LGBTQ+ people can have an increased risk of modern slavery, and now several LGBTQ+ celebrities, including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard and lesbian Olympic boxer Cindy Ngamba, are teaming up with other famous faces to front a major new campaign for modern slavery charity Causeway.
It is estimated that over 50 million people worldwide are currently trapped in modern slavery and exploitation, with over 100,000 of those in the UK. According to the charity, in recent years modern slavery cases both in the UK and internationally have been on the rise, and the LGBTQ+ community in particular can find themselves at an increased risk.
Edwin Buckley, Head of Communications and Engagement at Causeway, explains: “The increased risk of modern slavery which LGBTQ+ people may face can come from higher levels of vulnerability due to homelessness, mental health issues, violence and abuse, which statistics show can disproportionally affect the LGBTQ+ community.
“There are 64 countries with laws that still criminalise homosexuality. This marginalisation means that LGBTQ+ people around the world affected by sexual exploitation and human trafficking can be at higher levels than for other people. In countries where a person’s sexuality puts them in danger, traffickers can use this fear of exposure to coerce their victims into performing sexual acts or into forced labour.
“Causeway does really important work supporting modern slavery survivors to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives.” – Danny Beard
“They will often then use the fear of arrest to silence them and prevent them from seeking help. Trafficking gangs will often seek out people without support networks, who are poor, homeless, marginalised, or desperate. LGBTQ+ people who have had to flee difficult or unsafe situations can often fall into these categories.”
Now RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Danny Beard, who won series four of the popular BBC Three show, is fronting a new modern slavery campaign for Causeway, called Stand With Survivors. They are joined by lesbian boxer Cindy Ngamba, who is the first-ever medallist for the Olympic Refugee Team, having won bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Cindy moved to the UK from Cameroon aged 11. Whilst she was granted refugee status in 2020, due to not having a British passport, she was unable to compete for Great Britain at the Olympics, instead competing for the Refugee Team. Cindy is a lesbian, and with homosexuality being illegal in Cameroon, it would make her at risk of imprisonment and persecution if she were to return there.
Other LGBTQ+ celebrities involved in the campaign include former Emmerdale and Bad Girls star Alicya Eyo, and Coronation Street actor Shelley King who has previously spoke about not coming out to her parents until she was 42.
“We’re coming together to encourage everybody to stand with survivors of modern slavery and create a world where everyone has the same rights and freedoms.” – Cindy Ngamba
Causeway is one of the largest providers of modern slavery support in the UK, and the Stand With Survivors campaign aims to increase awareness around modern slavery, and educate the public about the signs to look out for which indicate somebody may be experiencing modern slavery and exploitation.
Danny Beard said: “Causeway does really important work supporting modern slavery survivors to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives, after being through such appalling situations. It is an honour to be supporting their Stand With Survivors campaign, and I hope it will raise the awareness needed to help reduce exploitation and modern slavery in all its forms.”
Cindy Ngamba added: “I am proud to be supporting Causeway. We’re coming together to encourage everybody to stand with survivors of modern slavery and create a world where everyone has the same rights and freedoms. Any way you can support Causeway and the important work they do would be massively appreciated.”
Find out more about the Stand With Survivors campaign and watch the films on social media @CausewayCharity or CLICK HERE