A brave young lgbti rights campaigner from Barbados, where homosexuality is illegal, is to be honoured by The Queen. Donnya Piggott, 24, is one of the 60 young people from around the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community, in the first ever Queen’s Young Leaders Award. Her citation says she had to overcome prejudice and personal challenges when she decided to set up an advocacy group for sexual minorities. Barbados – Gays and Lesbians and All-sexuals Against Discrimination (B-Glad) is the lone lgbt human rights organisation on the island. “Donnya has engaged with the Prime Minister about issues facing the LGBT community and hopes to continue supporting marginalised young people in her country,” her citation reads. Also among those who will be personally honoured by The Queen in June is 22-year-old New Zealander Tabby Besley, who founded InsideOUT (formerly Queer Straight Alliance Network Aotearoa) which uses peer mentoring and training to ensure that all lgbti young people feel supported at school.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 16th January 2015 - 9:22am