Manchester LGBTQ+ youth charity The Proud Trust has released a film featuring 30 LGBTQ+ celebrities and high-profile allies in support of its national #DeserveBetter campaign. The charity announced the film on 27 October 2026.
The line-up is led by singer and television presenter Dannii Minogue, actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry and Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes. They are joined by comedians Tom Allen and James Barr, actor Denise Welch, Heartstopper actor Kizzy Edgell, radio presenter Adele Roberts, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story actor Cyril Nri and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard.
Also taking part are Coronation Street actors Charlie Condou and Alexandra Mardell, former Lioness Anita Asante, 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 and former England footballer Lianne Sanderson.
The sport names include England rugby players Heather Fisher and Meg Jones MBE, Scottish badminton champion Kirsty Gilmour, British wheelchair tennis player Lucy Shuker BEM and two-time world champion curler Bruce Mouat. RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Courtney Act, Catrin Feelings and Elle Vosque complete the 30.
The charity says it is the first time all 30 have appeared together, behind one message: that every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, accepted, heard and able to thrive.
Why the campaign
The #DeserveBetter campaign first launched in the summer and calls for greater understanding, safer spaces and better support for LGBTQ+ young people.
The Proud Trust says referrals to the charity rose by 171% after the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.
The charity also cites research showing that 43% of LGBTQ+ pupils experience bullying because of who they are (Just Like Us, 2021), that 58% of LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered suicide (The Trevor Project UK National Survey, 2024), and that 24.8% may never complete secondary school, compared with 12.1% nationally (Theirworld, 2025).
The work in Manchester
At the centre of the charity’s work is The Proud Place in Manchester, which it describes as one of only a small number of purpose-built LGBTQ+ centres in Europe.
The Proud Trust supports thousands of LGBTQ+ young people through youth groups, mentoring, one-to-one support, family services, education programmes and professional training. It also runs the Rainbow Flag Award, an LGBTQ+ inclusion framework for schools, colleges and youth organisations.
What they said
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,” she added.
Dannii Minogue 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.”
Sir 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.”
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.”
The film can be watched on The Proud Trust’s Instagram account, @The_Proud_Trust, and more on the campaign is at theproudtrust.org.
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