12-07-2025
Regional Queensland town known for gem fossicking embraces its queer community
En route to the Queensland outback, the Gemfields region is known for its sparkle.
One of the biggest sapphire-bearing areas in the world, it's a popular stop for tourists hoping to find their fortune.
But the long dirt roads also lead to something more unlikely in the bush: a thriving queer community, headed up by a particularly bright gem, Willow.
"We have visitors who rock up and they think they're coming out to fossick for gems in the middle of nowhere, and it's pretty rough and rugged country," Willow says.
Willow moved back to the community a decade ago to care for family, and decided to reveal a new part of himself to his parents and his home town a few years before that.
"I said, 'Mum, I need to tell you something,' and so I came out to her, and she was great," he says.
"My dad grew to understand and just support and love me for who I was."
The town of Rubyvale, with just a little over 1,000 residents, embraces all.
Headed by Willow, there is a thriving and supportive queer community, which hosts an annual Mardi Gras in September or October and regular drag blingo nights, where all are welcome.
"It started as a party that I held for my 50th birthday. I couldn't go away, so that was the next best option," Willow says.
It's now an annual event that attracts visitors from all over central Queensland.
"I've been able to help facilitate a space where queer people can come and visit or come and live," he says.
Willow says visitors have embraced the culture and more queer people have moved to the area in recent years.
"You can't be it if you can't see it, and I know by doing what I do, it's made a difference, and I just love that's been the outcome," he says.
Caleb Christensen is from the United States and first came to the Gemfields to visit friends.
"I came over and two days later, the Australian border was shut with the COVID pandemic, so six months turned into two years, which has turned into five years now," he says.
Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, Caleb says he had initially struggled with his sexuality and felt pressured to downplay his queerness.
"I didn't want to be too flamboyant or this or that. I wanted to be a palatable kind of queer person for them," he says.
Over the years, he grew increasingly more comfortable with his identity and, after moving to the Gemfields, he says he can finally be his true self.
"I would say it was moving to the Gemfields that made me finally accept in my heart who I was," Caleb says.
When asked why he's stayed this long, Caleb says it's because of the community.
"The people — 100 per cent. The people are just warm and eclectic, it's a very niche lifestyle, but you have people from completely different walks of life," he says.
"When I was told they had drag queen blingo at this pub in rural Queensland, I was completely shocked."
Caleb runs a drama club, not exclusively for the queer community, but a supportive space for everyone.
Willow acknowledges that while homophobia still exists in the region, those who support him and the community outweigh this.
"There are people who will try to bring us down and create division and fear, but we simply will not go away," he says.
Casey Morrison is one of those allies and is a manager at one of the local pubs where drag blingo is hosted.
She wants to replicate the vibrant environment where she had worked previously.
"Where I lived in New South Wales, they held similar events and everyone who works here are allies," Casey says.
"We just love people, we love individuals … they can be from anywhere.
"At the moment, we've got everyone here watching the sport, but it could be that everyone is here for blingo as well."
