Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Radcliffe wins award for helping to combat suicide
During the past two years, the star of''Harry Potter''has put his two cents to make that world a reality, through his work with the Trevor Project, the main organization that promotes efforts to prevent suicide gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
For his contributions, the actor will be awarded the Hero of the organization, to be presented at a ceremony in New York in June.
''It's fantastic,''Radcliffe said. ''It's a great honor.''
The Trevor Hero Award, announced Monday, recognizes people who have inspired young people from sexual minorities and have helped to increase the visibility and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
In the past, received the award stage actor Nathan Lane, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and former Miss America''and actress Vanessa Williams Ugly Betty''.
Although he feels fortunate to receive the award, Radcliffe said that the credit they deserve other members of the organization.
''People who are doing heroic things really are those who answer the phones 24 hours a day in call centers''Trevor said. ''I think of everything I've done in my career, I think this is really one of the most important, if not more important, with which I have been involved.''
Radcliffe, who is currently participating in the new staging of''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''on Broadway, said that audience members often acknowledge their work with the organization.
''I meet people every night to thank me for what I did with the Trevor Project,''he said.
The initiative was launched in 1998 by filmmakers James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone. His film of 1994,''Trevor''about a young gay man of 13 who attempts suicide after his friends discover their sexual orientation, won the Oscar for best short.