Paralympian Lauren Rowles has become a new patron of Just Like Us, the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity, joining actor Jonathan Bailey.
Rowles is a two-time Paralympic champion rower, having won gold medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, and she will soon be heading to the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. She has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health and disabled representation throughout her career, and will now join Just Like Us as a patron to support the charity’s work.
Lauren Rowles said: “I am beyond excited to be joining the Just Like Us team in my role as a patron. I feel proud to represent the intersectionality of our community. I hope to increase visibility and raise more awareness for the rights of disabled LGBTQ+ young people.
“As a young queer person who was bullied for being different, I hid my identity and felt ashamed of who I am. Having the right support systems at school and education to explore life as an LGBTQ+ person would have prevented me seriously struggling with my mental health and feeling like I had to hide who I am.
“That’s why the work of Just Like Us is so vital to ensure that no young person has to hide or suffer in silence and give them the space to experience queer joy at a younger age without prejudice. I look forward to contributing to the invaluable work that Just Like Us do and hopefully change the lives of more LGBTQ+ young people for the better.”
As a patron, Rowles will support Just Like Us’ programmes, which enable more than 6,000 primary and secondary schools to celebrate School Diversity Week each June, support LGBTQ+ and ally school pupils have access to safe spaces through the Pride Groups programme, and deliver school talks through the Ambassador programme.
Laura Mackay, Chief Executive of Just Like Us, said: “The entire Just Like Us team is thrilled to have Lauren Rowles on board as a patron. Lauren is an intersectional role model to so many young people, as an athlete, as an LGBTQ+ disabled person, and as a mental health advocate.
“We know that LGBTQ+ young people are more likely to struggle with loneliness, shame, bullying and mental health problems, and they are less likely to feel optimistic about their futures. Though Lauren has been open about facing her own struggles as a LGBTQ+ young person, she is living proof that a happy, successful and positive future is possible, and her support will be invaluable to the young people we work with.”
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