Hi everyone,

My name is Jani and thank You for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The Walking Proud series have been in my mind for years, but never really knew how to start it or what exactly it will cover. So many things happened in the past few years. My loved ones and their friends being assaulted or mistreated in homophobic and transphobic incidents, but what turned my reality upside down, and shook and shattered my soul was losing friends and my father to cancer and suicide.

It made me realise, how fragile we are and how important it is to live. To enjoy life and do good and inspirational acts for others. This triggered and ignited an idea.

I remember reading an amazing book as a teenager about gay men and their stories. Some of them were funny, some sad, but all of them reassured me, I wasn’t alone. That being gay wasn’t what most people around me talked about. To be honest, We all have these kinds of stories. Normal life stories, but these were special for me, because I didn’t know any of this was normal. I didn’t have resources or people to talk about this.

We are constantly coming out to people. We tell all sorts of secrets, things that we will trust these people with. Our friends and probably most often family.

You don’t have to be an LGBTQIA+ person to come out. It is a very normal for us all and a usual human gesture of trust and belonging to others.

You know, that feeling that tension, the butterflies in your stomach, that if you release, might change your life forever. That is coming out.

But as an LGBTQIA+ person it is often full of worries and most times even fear, that follows you for years, until you have enough of lying and let the truth burst out of you. You don’t care about: What will people think? What will people do? Will there be any consequences?

Eventually, it does get easier, or at least if you are one of the lucky ones and life guide you on the right path. I feel like, I am one of these people but of course all stories have ups and downs.

I came out quite early to my friends, then my family, except my father. I was so scared about how, he would judge me, or disown me, so many things gone through my head, and our relationship was so good, I never wanted it to be any different. Eventually I’ve learned that, I pretty much misjudged everyone around me. My family treated me really badly after coming out, but not my dad (even if he was about 15years behind everyone else). He reassured me that it didn’t matter and he just wants to see me and my boyfriend happy together. His lovely sons and he will love us forever, no matter what.

I would like to create another book, just like the one I’ve read in my teenage years, for the memory of my dad and my friends, for people who inspired me and for people who needs hope and help.

A collection of stories starting from around Wales. The good, the bad and the ugly. To help people see being an LGBTQAI+ person is normal, its ok. To try and fight against the ”phobias”, the misconception.

Walking Proud Series 1 – in Wales will be an expedition, adventure and statement. Starting in Llangors (Powys).

A 30day long walk at Pride Month (1st-30th of June 2022) covering approximately 1100miles. It will be a race with time, but I believe it is possible. On this adventure I will visit villages, towns and cities to meet people and learn and document their stories, whilst carrying my Pride Flag at all times.

I hope people will open up and help me with this. I think it will be an amazing journey and an important piece of work/ art and a great help for the charities.

If you would like to be a part, or if you know someone who might be interested tell them! You can get in touch with me on this email or on the website/blog.

https://walkingproud.co.uk/

info@walkingproud.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/walkingproudseries

Thank you

Jani