Liverpool Pride is just round the corner, and this year, celebrities are uniting to fight back against modern slavery and human trafficking within the LGBTQ+ community.
A glittering line up of stars from “Coronation Street,” “The Traitors UK,” and “Married at First Sight UK” are coming together for a groundbreaking and timely campaign aimed at raising awareness of the increased risk of modern slavery and human trafficking within the LGBTQ+ community. Partnering with the charity Causeway, these seven LGBTQ+ celebrities and allies are stepping up to shed light on a pressing and often overlooked issue.
The statistics are staggering. It is estimated that over 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery, with more than 100,000 of those in the UK alone. This encompasses various forms of exploitation, including sexual, labour, criminal, and domestic servitude. Causeway, one of the UK’s largest providers of modern slavery support, has enlisted the help of TV stars to emphasise the heightened vulnerability of LGBTQ+ individuals to such exploitation.
The campaign boasts support from prominent personalities such as Coronation Street actor Shelley King, The Traitors UK contestants Diane Carson, Miles Asteri, and Theo Mayne, and Married at First Sight UK stars Zoe Clifton, Jenna Robinson, and Matt Jameson. These celebrities will come together to march at Liverpool Pride on Saturday, July 27th, to promote the cause.
Speaking about the campaign, lesbian actor and star of Coronation Street Shelley King emphasised the importance of collective action: “Causeway are a fantastic charity, working tirelessly to support modern slavery survivors to rebuild their lives. However, the reality is that modern slavery is on the rise, and LGBTQ+ people around the world can find themselves at an increased risk. That’s why it’s so important that as a community we come together to build a world free of modern slavery.”
The purpose of Pride is often debated, but one thing that we can all agree on is that it must be a force for change, and Causeway’s campaign is a meaningful and important move to raise awareness of a significant issue for our community.
Traitors UK star and gay icon Diane Carson highlighted her dedication to raising awareness as an ally to the community, saying “As a proud LGBTQ+ ally, I am dedicated to doing all I can to raise awareness of the challenges and inequalities which the LGBTQ+ community can face. I was horrified to find out just how prevalent modern slavery currently is, both around the world, but also right here in the UK.”
The LGBTQ+ community faces an increased risk of modern slavery due to several factors. Higher levels of vulnerability stem from issues like homelessness, mental health challenges, violence, and abuse, which disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ individuals. With 64 countries still criminalizing homosexuality, LGBTQ+ people are often marginalized, making them prime targets for traffickers who exploit their fear of exposure and arrest to coerce them into forced labor or sexual acts.
Speaking about the impact of modern slavery on the LGBTQ+ community, Married at First Sight star Zoe Clifton said: “When I was speaking with Causeway, and heard just how many people are currently trapped in modern slavery, I was heartbroken. The increased risk of modern slavery that LGBTQ+ people face have made me both angry, but determined to do something. I hope by shining a light on this, both the LGBTQ+ community and our allies will come together to help build a fairer and safer world for everyone.”
Clifton and her wife Jenna Robinson made history as the first lesbian couple to star in Married At First Sight UK, and they both share a passion for fighting back against the injustice of modern slavery, with Robinson saying “Modern slavery doesn’t discriminate, anybody can be affected, and LGBTQ+ people can find themselves particularly at risk. Whether it’s in the UK or around the world, the marginalization and abuse which the LGBTQ+ community all too often experience can increase their vulnerability and this is something that can be preyed on by traffickers. I am proud to be supporting Causeway and the important work they do.”
Traffickers typically prey on individuals without support networks, who are poor, homeless, marginalised, or desperate—circumstances often faced by LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing unsafe situations. The campaign underscores the urgent need to address these vulnerabilities and provide robust support for survivors.
With the recent election results, many within our community will be watching the new Labour government to see their next steps in tackling modern slavery. Labour MP and recently appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and Safeguarding Jess Phillips MP wrote a piece for Labour List during the election campaign, outlining her hopes for a Labour government to end modern slavery for good, so it would appear that the ambition to do so is there, but only time will tell if the Labour government will prioritise this urgent cause during Keir Starmer’s first parliament.
Speaking about the campaign to end Modern Slavery, Causeway’s CEO, Helen Ball expressed gratitude for the celebrity involvement: “We are thrilled to have Shelley, Diane, Miles, Theo, Zoe, Jenna, and Matt partnering with Causeway to raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community’s increased risk of modern slavery. Their platforms will help elevate and empower the voices of LGBTQ+ survivors, raising much-needed awareness and funds.”
Causeway is appealing for donations to bolster their services for modern slavery survivors. To contribute, individuals can email fundraise@wearecauseway.org.uk or visit their website at www.wearecauseway.org.uk.
The current campaign is a call to action for everyone to come together, support the cause, and help build a world where all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live freely and without fear of exploitation. That is a cause worth fighting for.
If you would like to be part of the fight against modern slavery, you can visit wearecauseway.org.uk to find out more about the urgent and vital work that Causeway is doing both in and out of the LGBTQ+ community to combat modern slavery.
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