When queer woman Laurinda Kelleher was young, she was sure of two things: she loved her grandfather and she enjoyed dressing up in costumes.
Now aged 45, and with four children, Ms Kelleher is a devoted school teacher who moonlights as a drag king.
The New South Wales Riverina woman's alter ego is Tom Roy.
"Tom Roy is, I guess, a tribute to my tomboy youth, but Roy was my grandfather's name and he was one of the most incredible men, the most gentle man, I've ever met," she says.
"He looked after my grandmother as she was dying.
Growing up in a Catholic-school environment made life difficult, as she was attracted to men and women.
It wasn't until she was an adult that she entered the realm of drag.
"The first time in drag was just mucking around at home, kind of just getting into a routine, and then I performed a cowboy routine," she says.
"I think drag is a great way to play with identity and to imagine yourself in a different role or power position and that can feed back into your everyday life."
Gender roles
Ms Kelleher says she has spoken to plenty of mothers who would like to try drag, but are held back by gender expectations.
"You hear about it all the time," she says.
"Drag, burlesque, or art feeds you and helps you become a better parent, so it's important to make sure that you find the balance between caring for your family and nurturing and caring for yourself."
Being a drag king allows Ms Kelleher to challenge gender roles, as well as celebrate what makes us human.
"As a mother of sons, I want to celebrate some of the good things about masculinity," she says.
"We hear so many negative things about the toxic side of masculinity, but I think I'm certainly coming from a place of love and respect and want to celebrate the good I see in the men around me."
Supportive family
Ms Kelleher says her children love to joke around with her about the drag, as they know she's a bit of "a show pony".
They even watch drag-related television shows together.
"Coming up to Mardi Gras, we're doing some all-ages shows, which is new, so I'm hoping they'll get to check out my drag then."
ABCQueer
A monthly newsletter for LGBTQIA+ folks and their allies, with stories about real people and their experiences of being queer.
