Daniel Radcliffe is hoping to stamp out homophobia by starring in a new campaign encouraging tolerance for all sexual orientations.
The Harry Potter star has filmed a public service announcement (PSA) on behalf of the Trevor Project, the leading organization focusing on suicide prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth.
And the actor admits he was inspired to take a stand after coming across intolerant people for the first time as a teen, after growing up with several gay friends.
“I grew up knowing a lot of gay men, and it was never something that I even thought twice about – that some men were gay and some weren’t.
“And then I went to school and (for) the first time, I came across homophobia. I had never encountered it before. It shocked me,” Radcliffe said Friday.
“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.”
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And Radcliffe is hoping his star power will make people pay attention t o the PSA, due to air in the U.S. this spring.
He added, “I have described myself as being ‘gently eccentric’ and slightly different as a person just because I’ve had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did.”
Last August, the Trevor Project announced that Radcliffe had made “a major donation” to the organization, and joined its Circle of Hope, a community of major donors which plays an essential role in providing the financial leadership that makes the organization’s lifesaving work possible.
