unit celebrates their 17th Season with current Artistic Design by John DeSimon and lead tech Louis Helinger. You can catch this years exhilarating show on www.YouTube.com . . . simply search for Flaggots to see for yourself! ROTC Chicago (1994) The Windy City caught um, 'wind' of all this excitement and they too rallied local forces to form a brigade of their own. Ron Rubright, (Madison Scout Alumnus) asked Seattle if they could use the ROTC name. Ron then led these righteously outrageous 'twirlers' down Halsted, paving the path for one of the USA's leading gay colorguard organizations today. ROTC DC (1994) was started in Washington, DC when director Kurt Wouters, (Madison Scout Alumnus) relocated from Seattle. He was joined by friends Mike Garrett, and Jim Emlet and the group disbanded in 2005 when Wouters moved to WI.
ROTC Toronto
(1995)
After hearing of the successes in both Seattle and Chicago,
Michael Grimes (Madison Scout Alumnus) also
asked permission to borrow the ROTC name and create a
franchise in Toronto, Canada...the first and only outside of
the USA. He began his group by placing an ad in local
gay publications. Their first season consisted
of 15 members who had formerly marched with the Madison
Scouts, the Bridgemen, Bluecoats, 27th Lancers, Les
Eclipses, Seneca Optimists, Cavaliers, as well as a number
of non-drum corps people who were interested in learning how
to "twirl". They received rave reviews in Toronto and
Montreal's Pride Day festivities. Flaggots Ohio (2002) beginnings of this ensemble stretching back to 1994. It wasn't until 2002 that this group finally gelled. Matt Eisert (Madison Scout Alumnus) joined The Flaggots in Philadelphia with Scott Markham, then brought back their name to Central Ohio. Joe Bowman joined forces with Matt to lead FO off on the right foot. After countless performances and dozens of members that have come and gone over the years, Flaggots Ohio received an invitation from the Ohio Historical Society to be a part of the Gay Ohio History Initiative! FO items are currently on display at OHS and you can read more about Ohio Gay History at http://www.gohi.org/ For more information about Flaggots Ohio History, please visit OUR STORY for a detailed outline of our annual progression. ROTC St. Pete (2003) ROTC St Pete was organized in the Summer of 2003 by Frank Hay (Santa Clara Vanguard Alumnus). The group is based on similar organizations that exist in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Toronto and Columbus, OH. Frank continues to lead this group of Friendly Fun Floridians who perform to high energy dance music or classic disco hits. In 2006, ROTC St Pete hosted the "Largest Yet" ROTC/Flaggot Network Performance during the St. Petersburg Santa Claus Parade early Dec. More than 70 performers were on hand for what appeared to be a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade entry, giving St. Petersburg fans that extra special Holiday Gift from the United States GLBT (and STRAIGHT) Communities. ROTC San Francisco (2005) Richie Chameroy heard the news of ROTC type groups popping up around the country and decided to re-form the San Francisco contingency. ROTC Salt Lake City (2006) Logan Brueck also heard this news and rallied local troops to form ROTC SL, UT. EnGuard (2006) Scott Redhead leads up NYC's First and Only GLBT Winter Guard, Color Guard and Twirling Corp. SPIN Columbus (2007) Johnny Wilson (Madison Scout Alumnus) is current spokes-model for this new, exciting, all-volunteer, diverse, community color guard based in Columbus Ohio. Flaggots Palm Springs (2007) Scott Markham (Crown Guard Alumnus) is currently working hard in the planning stages of the ROTC Networks youngest sibling, adding yet another Palm Branch to this OUTrageous Family Tree. The Lonestar Flaggots (2008) Tim LeBlanc (Code Black Independent) brings BIG FUN to this BIG STATE! Look for our newest Flaggot Family on their 'Lonestar Pride Tour' appearing in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio! STP - St Petersburg Twirling Project (2008) Chuck Henson puts a New Spin on the colorguard activity in West-Central Florida! Come see these 'cool cats' dazzle the crowds in the summer heat of PRIDE and during St Pete's Santa Clause Parade. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Well, there it is in a nutshell! We'll continue to update this History Page and their stories filter in. Thank You for your interest in . . . Flaggots
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hio
History
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