Redefining Rainbows.
13 year old Abbie Kelly is refining the way we support the LGBTQI+ community across regional Australia.
Article by Elka Devney
Fireflies are one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. They’re a reminder that sometimes the simple things in life matter the most and that however tiny you may feel, your light can illuminate the darkness. 13 year-old Abbie Kelly is the embodiment of a firefly as she carries a torch for the LGBTQI+ community in regional Australia. Founding the Rainbow Shoelace Project in March 2022, what began as a personal form of self-expression has since grown into an inclusive worldwide community.
We’ve all been there. Palms full of sweat as butterflies whirl in our stomachs. The first day of high school can be daunting for any new year seven student, but for Abbie, who openly identifies as lesbian, the beginning of this chapter was filled with an overwhelming amount of fear. So much so that before she stepped inside the school gate, Abbie removed rainbow beads from her shoelace to hide a part of herself from playground bullies. As a young queer student living in the regional city of Broken Hill, Far West NSW, Abbie felt isolated and alone. “It took me a long time to come to terms with who I am and even longer to open up to others. When I started high school, I was so scared of being bullied. However, I soon realised that I probably wasn’t the only one feeling this way.” So, in true Abbie style, she walked through the school front gate, head held high with six rainbow beads attached to the shoelace of her converse. And it is with this single step that she created a way for young members of the LGBTQI+ community to feel supported by their peers and allies.
The Rainbow Shoelace Project began on the family kitchen table as Abbie and her Mum, Sophie Angell, created packs of beads on A4 posters to stick to the local community noticeboards. Before the self-funded project spread like wildfire on social media, the mother-daughter duo gave away 150 bags of beads per week. Abbie admits she is glad to be born in the day and age of the internet. “The project has had so much support from the queer community that we almost can’t keep up with demand.” After receiving handwritten letters from Abbie, social media influencers Christian Hull and Nat Alise have promoted the project on their platforms, followed by millions of people. The Department of NSW, as well as television stars Joel Creasey and Sam Webb, have also supported the project. “It means so much when these people spread the word about our initiative. The Broken Hill community is one of the reasons why I started this project. Initially, I was shocked by the support I received, but it made me realise that people understood and appreciated the idea. To date, we’ve given away over 45 thousand packs of free beads not just within Australia but also in countries such as Germany, England, Belgium, Canada and America. There is so much more to this project than just plastic beads on a shoelace, and I am beyond grateful for the global support we’ve received.”
In the schoolyard, Abbie is no stranger to discrimination. She admits that sometimes she didn’t want to put up posters because her peers would know she had started the project. “Kids would shout mean and homophobic slurs at me, but I didn’t let this stop me.” Abbie created The Rainbow Shoelace Project to support other queer kids who need help and a little hope. While it was hard initially, she says the project has helped develop a better understanding and awareness of the LQGBTI+ community amongst her peers. “Just last week, a student in my class complimented my rainbow beads and commended the project after I explained the meaning behind it. I never thought this person would call my rainbow shoelaces cool.” Through the Rainbow Shoelace Project, Abbie has used the power of open dialogue and conversation to shift perceptions about the LGBTQI+ community - and to think this has all started from six beads on a shoelace is incredible.
Looking to the future, Abbie would love to see the Rainbow Shoelace Project at World Pride in 2023, as over 500,000 people from across the globe are expected to participate in the event. “I want to have a stall filled with beads and information about the project. I would also love to see it featured in schools across Australia because every young person deserves to be proud and accepted for who they are.” While Abbie began this journey to help other queer kids, the project has also developed her selfconfidence, but more importantly, it has taught her to believe in herself.
Abbie says it can be scary and isolating as a young queer person trying to find her path in the world. Before the Rainbow Shoelace Project, rainbows belonged to the sky. Now you can find them walking anywhere around the world. At just 13-years-old, Abbie Kelly has created a community of fireflies that light a way forward for young LGBTQI+ people who feel alone in the darkness.