Bowie, Drew
Drew, Bowie she/her (1972-)
Born in Perth to Scottish immigrant parents, Drew grew up in a conservative Mormon household, finding escape in science fiction and fantasy worlds. She left home at fifteen to train as a chef before joining the Australian Army at eighteen, serving in frontline infantry and deploying to East Timor. After leaving the Army following an injury, she moved to Sydney around 2004, working in film and later finance. She came out as transgender in 2016, prompted by reflections following David Bowie’s death, and later found community in the Blue Mountains, where she became an organiser of the Trans and Gender Diverse Blue Mountains Group.
In this oral history she talks about religion, gender expectations, military service, family and the experiences that helped her recognise and affirm her identity. She reflects on stand up comedy as a source of friendship and an outlet for challenging transphobia, alongside her growing involvement in community organising and advocacy. She discusses supporting Roxy Tickle in court, census inclusion, the Trans Women’s Society and her hopes for younger trans people. Throughout, Drew emphasises belonging, the joy of ordinary trans lives and the importance of preserving stories beyond media headlines. She closes with a message for future listeners: don’t let anyone tell you who you are or how to live your life.
Photo: Warner Ward
Oral history recordings
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