Anti-suicide group honors Radcliffe
Associated Press
NEW YORK
Daniel Radcliffe looks forward to a tolerant world where young people grow up unaffected by differences in sexual orientation.
For the past couple of years, the “Harry Potter” star has been doing his part to make that a reality with his work with the Trevor Project, the leading organization for suicide- prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youths.
For his contribution, Radcliffe is being honored with the organization’s Hero Award at a ceremony in New York in June.
“It’s fantastic,” Radcliffe told The Associated Press. “The fact that they think of what I’ve done by promoting awareness of the Trevor Project itself and the issues that it works to promote and help is a great honor.”
The Trevor Hero Award, announced Monday, recognizes a person who serves as an inspiration to sexual-minority youths and increases visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning, or LGBTQ, community.
While privileged to be a part of this group carrying forward the organization’s life-saving work, Radcliffe said he feels a little bashful about it, too.
“The people doing the heroic things are the people answering phones 24 hours a day in the Trevor call centers,” he said.
Radcliffe, who is appearing in the Broadway revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” says audience members often acknowledge his work with the organization.
The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 by filmmakers James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone. Their 1994 film, “Trevor,” about a gay 13-year-old boy who tried to commit suicide after his friends learned of his sexuality, won the Academy Award for Film Short.