Mraz Was Targeted By Bullies

The singer's school years were made miserable by a group of boys who picked on him for no apparent reason - and he still hasn't forgotten the pain they caused him.

In a post on his MySpace blog, the singer recalls, "When I was in high school, I experienced being bullied. For whatever reason, there were a few students that enjoyed calling me 'f**got' as I walked thru (through) the lunchroom. On one occasion, just before graduation, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and picked up a few punches, kicks and scrapes to add to my story. I never knew why the handsome lads called me names or felt the need to bully me, but it happened and I let their actions contribute a great deal to my moving away from that community."

Now the I'm Yours hitmaker is speaking out against bullying as part of his fight for gay rights, inspired by his best pal who braved the tormentors in their hometown by 'coming out' as a homosexual.

He adds, "Shortly after the row, my best friend came out, sharing with his friends and family that he was gay. In my small town, this was uncommon and since then I've considered my friend to be the bravest man in the world. Aware of the hate within our community, I was afraid my friend might be inviting trouble to his door - but that never stopped him from being fully expressed.

"This is why I am actively seeking equality for the whole. When all of us are acknowledged as the human equals that we really are, there will be no space left for bullying. It will no longer be wrong to choose one thing over another. Equality and separation cannot exist in the same space."