Daniel Radcliffe Speaks Out Against Homophobia In New PSA For The Trevor Project
Posted: 2nd Mar 2010 Author: Michelle Penny Topics: Homophobia
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who is best known for his role as Harry Potter, last week filmed a PSA in New York for The Trevor Project, a charity which provides support, counselling, as well as working to prevent suicide amongst the LGBTQ youth community.
Talking to the Associate Press about the PSA and his feeling about homophobia, Radcliffe said:
“I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals. Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it”
Explaining that being the son of two actors meant he’d grown up knowing lots of gay men, Radcliffe has previously spoken of how his first encounter of homophobia, at his second school, came as a shock to him when
“… I heard terms like ‘puff’ and ‘homo’ getting thrown around. It never occurred to me that some people might have a problem with it. I remember being quite shocked when I was young,”.
Started in 1998 by filmmakers James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, whose film “Trevor about a teen trying to commit suicide gained them “Best Short Film” at the Academy Awards in 1994, the Trevor Project was bought to Daniel’s attention whilst performing in “Equus” on Broadway in 2008 and sees him join a long list of donors including Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris, Jodie Foster, Meredith Vieira, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Saying he felt it was important that people, straight or gay spoke out against homophobia, Radcliffe said that he, as a straight man, has:
“always felt very lucky to have the life that I’ve had. I never had to cope with anything serious about my religion or sexual orientation or anything like that.”
He also said that he hated the fact that something like The Trevor Project had to exist, but believed that it was incredibly important that it did exist to support those who desperately need the support.
The PSA featuring Daniel Radcliffe is scheduled to be shown in the spring season.
