“Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliff uses his celebrity to reach out to suicidal gay teens

Major kudos to the terrific Daniel Radcliffe for stepping up and speaking out against homophobia by a taping a public service announcement for gay suicide prevention.

“I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals,” the Harry Potter star says. “Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it.”

“I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and it was never something that I even thought twice about – that some men were gay and some weren’t. And then I went to school and (for) the first time … I came across homophobia. … I had never encountered it before. It shocked me.”

Daniel also spoke of the importance of public figures advocating for equal rights: “I think it’s important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like Harry Potter and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered. … The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well.”

Daniel taped the PSA on Friday then took a tour of the New York Call Center for the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for gay and questioning youth. Here is some video of Daniel talking about the PSA:

The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 by three filmmakers whose film, Trevor, a comedy/drama about a gay teenager who attempts suicide, received the 1994 Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Live Action).

Since its founding, The Trevor Helpline has received hundreds of thousands of calls from LGBTQ youth across the country. In the past year alone, call volume to The Trevor Helpline has increased more than 300 percent.

“I am very pleased to begin my support of The Trevor Project, which saves lives every day through its critical work,” Daniel said in a statement. “It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. I deeply hope my support can raise the organization’s visibility so even more despondent youth become aware of The Trevor Helpline’s highly trained counselors and Trevor’s many other resources. It’s vitally important that young people understand they are not alone and, perhaps even more important, that their young lives have real value.”

Why can’t more people be as wise and evolved as this young man? He makes the world a better place and will help countless lives.