Benjamin, a Queerpreneurs Expo organiser and participant, in Suva, Fiji. Image: Alipate Laveti/Oxfam
Impact stories
Supporting Queer Entrepeneurs
The Rainbow Pride Foundation is an Oxfam Partner working to empower the LGBTQIA+ community in Fiji.
Who are the Rainbow Pride Foundation?
What they do
The Rainbow Pride Foundation is working to build a better financial future for the Fijian LGBTQIA+ community through initiatives like a communal farm and a ‘Queerpreneurs’ programme.
Why it matters
Through their work, the Rainbow Pride Foundation is tackling food and housing insecurity while also empowering LGBTQIA+ people to establish small businesses.
In Fiji, same-sex relations were decriminalised in 2010, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is banned in the Fijian Constitution. However, LGBTQIA+ people in Fiji continue to face violence and discrimination, impacting work and health outcomes.
The Queerpreneurs Programme
The Queerpreneurs Expo aims to create a safe space and community support for Fijian LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, whether they are just starting a business or have been in business for years.
This project provides funding, networking opportunities, and financial training to LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.
Here’s Benjamin’s story...
Alipate Laveti/Oxfam
Benjamin in an office looking at brochures.
“My name is Benjamin, I am an Indo-Fijian with maternal links to Levukaidaku on the island of Matuki. I am 37 years of age and my pronouns are very pronoun-friendly. So, he, she, they, I’m ok. My whole life has been here in Fiji.
A lot of our community members were hair stylists, makeup artists, those that were in the heritage and art sector[...] So we thought that we needed to create a platform to bring them all together and nurture the talents that they had.
I am [a Queerpreneur]. Last year in July, I was one of the organisers of the Queerpreneurs Expo. So when I took part last year, I took part as one of the organisers for the actual event, but I also didn't realise what an impact it would have as a queerpreneur myself. So my business is usually I do consultancy work in terms of like admin and logistics and events management, but my side hustle has always been events planning in terms of deco and setting up of events and liaising with service providers. The Queerpreneurs Expo really helped me because I was able to build on my existing network as well as meet new people that I could work with in terms of my side hustle that I'm doing.
[The] Majority of these Queerpreneurs in our community are already isolated by their families and their communities. So we're having to depend on each other to support each other.”
Alipate Laveti/Oxfam
Benjamin in an office in Suva, Fiji.
“"I think that's what the Queerpreneurs Expo does. It acknowledges you for the hard work that you've contributed or you are contributing, or as emerging entrepreneurs, what you're going to bring to the table. But it also provides you with that support system where you know it's okay to be queer, it's okay to be an entrepreneur. We're here for you. Let's work together as a community."”
Benjamin, a Queerpreneurs Expo organiser and participant.
“I also think one of the impacts is removing that sense of fear that you are not good enough to be in business, you're not good enough to be part of the society or you're not good enough to do anything worthwhile based on the fact that you're queer. And I think that's one of the biggest impacts that it's had. Like even for me, on a personal level, I think it's really removed that fear in me that as a queer person I can still run a business. I can still prosper in this business venture, and I don't need to be defined or identified just by my gender identity and sexuality, like there’s so much more to me.”
Oxfam acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
