Joining Asuria in March 2022, Kaitlyn is part of our Disability Employment Services team, located in our Maroubra office, and her role involves helping our participants overcome barriers to find and keep a job. Meanwhile, outside the office, Kaitlyn switches things up and enters the world of drag, taking on her drag king persona ‘King Maggot Banks.’
Kaitlyn's queer journey has always been one of acceptance and freedom. Growing up in a loving household, Kaitlyn never felt the need to define herself early, but she knew she liked all kinds of people. Even though there wasn't a defining moment that led Kaitlyn to discover her sexuality, watching her mum come out when Kaitlyn was 12 years old was a memorable moment for her.
"I was introduced to the lesbian community and culture when my mum came out. When marriage equality became legal in 2017 in Australia, my mum and her partner got engaged. Ten years after they got together, I was able to see them get married and enjoy an amazing honeymoon, and it felt like I got to see my mums fall in love all over again."
Originally from Newcastle, when Kaitlyn moved to Sydney, she missed her queer community back home. Like many of us during COVID-19, Kaitlyn started to connect with people online and was introduced to an online drag event called 'Queers of Joy'. The bi-monthly event celebrated non-binary and trans vitality and artists, and it was there that Kaitlyn joined the small group 'Kings of Joy'. After performing on stage and learning how to develop a drag king persona, Kaitlyn welcomed ‘King Maggot Banks’ into the world.
King Maggot Banks is more than just drag persona for Kaitlyn, as her involvement in the Kings of Joy group has allowed her to advocate and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The events the Kings of Joy group hold help to raise money for causes such as 'No Milk in my Tee", a not-for-profit that sells t-shirts to raise funds for gender-affirming surgery. They also raise money and awareness for 'Free Block 13', a resilient group of LGBTQIA+ refugees stuck in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. These refugees face homophobia and discrimination while fighting their way through one of the world's largest refugee camps. Kaitlyn and the Kings of Joy group help raise money to provide the refugees with bedding, medicine, food, and phones, in the hopes of making a difference in their lives.
"I signed up to the Kings of Joy for a bit of fun and to hopefully make some friends, and now I have a community that I adore, and it has changed my life for the better," said Kaitlyn.
Since joining Asuria, Kaitlyn has been met with unconditional support from her Asuria family, with staff from all different programs coming to see Kaitlyn aka King Maggot Banks attire.
"Not only did my immediate team accept me, but they were so eager to see me on stage and support my drag. I'm so grateful and happy that I get to be 100% Maggot and me!"
“I love the queer community and that we don't put limitations on each other. There's full support and love there. I don't have to define myself a certain way; I get to be whatever I feel like that day and fit into a broader spectrum."
Kaitlyn recently hosted Asuria's companywide game of Pride Trivia, held in conjunction with World Pride celebrations. Apart from the trivia, Asuria staff have been really getting into the festivities by participating in WorldPride Fancy Dress Day, testing their baking skills in our “Pride Panty” and signing up for many other activities lined up to celebrate pride – Asuria style!.
Speaking to Kaitlyn on what makes a good ally of the queer community, she shares that the best allies are the ones that follow through. She also suggests that the next step forward is to ensure we are always mindful of our language and not to make assumptions about people's partners or their pronouns.
Asuria is so proud to have Kaitlyn (aka King Maggot Banks) as part of the Asuria family, and we're so grateful to have been invited into such a personal part of Kaitlyn's life. We can't wait to see and share more of Kaitlyn and King Maggot Banks's drag success in the future. Asuria continues to be a safe and inclusive environment for all our staff, participants and customers and will always remain proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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