When Abbie Kelly started making up little packs of rainbow beads for LGBT kids and their friends to thread on their shoelaces in Broken Hill, she had no idea the idea would catch the imagination of people the world over.
Now, the 13-year-old from Broken Hill in far west New South Wales is taking the beads to Sydney for 2023 WorldPride.
The Rainbow Shoelace Project started as a way for Abbie and her friends to support each other through school.
"I identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and [when I first started school] it felt like there was no-one else like me," she said.
"I eventually found out I had friends and peers feeling that way too, so I decided, why not start something that can help people?"
Small packages of support go big
Coming out and exploring your queer identity can be daunting for any young person, and living in an isolated community, more than 600 kilometres from any capital city, can add to the sense of isolation. Abbie says the beads are a small way to offer support.
"Although we have the [Broken Heel] festival, this town really lacks queer representation," she said, "this is just one way for people to feel less alone.
"Since starting this project I feel so much more comfortable with who I am as a person."
The project has quickly grown since its launch in March 2022, thanks to social media.
"When we started, we were giving away a hundred packs of beads a week in Broken Hill alone," Abbie said.
"Now, we have given away over 55,000 packs of beads in Australia, and we're going global."
Abbie and the Rainbow Shoelace volunteers have been contacted by people wanting beads in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
She said she couldn't believe an idea that came from feeling isolated and alone had connected her to so many queer people around the world.
"I had no idea it would be so big; I had no idea that the whole world would be supportive of it."
'There are others like me'
Just a year since she started, Abbie said she was thrilled to be going to WorldPride to share the project.
"I can't believe I'm going, it blows my mind," she said.
"It's been a dream of mine to go ever since I found out it was coming to Sydney.
"Pride means so much to me. As a young queer person, seeing all the representation that queer people get from WorldPride, it just makes me feel like there are others like me.
"It helps me see how normal it is to be who you are."
Abbie's mother Sophie Angel said she had seen her daughter endure homophobia and criticism as the project grew.
"Some of the bullying has been made worse by this project," she said.
"I check in regularly with her about if she wants to continue, but she's never hesitated, no matter how hard it's gotten, I'm so proud of her.
Ms Angel said going to Sydney for the festival would be an opportunity for Abbie to feel the support of the greater queer community.
"There are people who think she's amazing, [that] the project is amazing, and they support queerness, because it's fabulous."
