Michael Esteves Pereira
Michael Pereira launched the project called Safe to Grow 2025. This is a proactive campaign aimed at creating safer and more supportive environments for LGBTQ+ children. It’s an important step towards openly addressing the challenges queer youth face, from discrimination to mental health struggles, and equipping adults with the tools to act with care and understanding.
Safe to Grow
In 2025, Michael Pereira, recently crowned Mr Gay Europe, launched Safe to Grow 2025, a campaign aimed at creating safer and more supportive environments for LGBTQ+ children across Europe. Drawing on his experience as a pediatric resident and his own upbringing as a queer youth in a small alpine village, Pereira seeks to equip adults with practical tools to protect and affirm queer children.
At the heart of the campaign are educational resources and training programs for parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals, available through safetogrow.ch. These materials address key challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth, including identity exploration, self-acceptance, discrimination, and minority stress. They provide concrete guidance on how to communicate sensitively, recognize signs of mental health struggles, and foster safe, affirming spaces where children feel seen and supported.
The campaign emphasizes that listening and acting with care are vital. Many LGBTQ+ children face isolation, bullying, or pressures at school and home. Safe to Grow 2025 offers strategies for adults to respond effectively, ensuring children’s identities are respected and their well-being prioritized.
Running throughout 2025, the initiative will be present at Pride events, community gatherings, and educational forums across Switzerland and Europe. Pereira will engage directly with audiences through workshops, talks, and advocacy sessions, highlighting the importance of systemic change in schools, clinics, and homes. Digital resources and promotional materials act as visible signs of support, inviting adults to participate actively in creating safer spaces for queer youth.
The need for such initiatives is urgent. Research shows LGBTQ+ children are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts than their peers. By equipping caregivers, educators, and health professionals with knowledge and actionable tools, Safe to Grow 2025 works to reduce these risks and ensure that queer children can thrive safely and confidently.
This year, the campaign also includes online resources to further prepare adults to act when a child or teen is struggling. By combining visibility, education, and advocacy, Safe to Grow 2025 demonstrates the power of informed, community-driven support in safeguarding the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.
