Dame Kelly Holmes, Dannii Minogue and Bruce Mouat lead stars backing LGBTQ+ youth campaign

Pop star Dannii Minogue, Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes and world champion curler Bruce Mouat are among 30 LGBTQ+ celebrities and allies who have joined forces to support a major campaign calling for better support for LGBTQ+ young people.

The Proud Trust, one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ youth charities, has unveiled a new celebrity film as part of its ongoing #DeserveBetter campaign, which highlights the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ young people and calls for greater understanding, safer spaces and stronger support networks.

The campaign brings together figures from television, music, sport, literature, theatre and comedy, including comedian Tom Allen, actor Denise Welch, Heartstopper star Kizzy Edgell, broadcaster Adele Roberts, actor Cyril Nri and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard.

According to The Proud Trust, LGBTQ+ young people continue to face significant barriers, with almost half of LGBTQ+ pupils experiencing bullying because of their identity. The charity also says nearly six in ten LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered suicide, while almost a quarter may never complete secondary school.

The organisation supports thousands of young people each year through youth groups, mentoring, family services, one-to-one support and educational programmes. It said referrals increased by 171% following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, highlighting growing demand for specialist support services.

The new campaign film sees all 30 celebrities unite behind a shared message that LGBTQ+ young people deserve to feel safe, accepted and able to thrive.

Rachel Williams, chief executive 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.”

Dannii Minogue said supporting LGBTQ+ young people “shouldn't be extraordinary”.

“The future becomes brighter when more of us choose kindness, compassion and understanding,” she said. “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.”

Dame Kelly Holmes said: “I know how hard it can be but also how important it is to be able to live authentically and without fear. Every LGBTQ+ young person deserves the chance to be themselves with confidence as well as feeling safe.”

Bruce Mouat, a two-time world champion and one of Britain’s most successful openly gay athletes, said: “Having a strong support network can make all the difference in life. The Proud Trust provides that for thousands of LGBTQ+ young people every year, and I'm proud to stand alongside #DeserveBetter and the incredible work the charity does.”

Other supporters include Sir Stephen Fry, former Lioness Anita Asante, author Matt Cain, actor Nathaniel J Hall, Brassic star Neil Ashton, Smoggie Queens actors Elijah Young and Peter McPherson, West End performer Rob Madge, former England footballer Lianne Sanderson, rugby internationals Heather Fisher and Meg Jones, badminton player Kirsty Gilmour and wheelchair tennis star Lucy Shuker.

The campaign film is available through The Proud Trust’s social media channels and forms part of the charity’s wider efforts to raise awareness of the challenges facing LGBTQ+ young people across the UK.