IAN MCKELLEN - MCKELLEN'S CONCERN OVER HOMOPHOBIC BULLIES

MCKELLEN'S CONCERN OVER HOMOPHOBIC BULLIES

Openly gay actor SIR IAN MCKELLEN is concerned children coming to terms with their sexuality are suffering at the hands of homophobic playground bullies. THE LORD OF THE RINGS actor was recently voted the most influential homosexual icon in the UK and led celebrations at Saturday night's (01JUL06) Europride march in London. Despite the party atmosphere, MCKellen wanted to remind others of the negative stigma the word 'gay' still has developed in the UK, where it has become a negative slang word. He says, "One of my main concerns is for school children who think they are gay and get bullied in the playground. "Gay now has a new definition. Young people use it to mean 'rubbish' - how awful is it for a young adolescent boy or girl to think that they are rubbish? "Schools and school teachers need to be trained how to help these children. "I was one of the speakers in Trafalgar Square at the weekend and I suggested we abandon that word and use another word beginning with G. Gorgeous. I said, 'Look at me. I am gorgeous!'"