Several LGBTQ+ celebrities are teaming up with famous faces from film, TV, music, and sports to launch a major new campaign for modern slavery charity Causeway. They include RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard, Olympic boxer Cindy Ngamba and Coronation Street star Shelley King.
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.
For several 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.
“Causeway do 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.”
Danny Beard
Recent reports have shown that in the last year, London accounted for 44% of all referrals for modern slavery support through the government’s National Referral Mechanism. This meant London had four times as many new modern slavery victims identified than any other region in England and Wales.
Edwin Buckley, Head of Communications and Engagement at modern slavery charity Causeway, told QX:
“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 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.
“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 4 of the popular BBC Three show, is fronting the new modern slavery campaign for Causeway, Stand With Survivors.
They are joined by LGBTQ+ boxer Cindy Ngamba, the first-ever medalist for the Olympic Refugee Team, having won bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
“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.”
Cindy Ngamba
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 could not compete for Great Britain at the Olympics; instead, she competed for the Refugee Team. Cindy is a lesbian, and given that homosexuality is illegal in Cameroon, it would put her at risk of imprisonment and persecution if she were to return there.
“Living in poor conditions, working excessive hours, or appearing to be working unwillingly can be potential signs”
Alicya Eyo
Other LGBTQ+ celebrities involved in the campaign include former Emmerdale and Bad Girls star Alicya Eyo, and Coronation Street actor Shelley King. Shelley has been in a relationship with theatre director Trilby James for 27 years and has spoken about not coming out to her parents until she was 42.
“Modern slavery takes many different forms; Causeway exists to support, empower and create change for survivors.”
Shelley King
There are also some recognisable LGBTQ+ reality TV faces joining the Stand With Survivors campaign line-up. They include The Traitors UK’s first openly gay contestant, Theo Mayne, who appeared on the popular BBC One show in 2022, and Miles Asteri, who followed in Theo’s footsteps, taking part in The Traitors UK earlier this year.
“Labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation are the most common forms of modern slavery in the UK”
Matt Jameson
Married at First Sight UK star Matt Jameson is also one of the LGBTQ+ stars fronting the campaign. Matt made TV history in 2021 as part of the first same-sex couple to appear on the E4 show.
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.
“Threats of violence or abuse against them or their families can be used to control somebody”.
Theo Mayne
“Potential signs of modern slavery can include somebody “being deprived of basic necessities or afraid to speak”.
Cindy Ngamba
Further celebrities fronting the campaign include BAFTA-nominee and Mr Bates vs the Post Office, actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, stand-up comedian and After Life star Kerry Godliman, and TV chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver.
