Horsham pair Maddi Ostapiw, 21, and Loucas Vettos, 24, started the Wimmera Pride Project as a support network for the region’s LGBT+ community.

The project launched at a screening of Holding the Man at Horsham Centre Cinemas on Monday night.

Ms Ostapiw was ecstatic with the event, which included drinks and nibbles, a raffle and the movie.

“It went brilliantly,’’ she said.

Nearly 100 people from throughout the Wimmera attended the launch.

“We can't believe how many people were there,’’ Ms Ostapiw said.

“It exceeded our expectations by a huge amount.’’

She said the group sold plenty of raffle tickets and made many connections.

“There was so much more support than we could have imagined,’’ she said.

Mr Vettos was also overwhelmed by the support at the event.

“I made sure I got around to everyone that was there before we had speeches and personally thanked them for coming,’’ he said.

“It was good to have people mingle with others who obviously feel the need for our vision and project to take off in the Wimmera.

“We had people from St Arnaud and Warracknabeal, so we are already reaching out to those communities.

“People want to get on board and have offered their assistance in any way so it's just incredible to feel the love.’’

Mr Vettos said Holding the Man, about the lives of two men who fell in love in high school, was an emotional movie.

“Most of the people I have talked to have said they teared up and really enjoyed the film – especially as it is an Aussie film,’’ he said.

Ms Ostapiw said the group was now planning its second event, for some time near Kannamaroo.

Mr Vettos said the raffle would be drawn at the Kannamaroo.

First prize is a $100 voucher for Mackays Leading Edge Jewellers; second prize is a dinner for two at Bonnie and Clydes in Horsham, plus two tickets for Horsham Centre Cinemas; and third prize is a fruit box donated by Peach's Fruit Market.

Mr Vettos said people could continue to buy tickets for the raffle up until the Kannamaroo.