Actor Colin Farrell Gives His Support To Irish Anti-Homophobic Bullying Campaign

Irish born actor Colin Farrell has given his support to a new Irish anti-homophobic bullying campaign that has been launched by BelongTo.

Entitled STAND UP! this campaign acts to raise awareness of the issues and problems LGBT youth encounter growing up with Colin speaking out about his brother’s own struggle.

Discussing the abuse his gay brother Eamon faced growing up, Colin said:

Actor Colin Farrell is supporting an Irish campaign against homophobic bullying.

“I can’t remember much about the years of physical and emotional abuse my brother Eamon suffered. I was very small. The thing I do remember though, quite literally, is blood on his school shirt when he came home in the afternoon. The beatings and taunting were very frequent for my him and a constant part of his school years.

“People are often afraid of difference. They feel that anything that causes fear, should be turned away from. My brother represented fear for so many people, but caused joy in my life. From a very young age he made me laugh with his intelligence and wit, made me aspire to his strength and goodness. He was to be embraced.

“To many of the students of his school however he was to be feared. He was to be turned away from. I didn’t understand it then, and I still don’t know.”

Describing bullying as something that should have no place in the world, Farrell’s support  of the first STAND UP! event, which runs from the 9th – 18th April 2010 is likely to bring much needed attention to the issue of homophobic bullying, with the event itself  acting to further push the message home through workshops and other fun activities in youth services around Ireland.

You can learn more about STAND UP! at the BelongTo website.