Pop icon Dannii Minogue, national treasure Sir Stephen Fry, Olympic legend Dame Kelly Holmes, comedian Tom Allen, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard and soap star Denise Welch are among 30 LGBTQ+ celebrities and high-profile allies teaming up with Manchester LGBTQ+ youth charity The Proud Trust for its #DeserveBetter campaign.
The Trust is continuing its #DeserveBetter campaign with a new celebrity film bringing together 30 LGBTQ+ people and high-profile allies. The campaign highlights the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people while calling for greater understanding, safer spaces and better support.
The campaign comes at a time when LGBTQ+ young people continue to face significant challenges. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ pupils experience bullying because of who they are, almost six in ten have seriously considered suicide, and almost a quarter may never complete secondary school, twice the national average.
At the heart of the charity’s work is The Proud Place in Manchester, one of only a small number of purpose-built LGBTQ+ centres in Europe. The Proud Trust also supports thousands of LGBTQ+ young people through youth groups, one-to-one support, mentoring, family services, education programmes, professional training and its Rainbow Flag Award programme.
#DeserveBetter is being amplified through a powerful new campaign film bringing 30 celebrities together, united behind one message: That every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, accepted, heard and able to thrive.
The film brings together a cross-section of the UK’s LGBTQ+ community and high-profile allies from film, television, music, comedy, theatre, literature and elite sport. Leading the line-up are singer and television presenter Dannii Minogue, actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry, Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, comedians Tom Allen and James Barr, actor Denise Welch, Heartstopper’s Kizzy Edgell, radio presenter Adele Roberts, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story actor Cyril Nri.
Joining them are Coronation Street favourites Charlie Condou and Alexandra Mardell; former Lioness Anita Asante; award-winning author Matt Cain MBE; It’s A Sin actor Nathaniel J Hall; Brassic regular Neil Ashton; Smoggie Queens duo Elijah Young and Peter McPherson; Tip Toe stars Shakeel Kimotho and Gabriel Clark; West End performer Rob Madge; former England footballer Lianne Sanderson; England rugby stars Heather Fisher and Meg Jones MBE; Scottish badminton champion Kirsty Gilmour; British wheelchair tennis player Lucy Shuker BEM; two-time world champion curler Bruce Mouat; and RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s Danny Beard, Courtney Act, Catrin Feelings and Elle Vosque.
Rachel Williams, CEO of The Proud Trust, said: “Every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, accepted and proud of who they are. At a time when LGBTQ+ lives are being debated more than ever, it’s vital that young people know they are valued, supported and never alone. We’re incredibly proud that 30 respected LGBTQ+ people and allies have chosen to stand with us and support #DeserveBetter. Their voices send a powerful message that there is a whole community standing beside LGBTQ+ young people, championing their right to be themselves and thrive.
#DeserveBetter is a call for all of us to do better, as if we come together we can build a future where every young person gets the support, acceptance and opportunities they deserve.”
Dannii Minogue added: “The future becomes brighter when more of us choose kindness, compassion and understanding. Supporting LGBTQ+ young people shouldn’t be extraordinary, it should simply be what we do. I’m so proud to support The Proud Trust and the #DeserveBetter campaign.”
Stephen Fry said: “Every young person deserves to grow up knowing they are valued exactly as they are. Organisations like The Proud Trust provide hope, community and reassurance at a time when many LGBTQ+ young people need it most. I’m proud to support #DeserveBetter and help shine a light on the charity's vital work.”
