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. 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.