‘Hunger Games' star Josh Hutcherson has opened up about his Straight But Not Narrow campaign, which tackles homophobia in schools, revealing that he’d love to wind things down - but society isn’t ready.
The actor supports the campaign, which launched back in 2011, and he’s now admitted that he hopes its services aren’t required at some point in the future.
Josh Hutcherson
Speaking to E!, he explains: “There is still so much to do. It’s not only even about legislation.
“It starts there, by making it legally acceptable but socially there is so much prejudice and bias that is integrated into our culture and that’s going to be around for while.
“I hope one day in my lifetime we get to close the door on this group but there’s a lot more work to do.”
“I think one of the moments that was really rewarding was probably about two years ago when we got an email from a young guy in Florida," he continues. “He was like, ‘I’m 14 years old and I go to a very religious middle school and it’s been a really hard thing for me to come out and find support because I was afraid I wouldn’t be accepted in my community. But because of Straight But Not Narrow and the support that you show me from the straight community, it’s made me see a really different side of things and I’m so happy now that I came out to my friends and family and they all love me and support me so much’.”
Josh’s comments come following the closure of another US group, Freedom To Marry, which declared their mission accomplished after a vote for marriage equality passed in each of the 50 US states.
The actor has worked hard to shine a spotlight on eradicating homophobia, and back in 2013, he discussed his own sexuality, stating: “Maybe I could say right now I’m 100% straight. But who knows? In a f**king year, I could meet a guy and be like, ‘Whoa, I’m attracted to this person.’”
“I’ve met guys all the time that I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s a good-looking guy,’ you know? “I’ve never been, like, ‘Oh, I want to kiss that guy.’ I really love women.
“But I think defining yourself as 100% anything is kind of near-sighted and close-minded.”
Find out more about Straight But Not Narrow here.
Stonewall is a UK-based organisation, that offers more information on other LGBT services and helplines. Contact them on 08000 502020.