Anti-gay bullying has become an ever more hot button, particularly in the States following a spate of suicide by queer teens (and those targeted by gay taunts). However it’s a major issue in the UK too, and now Stonewall has released a new video aimed at battling the problems gay, trans and other teens face in schools.
It reveals worrying statistics such as that over half of LGBT students have faced bullying at school, 56% have deliberately harmed themselves and that a quarter have contemplated suicide (the stats comes from the University of Cambridge for Stonewall’s School Report 2012). To help spread the message Stonewall recruited Ian McKellen to narrate the video, bringing some extra gravitas to a very important subject. Along with McKellen’s voice, several teens talk about their experiences in school as well as how they’ve been helped by Stonewall’s School Champions program, which helps teachers support gay pupils.
McKellen is currently visiting School Champions across Britain with Stonewall, as part of the program that brings prominent gay people to schools across the UK. McKellen commented, “Nothing in life is more important to me than helping gay young people realise there are better days ahead of them. I’m proud that Stonewall – which I helped create to tackle legalised homophobia – is now leading the fight in those British schools where homophobic bullying ruins far too many young people’s lives. It’s a privilege to play a small part in bringing it to an end.”
The video was was produced by digital agency Feref at Lillian Baylis Technology School in Vauxhall, London. For more information about Stonewall’s campaign visit www.stonewall.org.uk/antibullying
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