Out 37-year-old actor Jonathan Bailey became famous from his leading roles in Bridgerton, Wicked, and Jurassic Park. However, he recently said that he’ll briefly step away from acting next year to focus on his LGBTQ+ charity, The Shameless Fund.

“I’ve been working solidly for about three years now, which has been amazing and mind-blowing,” he said in an recent interview with British Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ). “But with everything happening in the world right now, I’m going to stop acting for a bit next year and just focus on the Shameless Fund. Over the next few months, I’ll be focusing on staffing and making sure we get all the right people in all the right places.”

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According to its website, The Shameless Fund raises cash through global brand collaborations to “power up” international, national, and grassroots queer non-profits. The fund seeks to “forge a world where every LGBTQ+ person can live authentically, love freely and thrive without the burdens of discrimination, oppression or shame,” the website says.

So far, the fund has raised money for the Say It Loud Club for LGBTQ+ refugees; SAGE, an advocacy group for queer seniors; and Mosaic, an educational organization for young LGBTQ+ people.

 “A few years ago I thought, What can you do as an actor? There are so many amazing people who are on the frontline. They’re the real heroes that are working for organisations, and charities, and initiatives, which can speak to so many specific groups of people,” Bailey told British Vogue in June 2024. “How can I raise money without asking people to actually donate and sponsor, [but rather] to invite people to experience art and beautiful, inspiring, naughty and exciting collaborations?”

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Bailey launched the organization with a suggestive white T-shirt created by the fashion company Loewe. The shirt had white drops dripping from its collar and the words “Drink your milk” printed on its chest. The phrase is from a sexually charged scene in the 2023 gay historical miniseries Fellow Travelers, in which gay actor Matt Bomer’s character tells Bailey’s character to “drink your milk.”

The fund also recently launched a collaboration with the London eyewear label Cubitts, featuring hexagonal-framed glasses similar to the ones worn by Bailey’s Jurassic World character, Dr. Henry Loomis. However, the glasses have rose-tinted lenses, a pink microfiber cleaning cloth stitched with a personal note from Bailey, and a pink-lined titanium case.

“I love color,” Bailey said. “I feel like it’s something that should be embraced more. That’s why when we’re working on the Shameless Fund, the color pink is so important. It’s an expression of joy and happiness, and it’s incredibly flattering – a reason why I wore it so much during the Wicked press tour.”

Bailey has said that, this year, Shameless wants to launch applications for funds and grants for LGBTQ+ organizations. In order to help with that effort, Bailey will finish his acting commitments for this year and then focus more on the charity, he said.

It’s unclear how much the fund has raised so far, but several high-profile celebrities have participated in its campaigns and promotions, including pop icon Kylie Minogue, pansexual actress Cara Delevingne, and lesbian actress Cynthia Erivo.

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