Rainbow pride . . . Members of Skittles (back, from left) Kimberlee McWhirter (14), James Spivey (17), Blayde Forbes (14), Koru Parry (16), Nakita Parish (16), Ebony Heta (16), Noa Smith (16), Sophia Ewing (15), (front, from left) Ruby Cavanagh-Welch (16), Frances Lavell (15), and Mercedes Kennedy (14) have a safe space at the North Otago Youth Centre. PHOTO: RUBY HEYWARD
With few queer adults around to look up to in Oamaru, a group of teenagers are leading by their own example of self acceptance.
The teenagers are part of Skittles, a group of about 20 people who meet at the North Otago Youth Centre once a week.
Youth Centre manager Amanda Acheson said Skittles provided a safe space for young queer people to think about who they were and find others they could identify with.