‘Their sexual orientation is putting them in hostile situations’: Westlife’s Mark Feehily reaches out to young members of LGBT+ community during ‘tough and lonely’ lockdown
Westlife star Mark Feehily is the latest star to join the British LGBT Awards #InThisTogether campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The boy band star, who turns 40 on Thursday, reached out to young members of the LGBT community during lockdown as he highlighted his concerns.
Mark said: ‘As a result of lockdown and social distancing, many young people are having to endure unaccepting or hostile situations because of sexual orientation. It has been a tough time for everyone but especially people who feel alone.’
Open and honest: Westlife star Mark Feehily is the latest star to join the British LGBT Awards #InThisTogether campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic
The #InThisTogether campaign has been organised by the British LGBT Awards and It Gets Better UK and features a legion of stars including Stephen Fry, Caitlyn Jenner, This Morning’s Dr. Ranj Singh and Blue’s Duncan James.
In his impassioned message, Mark said too many young people are living in hostile environments but insisted it will get better. He urged members of the LGBT+ community who feel isolated to seek help and talk to people.
The singer is isolating with his partner Cailean and their eight-month-old daughter Layla in Sligo. He recorded his video from home.
Mark said: ‘As a result of lockdown and social distancing measures, many young people are having to endure unaccepting or hostile situations because of their sexual orientation…
Reaching out: The boy band star, who turns 40 on Thursday, reached out to young members of the LGBT community during lockdown as he highlighted his concerns
‘It has been a tough time for everyone but especially people who feel alone. They need to know help is available. Things will get better. This is a brilliant campaign by the British LGBT Awards.
‘I was emotional at the start of all of this especially when the Irish Prime Minister announced the lockdown and told us we had to distance ourselves from our families and our older relatives needed to stay in doors…
‘It has been tough but I’ve spent the entire lockdown period at home with Cailean and Layla. That’s been the positive side to all of this. It has been great to spend so much time together.’
Worried: In his impassioned message, Mark said too many young people are living in hostile environments but insisted it will get better. He urged members of the LGBT+ community who feel isolated to seek help and talk to people (pictured with Westlife in December)
He urged fans to step out for exercise, speak to people and know that they are not alone.
British LGBT Awards founder, Sarah Garrett MBE, said: ‘Even though lockdown measures have eased a little in England, young LGBT+ people are still facing extreme challenges at home…
‘Many are trapped with families who don’t accept who they are, and others feel isolated because they no longer have a network of support around them because of social distancing measures…
Frank chat: He urged fans to step out for exercise, speak to people and know that they are not alone (Mark pictured in January last year)
‘#InThisTogether is our way of letting young LGBT+ people know that they are not alone and there are people and organisations available for them to talk to…
‘It is great to have the support of so many celebrity names. Their video messages are offering hope to young LGBT people around the world.’
Karen Flynn-MacFarlane, from British LGBT Awards Founding Partner NatWest, said: ‘NatWest is proud to partner with the British LGBT Awards and help to create change in attitudes towards diversity and inclusion across every part of the UK, especially through this campaign to support LGBT+ young people currently in lockdown…
‘This is something that all of us at NatWest are proud to support.’