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Colin Farrell speaks out against homophobic bullying: “Intolerance is not genetically encoded – it is taught”
Colin Farrell has issued a statement in support of BeLonG To Youth Service’s STAND UP! Campaign against homophobic bullying of gay young people.
The star of In Bruges, Pride and Glory and The Recruit recalls his memories of how his gay brother Eamon Farrell was terribly treated when they were young and growing up in Dublin.
Here is an excerpt:
Intolerance is not genetically encoded – it is taught. It is learned at home. It is learned in the classrooms and it is learned anywhere else we gather as a group. But it is usually learned early and added onto from there. If there is nothing to feared, there is nothing to hate. If there is nothing to hate there is no pain.
My brother was so forceful in standing up for who he was, and for the good that he knew was inside of him. Many people missed out on an opportunity, not only to enjoy him, but to enjoy themselves by embracing his “difference”.
They missed out because they saw him as a threat – not as a testament to the kaleidoscope and diversity of this beautiful world. Bullying is torture, it is another betrayal of basic human decency and its scars reach way into the future of its survivors. But the saddest truth is that not all children survive it. It is a potentially fatal societal illness and must be respected and not feared. Respected and dealt with as a very real problem and as an adversary of a potentially harmonious world, that should have no place for bullies or bullying.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Mike says:
Not only is he one of the most handsome, gorgeous, SEXY men in the world, but, one who is tolerant and has a clue when it comes to the glbt community just by loving his brother!
He was spot on how hate is taught, I just read an article about him in a magazine the other day, I sure wish he would have said this in there as well for a wider audience to see, as it takes someone like him to get thorough to some who have issues with gays.
jacey homen says:
What a lovely testimonial. Colin Farrell is an intelligent, classy man. The gay community is blessed to have prominent people like him speaking out on their behalf. Bullying is a tragic societal happening. It gives hope to see more and more people addressing it, more and more schools taking definite, positive steps to beat it back. I am a PFLAG member and nothing breaks my heart more than the stories I hear and read about gay children being beaten and humiliated. Thank you, Colin.
ginger liu says:
And that’s why he’s a true artist and a real man. We love Colin!