Drag Race star Divina De Campo on LGBT youth during lockdown

The UK is facing a mental health crisis as a result of lockdown. To compound this, LGBT+ young people face an additional challenge of being unable to be with their support, feel unable to come out at home and for many spending an indeterminate amount of time who don’t support them as LGBT+.

To underline this, young people who identify as LGB+ are 4 times more likely to attempt to commit suicide than straight young people (this jumps to 8 times if trans). Unfortunately, growing up LGBT+ is still unacceptably tough for youngsters across the UK. 80% of LGBT+ people say that they believe that lockdown is intrinsically more difficult for young LGBT+ people. 71% of openly LGBT+ adults say they would significantly struggle if they were in lockdown conditions, according to new research from LGBT+ youth charity Just Like Us.

School Diversity Week – run by LGBT youth charity Just Like Us – has been severely impacted by COVID-19. However, the charity has acted swiftly to move lesson plans, materials and classes online – all for free.

Aston spoke to Divina De Campo, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK runner up and ex-teacher alongside Dominic Arnall, CEO of LGBT+ charity Just Like Us to talk about what needs to be done and how you can help.

Photo by Daniel James on Unsplash