Social distancing may be necessary, but it comes at a cost that’s not entirely economic.
A group of drag queens and performers across 18 countries has banded together to address the mental health challenges many young people are facing under lockdown.
In particularly fabulous fashion, they’ve chosen Queen’s “I Want To Break Free” to present a unifying video featuring household creativity waiting to burst back out into the world at large.
Related: Meet the Polish couple fighting homophobia and COVID-19 with Pride lewks
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On an accompanying JustGiving page, they explain why they’re using the occasion to raise money for youth charity the Prince’s Trust.
Organizer and performer Alexis Saint-Pete (@alexis_saint-pete) writes:
“Anxiety, depression, fear and feelings of loneliness are being compounded for some by the impacts that unemployment can create. Retail and hospitality are two sectors which have been hit particularly hard by Covid-19 and are two sectors which traditionally provide high levels of employment for young people. Many of our performers fit into these groups, struggling with mental well-being and a lack of employment at this tricky time with their creative spaces also being taken away from them.”
Related: Indya Moore raises $20k to help black & trans people during COVID-19
One of the participants, burlesque dancer Louis Circé (@louiscirce), adds to Queerty:
“What’s also worrying are the vulnerable youth, queer youth, homeless young people etc that might be even more exposed during this time, with nowhere to go or declining mental health.”
We needed a good reminder to keep it fierce while at home, and we got one:
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“Immoral dirty selfish sinners* Gay people with a platform to reach others work together to show support and urge members of their community to stay safe and strong and if possible help out those suffering during this epic unparalleled crisis…….
Reich Wing Evangelical “Christian Pastors” urge their community to congregate together in person exposing each other and first responders and medical staff. They then urge them to continue to put 10 to 20% of all their worth into the weekly collection baskets and their desperately needed stimulus checks…
They call themselves *God fearing”…..
Truer words were NEVER spoken