'It's fantastic ... a great honor,' actor/activist responds to the news.
By Aly Semigran
Daniel Radcliffe
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
For his tireless efforts and support of the Trevor Project — an anti-suicide/support group geared toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens; "Harry Potter" actor Daniel Radcliffe will be honored with the Hero Award.
According to The Associated Press, the award, which will be given at a ceremony in New York City this June, "recognizes a person who serves as an inspiration to sexual minority youths." Prior recipients have included actor Nathan Lane, actress Vanessa Williams and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black ("Milk").
"It's fantastic," Radcliffe, who has long been a gay rights activist and began his work with the Trevor Project in 2009, told the AP. "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."
Radcliffe, whose contributions to the Trevor Project have included appearing in a PSA for the group's 24-hour help line in which he urges teens who are feeling hopeless to get help ("There's always a safe place to turn," he assures in the spot), went on to give credit to the nearly 160 volunteers and trained counselors who take those calls. "The people that are doing the heroic things are the people answering phones 24 hours a day in the Trevor call centers."
The 21-year-old star, who is currently starring on Broadway in the revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," also acknowledged how much his work with the nonprofit organization is recognized by fans. "I meet people at the stage door every night that thank me for what I'm doing with the Trevor Project," he said.
The Trevor Project was founded by filmmakers James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone, who made the Oscar-winning short film "Trevor," and is the leading national organization dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youths who need a no-judgment safe haven to turn to.
Radcliffe told MTV last year that supporting gay rights is "something I've always been quite passionate about ... And now I am in a position where I can help an amazing thing like the Trevor Project." He told the AP, "I think that out of everything that I've done so far in my career, I think this is absolutely one of the most important, if not the most important, thing that I'm associated with."
The Trevor help line is a free and confidential service that offers assistance 24/7. Contact them at (866) 4-U-TREVOR (488-7386), or visit their website, TheTrevorProject.org.
What do you think of Daniel Radcliffe's efforts with the Trevor Project? Tell us in the comments.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660330/daniel-radcliffe-trevor-project.jhtml
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