The LGBTQIA+ young people’s charity, Just Like Us is known for School Diversity Week, their annual UK-wide celebration of LGBTQIA+ equality in schools and colleges.
Additionally, their Ambassador Programme allows LGBTQIA+ youth to participate in career mentoring, skills workshops, media opportunities and training to speak in schools across the country.
Various ambassadors have written for GAY TIMES about their experiences, from coming out as trans to Muslim parents to the lack of support for LGBTQ+ people in schools.
“What Just Like Us endeavour to do is to make all young LGBT+ people feel seen, heard and represented. If you are 18 to 25 and you are LGBT+, you can sign up for their ambassador role,” Dannii says in a video message.
“This means you’ll go into schools, share your story, speak to other young people and make them feel so secure. The work Just Like Us does is so important, it helps so many young LGBT+ people. Be the representation you never had, and sign up now!”
As well as her pop music career, which includes legendary smashers like ‘I Begin to Wonder’ and ‘Put the Needle on It”, Dannii is known as one of the LGBTQIA+ community’s most passionate allies. Earlier this year, she hosted the UK’s first-ever same-sex dating series I Kissed a Boy, and is set to return for a female-led version.
In an interview with GAY TIMES, Dannii said of her relationship to LGBTQIA+ people: “I’ve always had friends in the community. It really started meshing in with work for me, through music.
“It was strong in my mind when Jeremy Joseph asked me to perform at G.A.Y. and I was the first artist to perform there. That was a moment. Going back for so many other performances, with queues around the block and spending so many birthdays there… It was the best.”
Laura Mackay, Just Like Us’ Chief Executive, said the charity are “so grateful” for Dannii and her support of their Ambassador Programme: “She is an incredible ally to the LGBT+ community, and her willingness to stand up and fight for LGBT+ young people is wonderful to see.
“By calling on LGBT+ young adults to volunteer with Just Like Us, Dannii is helping to make growing up LGBT+ a better and safer experience for LGBT+ young people across the UK.
“We know that LGBT+ school pupils are twice as likely to be bullied compared to their non-LGBT+ peers, and the value of the positive representation our Ambassadors provide cannot be overstated.
“Not only do they make LGBT+ young people feel more secure, they increase understanding and allyship among all pupils, while at the same time helping themselves to become more confident and empowered. The whole team at Just Like Us would like to thank Dannii for her support!”