Dannii Minogue and Dame Kelly Holmes are among 30 prominent LGBTQ+ figures and allies joining forces to support The Proud Trust’s #DeserveBetter campaign, which is calling for greater understanding, safer spaces and better support for LGBTQ+ youth in the UK.
A new campaign film brings together an extraordinary line-up from music, television, comedy, theatre, literature and elite sport, united behind a simple message: every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, accepted, heard and able to thrive.
Alongside Minogue and Holmes, the campaign features Tom Allen, James Barr, Denise Welch, Heartstopper star Kizzy Edgell, Adele Roberts, Cyril Nri, Charlie Condou, Alexandra Mardell, Anita Asante, Matt Cain MBE, Nathaniel J Hall, Neil Ashton, Elijah Young, Peter McPherson, Shakeel Kimotho, Gabriel Clark, Rob Madge, Lianne Sanderson, Heather Fisher, Meg Jones MBE, Kirsty Gilmour, Lucy Shuker BEM, Bruce Mouat, Danny Beard, Sir Stephen Fry, Courtney Act, Catrin Feelings and Elle Vosque.
The campaign comes as LGBTQ+ youth continue to face significant challenges in the UK. According to The Proud Trust, nearly half of LGBTQ+ pupils experience bullying because of who they are, while almost six in ten have seriously considered suicide. Almost a quarter may never complete secondary school, twice the UK national average.
View this post on Instagram
The charity supports thousands of LGBTQ+ young people every year through youth groups, one-to-one support, mentoring, family services, education programmes and professional training. Following the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, referrals to the charity increased by 171%, highlighting growing demand for specialist support.
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.”
Dannii Minogue said: “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.”
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. The Proud Trust is helping make that possible, so it’s a pleasure to stand with them and support #DeserveBetter.”
Danny Beard added: “No young person should ever feel like they have to hide who they are to be accepted. The Proud Trust creates spaces where LGBTQ+ young people can be themselves without apology, and that’s incredibly powerful.”
The Proud Trust says the campaign is intended to remind LGBTQ+ young people that they are not alone and that a wider community is standing beside them.
For more information about The Proud Trust and #DeserveBetter, visit TheProudTrust.org or follow the charity’s campaign on Instagram at @The_Proud_Trust.
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN is a free, vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580.
GCN relies on the generous support of the community and allies to sustain the crucial work that we do. Producing GCN is costly, and, in an industry which has been hugely impacted by rising costs, we need your support to help sustain and grow this vital resource.
Supporting GCN for as little as €1.99 per month will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.