For Peter Williams, his coming-out story began later in life.
“I was always meant to be gay,” he said.
“I didn’t know it at 19, I didn’t know that at 25, and I didn’t know that at 45.”
When he told his parents, they were in their mid-80s.
“My dad said ‘it changes nothing’,” he said.
“That’s the way they continued until they passed away in their 90s.”
Lockington resident Vin Jarrod was born in India, adopted by an Australian-Dutch family, and grew up in Cranborne.
During his time at an all-boys school in Chadstone, Mr Jarrod was sexually abused.
“Back then, I had no idea what gay even meant,” he said.
“I didn’t really have many friends, however, the other boys at school decided that I was gay.
“I was sexually abused because of that.”
When Mr Jarrod moved to Lockington, he did not face the challenges he expected.
“When I was living in Melbourne, I didn’t wear anything rainbow, and when I had different coloured hair I was bashed,” he said.
“But moving to Lockington I wear it quite proudly everywhere I go.”
Autumn Stacey was born and raised in Echuca, and has lived in the area their whole life. They identify as pansexual and gender-queer, and said the biggest challenge was trying to help others understand their sexuality.
“I’ve had my opinions and intelligence called into question where they were not before, and I’ve been told to be quiet and not kick up a fuss about issues that I know exist,” they said.
“I’ve been made to feel actively unsafe in spaces that should be safe for all, especially in regards to medical facilities.
“I hope that events like this and the flying of the rainbow flag will show people like this that discrimination isn’t right or virtuous.”
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