Drag Race winner Danny Beard and LGBTQ+ Olympian Cindy Ngamba front new modern slavery campaign

LGBTQ+ people can have an increased risk of modern slavery, and now several LGBTQ+ celebrities are teaming up with famous faces from film, TV, music and sport to front a major new campaign for modern slavery charity Causeway. They include RuPauls 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. 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.

As Edwin Buckley, Head of Communications and Engagement at modern slavery charity 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.

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 a new modern slavery campaign for Causeway, called Stand With Survivors. They are joined by LGBTQ+ boxer Cindy Ngamba, who is the first-ever medalist 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. Shelley has been in a relationship with theatre director Trilby James for 27 years, and has previously spoken about not coming out to her parents until she was 42.

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. Miles is best remembered for infamously ‘killing’ fellow contestant Diane Carson with a fizzy rose-filled poisoned chalice when he appeared on the reality series.

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 are 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.

In a special film that has been produced for the campaign, Shelley King explains: ‘modern slavery takes many different forms‘, and that Causeway ‘exists to support, empower and create change for survivors’. Matt Jameson goes on to say ‘labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation‘ are the most common forms of modern slavery in the UK, with Theo Mayne adding, ‘threats of violence or abuse against them or their families can be used to control somebody‘.

Cindy Ngamba says potential signs of modern slavery can include somebody ‘being deprived of basic necessities or afraid to speak’, with Alicya Eyo also detailing that ‘living in poor conditions, working excessive hours, or appearing to be working unwillingly’ can be potential signs, and Miles Asteri adding that somebody being ‘in physical distress, showing physical injuries or displaying a poor physical appearance’can be too.

In another video which Danny Beard has recorded for the campaign, they explain ‘Causeway do really important work supporting modern slavery survivors to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives, after being through such appalling situations’. They say they hope the campaign ‘will raise the awareness needed to help reduce exploitation and modern slavery in all its forms’.

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.

Danny Beard said: ‘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.’

Cindy Ngamba said: ‘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.’

Shelley King said: ‘Causeway work tirelessly to support modern slavery survivors to rebuild their lives, and empowering them to live freely and without fear. 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 its so important that as a community we come together, to build a world free from modern slavery, and one where nobody is left vulnerable and exposed to exploitation.’

Miles Asteri said: ‘Modern slavery is sadly far too prevalent in our society, and so it’s essential that we come together to raise awareness and drive the change needed for those affected. Anybody could find themselves at risk of modern slavery, and the LGBTQ+ community are one of the groups in particular that can often be targeted. This makes it a cause particularly close to my heart, and Im determined to do everything I can to help create change for survivors, and for all of society.’

Theo Mayne said: ‘Survivors of modern slavery have been through awful situations, and I’m in awe of the work Causeway do in supporting them to rebuild their lives. These are people who have often lost their support networks and are separated from loved ones, and LGBTQ+ modern slavery survivors can be particularly isolated and marginalised. Please join me in supporting this super important campaign.’

Edwin Buckley, Head of Communications and Engagement at Causeway, who is also producing the campaign, said: ‘We are so grateful to have these prominent LGBTQ+ faces as part of the star-studded line-up to front our Stand With Survivors campaign. Being gay myself, and knowing the increased risk of modern slavery which LGBTQ+ people can face, it was really important to me that there was authentic LGBTQ+ representation featuring in the campaigns celebrity line-up.

Modern slavery does not discriminate, anybody could find themselves affected by it, and statistics show it continues to be on the rise in the UK. These celebrities working with us to raise awareness and advocate against modern slavery is going to be so impactful. The campaign is encouraging everybody to ;stand with survivors’, and show our allyship, care and support for those who have been, or who are currently being, affected by modern slavery.’

Find out more about the Stand With Survivors campaign and watch the films on social media @CausewayCharity or by visiting www.wearecauseway.org.uk