The Australian drag performers and ‘rainbow angels’ fighting back against far-right vitriol

Drag performer Reuben Kaye can cover the scars of a gay bashing from his youth when he applies his makeup, but the abuse he and his queer peers cop on both the streets and social media is getting worse. Photograph: Nick Mick Pics

In 2011, Reuben Kaye sat backstage in a small theatre in the English city of Oxford, holding a tube of lipstick in his hand.

The foundation had been hard to apply over a scar near one of his eyes and the lipstick was a little heavy around the edges. But as he looked back at himself he had one thought: you look good.