The youth of the Macleay have felt the acceptance of the community to "be who they are" at the It's OK on the Macleay event held at the Riverside Park in Kempsey on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The event sends a strong message of acceptance and a celebration of diversity, particularly for the LGBTIQ+ community.
Organiser and Baylin's Gift Founder Hayley Hoskins was proud to see an increased involvement from young people within the community in the third year of the event.
"The highlight for me was seeing so many young people be proud to be who they are," Ms Hoskins told the Argus.
"It's the first time so many young people have felt comfortable to attend the event and be themselves and that's the whole aim of the event."
Ms Hoskins expressed her gratitude to the Kempsey Shire Council, who got behind the event this year, for encouraging locals to support the LGBTIQ+ community.
"I think Council's involvement, with their flags on the main street and vocal support of the event, had a big impact on the large attendance and an increased acceptance," she said.
A fun day of activities were held with a barbecue, food stalls, live music, a dog show, a kid's corner with an inflatable obstacle course, free face painting, stand up paddle boarding and dragon boating taking place.
Rainbow merchandise and LGBTIQ resource books for parents, kids and teens were available for sale, and BAYLIN'S Gift donated $500 worth of books to the Kempsey Shire Library.
Kempsey born Chris King, who works as a make-up artist for celebrities, was in town to officially open the day and gave a moving speech to the audience.
Another Kempsey product and singer Kate Farquharson performed for the crowd.
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.
Also making the news:
