Skittles has unveiled Australia’s top LGBTQIA+ “champions” in new research.
Conducted last month, the research reveals 10 key Australian LGBTQIA+ figures in sports, politics, the arts and music:
- Kylie Minogue AO OBE – Australian singer, songwriter and actress
- Penny Wong – Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Magda Szubanski – actress, author, singer and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate
- Ruby Rose – model, actress, and television presenter
- Ian Thorpe AM – Olympic swimmer
- Courtney Act – drag queen, singer and television personality
- Joel Creasy – stand-up comedian, actor, television and radio presenter
- G Flip – Australian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer
- Kylie Kwong AM – television chef, author, television presenter and restaurateur
- Michael Kirby – former Justice of the High Court of Australia
When asked why these Australians are considered as champions, respondents favoured the following traits:
- Authenticity (championing the community in and out of the public eye)
- Acceptance (support and acceptance of all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and other minorities)
- Relatable (openly sharing similar experiences and personal stories)
“By shining a light on Australia’s most popular LGBTQIA+ champions and their traits, we hope to inspire others in the community to support, celebrate and further educate themselves on how to be an active ally,” says Skittles Australia Head of Brand and Content Richard Weisinger.
“As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community myself, I know how important it is to have visible allies across all areas of life; from our family and friends, colleagues and supportive workplaces, through to well-known Australians as voted by our LGBTQIA+ champions list.”
Skittles has worked closely with LGBTQIA+ charity Minus18 on developing a free Active Ally Guide, available to anyone who wants to evolve their understanding of LGBTQIA+ topics, find ways to support the queer community and become a more active voice.