Abii, 22, has spent the last year championing the voice of the LGBTQ+ community in Oakham. Now she is looking forward to Oakham experiencing its first ever Pride event, which is set to take place on the 25th of June 2022, almost exactly a year after she set up the LGBTQ+ Facebook group on the 23rd of June 2021.

Born and bred in Rutland, Abii explained that it took her a long time to work out that she was bisexual, as it was something that was under discussed in schools and the wider rural community.

She said: "I love Rutland and Oakham is my closest town. I feel so at home here - nowhere could ever feel as much like home, as home is where the heart is. This is why I want to make this home a better place, both now and for those coming after me."

"Like many, I was always very aware of how little information or support networks there were in Rutland for LGBT+ community."

Upon setting up the Facebook group LGBT+ in Oakham and Rutland, Abii had an amazing response from over 230 local people who felt, like Abii, that Rutland lacked the information or support networks for those in the LGBTQ+ community.

She said: "People have met their partners through the social group, which makes me want to cry. It's incredible that we've achieved this. The community we have built, and to think that I have been involved, it just blows my mind."

Because of this, she decided that more needed to be done to bring this vibrant and welcoming community together.

Initially she began organising a night out at Bill's Bar, who were incredibly enthusiastic and supported Abii in coming up with something bigger and brighter, which ultimately has morphed into Oakham Pride.

Bill's is where a great deal of the evening entertainment will be occurring on the 25th of June, with local cabaret and drag acts such as Lexi Andrews performing throughout the evening.

Abii spoke more about how her ambitions grew and Oakham Pride was born: "I have always been very feminist, very activist, so I knew that this could not just be an idea. It had to be a proactive step towards bringing Oakham towards the same level of support and inclusivity we saw at Bill's Bar.

"People in my position felt isolated, as if there really were only a few LGBT+ members of the community in Oakham. Because this is such a new things for this county, as well as being a very aware person, I would always think that people wouldn't be interested or there would be some resistance.

"I am so happy that I was wrong. Everyone had been so accepting.

"We posted in an Oakham Facebook group and had a little backlash from local people, resulting in the post being deleted, which is a real shame, but has been the only setback. It seems that the idea of change has made some uncomfortable, but I want to make them uncomfortable because it will show people what the truth of being LGBT+ is. If you always live in your comfort zone, nothing will evolve."

This need for evolution was made apparent to Abii when she began studying Business at Brighton University, where she experienced the lively LGBTQ+ community: "I have been going to Brighton every year since 2016, to attend Pride, and it is like entering another dimension. Everyone is exactly who they are, who they want to be. Brighton's LGBT+ community and culture has a huge influence on me, so I want to bring some of that back into Oakham."

She still commutes to university there two days a week, which makes all of the work that she has put in to organising Oakham Pride even more impressive.

Oakham Pride has been planned for June as this is LGBTQ+ month, with plenty of events taking place before the final celebrations on the 25th of June.

There will also be shops competing to win the best Pride window display throughout the month of June.

Another event will be the Pride Bake Off. Applicants must submit at least four photos of their creation, after which three professional and three amateur creators will be chosen to recreate the cake, which will be judged on the 25th of June.

On top of this, Paint nails and beauty are showing their support with an array of nail and beauty deals on the day of the event.

All are encouraged to join the Oakham Pride celebrations, and Abii wanted to enforced that this really is an inclusive and welcoming event: "Being an ally is taking your acceptance and acknowledgement of LGBT+ people. It is a step that everyone is capable of, making a conscious effort to support LGBT+ people, businesses, the issues faced by the community, standing up against these issues, attending events like Pride.

"This ensures that the community feel seen not only by those within that community, but those supporting it and standing up against bullying."

Going forward, Abii has utter confidence in the hard working committee who continue to grow the event now and will do so in the future, while she focusses on her studies.

To anyone feeling tentative about the event, Abii concluded: "Come by on the 25th of June. You'll be surprised."

To find out more about the event, click here.

Alternatively, to get involved in the day of festivities as a seller, performer, or business owner, email: [email protected]

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