{"id":474,"date":"2021-02-21T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/kaleidoscope\/?p=474"},"modified":"2021-02-26T10:21:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-26T10:21:50","slug":"lgbt-history-month-21-28-a-list-actors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/kaleidoscope\/2021\/02\/21\/lgbt-history-month-21-28-a-list-actors\/","title":{"rendered":"LGBT+ History Month 21\/28: Allies - The Actors"},"content":{"rendered":"

It goes without saying that LGBTQ+ people are amazing.\u00a0 We are.\u00a0 I\u2019ve decided as such and my word is gospel at this point.\u00a0 That being said, I wouldn\u2019t be allowed to say that if it were not for some of the bravest people out there who have made an impact on LGBTQ+ rights and who just happen to not be LGBTQ+ themselves.\u00a0 These people are allies.<\/p>\n

Allies are individuals who support and advocate the rights and equalities of others who are marginalised and discriminated against in society.\u00a0\u00a0 In this instance, heterosexual (straight) people who advocate the rights of LGBTQ+ people.<\/p>\n

Over the next few blogs, I will be highlighting key names across the world who are making their voices heard on behalf of the marginalised.\u00a0 In today\u2019s issue, we\u2019re looking at two actors who champion LGBTQ+ rights.\u00a0 They are Daniel Radcliffe and Sir Patrick Stewart.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Radcliffe<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe, born 23rd July 1989, is a world-renowned actor due his leading role in the Harry Potter film series.\u00a0 He was born in Hammersmith, London and would attend multiple independent schools in the UK.<\/p>\n

As the Harry Potter series began to take over his life he would use on-set tutors for his education and would achieve A grades in 3 As-levels before giving up full-time education as he felt it a waste of his time and knew he\u2019d never have a normal university experience anyway.<\/p>\n

His first TV acting appearance was as David Copperfield in 1999, in the BBC adaptation of the same name.\u00a0 2-years later he hit the silver screen with a small part as the son of Jamie Lee Curtis\u2019s character.\u00a0 It was during this time that he was also filming for his most significant role as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone.<\/p>\n

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As we all know, and I won\u2019t bore you with the details, the Harry Potter franchise went on to become a worldwide phenomenon.\u00a0 The books reintroduced a love of reading to a generation veering more towards electronics and the films themselves have grossed over $7.7billion and are the third highest-grossing film series in history.<\/p>\n

Aside from Harry Potter, Radcliffe has stared in the ITV war-drama My Boy Jack, the 2012 horror movie The Woman In Black, the ridiculous Swiss Army Man and even the box-office bomb, Playmobil: The Movie.\u00a0 But acting isn\u2019t why Radcliffe is on this list; although we do love him for it.<\/p>\n

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Radcliffe is here as a Queero for his allyship for the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0 For many years, Radcliffe has spoken out publicly on homophobia and transphobia, campaigning for rights and equality to all.<\/p>\n

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On a philanthropic level, Radcliffe has supported many charities including The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ organisation for the prevention of suicide within the community.\u00a0 He filmed public service announcements in 2009 raising awareness of suicide amongst gay teens, as well as donating money to the cause, receiving their 2011 Hero Award in recognition of his allyship.<\/p>\n

\"I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals. Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

But what most people are likely to be more familiar with, in terms of his LGBTQ+ work, is his response to the transphobic messages that Harry Potter author, J. K. Rowling made, and continues to make, about trans people:<\/p>\n

\"People who menstruate\u2019. I\u2019m sure there used to be a word for those people. <\/em>Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?\"<\/em> \u2013 J. K. Rowling, Twitter, 06\/06\/2020<\/p>\n

Radcliffe, infuriated and embarrassed by her comments, fought back against her alongside other Harry Potter stars, and wrote an essay for the Trevor Project<\/a><\/u><\/strong> condemning her words, affirming that transgender women are women, and apologised to the community, signing it off with his love.<\/p>\n

Daniel Radcliffe is a true ally.\u00a0 A Queero through and through for his love, support and devotion to equality and fairness for all within the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0 He uses his platform for good and to inspire hope to millions, and is brave enough to confront those who, let\u2019s be blunt, gave him his career legacy and income.\u00a0 He has allegedly sworn not to undertake any further Wizarding World work as long as J. K. Rowling is involved.\u00a0 A man of courage and conviction through and through, the epitome of human kindness.<\/p>\n

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Sir Patrick Stewart<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Patrick Stewart was born in July 1940 in the West Riding of Yorkshire.\u00a0 He grew up in unfortunate circumstances of poverty and abuse from his father, a former regimental sergeant major who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/p>\n

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A young stewart, far right<\/em><\/p>\n

Stewart\u2019s interest in acting started in early childhood and would follow him through his school years where he studied drama.\u00a0 Upon leaving school at 15, he would continue his acting interests while working for a local newspaper but was ultimately made to leave due to his lack of journalistic interest.\u00a0 To be fair, he was writing obituaries.<\/p>\n

He went on to receive a grant to attend the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where his artistic talents were nurtured into what we all know and love today.\u00a0 He became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and the following year made his TV debut in Coronation Street as a fire officer.<\/p>\n