Just Like Us Launches New LGBTQ+ Playlist For Lockdown

As the UK heads into another national lockdown, many LGBT+ young people face complex struggles around isolation and being away from their usual resources and communities.

Just Like Us - the LGBT+ charity which empowers young people to champion equality - continues to support LGBT+ young people throughout lockdown. As well as providing mentoring, training ambassadors to do virtual school talks via Zoom, runing online Pride Groups with schools and colleges, and beginning a new digital book club for their community to stay in touch, they have also launched an exciting new playlist.

Ambassadors, who are LGBT+ young people aged 18-25 that receive training and mentoring from Just Like Us, have decided to make a LGBT+ Lockdown Listens playlist to keep you going and keep you proud through the tough times ahead.

Ambassador Seb, 23, explains how the playlist came about: “The LGBT+ community acts as a fun and safe refuge for lots of people, so at a time when we are forced to be apart once more, we wanted to create a playlist that can, in some way, bring us all together again.

“I know that, for me personally, music has been and continues to be very liberating, so we hope that this will lift some lockdown spirits. Also, Sam Smith has a new album out and I needed an excuse to pick the best track from it!”

The second lockdown - like the first - has seen an increase in mental health difficulties, especially in people who are in some way marginalised.

Mariyam, 22, says being an ambassador and having Just Like Us’ community is helping with the upcoming lockdown: “I’m quite anxious about lockdown starting again. Being idle during the previous lockdown was quite detrimental to my mental health but I hope that I deal with this one better and knowing that the Just Like Us book club has started is wonderful. I can't wait to get into LGBT+ books more and have discussions with like-minded people."

Artist Hollie Col, whose song She Knows was chosen by ambassadors for the playlist, says: “She Knows is a letter to the person who has the one you love. It’s bright and sunny, and I hope it can give young LGBT+ people a little bit of joy and escapism right now. I know for some LGBT+ young people, it’s scary and isolating heading into another lockdown, particularly if they don’t have a strong support system in their homes.

But I want them to remember that there is an incredible world of people that love them and care for them, including me. I know it can feel isolating but you absolutely are not alone in how you feel. Give yourself time and space, and find the things that bring you comfort, whether that’s music, movies, books. Be kind to yourself and I'll hang around in those earphones until I can play for you in person.”

To find out more about supporting or getting involved with Just Like Us and their mission to improve the lives of LGBT+ young people head to https://www.justlikeus.org/