--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am going around British secondary…" description: "\"I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to get rid of homophobic bullying and to care ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg" --- # I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man… ![“I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to get rid of homophobic bullying and to care for their gay members of staff and their gay students.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg) > “I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to get rid of homophobic bullying and to care for their gay members of staff and their gay students.” [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A gay actor shares his experiences to combat homophobic bullying and promote acceptance in schools. **In simple terms:** Sharing personal story to end bullying. Key Takeaway Advocate for inclusive school culture. Themes inclusion bullying LGBTQ+ education acceptance Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type advocacy educational personal narrative When to use this quote - teacher training - student workshops - policy development - peer support groups Key Concepts identity visibility empathy social change Questions to Reflect On - How can schools measure progress in reducing bullying? - What role can allies play in supporting LGBTQ+ staff and students? A Different Perspective Resistance may arise from entrenched prejudice or lack of resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Secondary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secondary-school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [What's fascinating to me is that in rich-kid schools, it's better to be gay. No one is discriminated against because they're gay in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/what-s-fascinating-to-me-is-that-in-rich-kid-schools-it-s-better-to/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I go to colleges all the time in America, and everyone's gay, and I think how can this be? And it's only in rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-go-to-colleges-all-the-time-in-america-and-everyone-s-gay-and-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I notice that students, particularly for gay students, it's too easy to write about my last trick or something. It's not very interesting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-notice-that-students-particularly-for-gay-students-it-s-too-easy-to/) [Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/) > [“Occasionally, formation staff would join us for these conversations. Since the media—and the Church at times—and the sensationalized public perception erroneously connected pedophilia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/occasionally-formation-staff-would-join-us-for-these-conversations/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [We've been clear that schools shouldn't just tackle direct homophobic bullying, but also the use of phrases like 'that's so gay' to mean rubbish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/we-ve-been-clear-that-schools-shouldn-t-just-tackle-direct-homophobic/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [Singer Cilla Black's introduction to homophobic bullying occurred during a visit from Billy, a dear childhood friend. Sharing a room with Ms Black's boyfriend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/singer-cilla-black-s-introduction-to-homophobic-bullying-occurred/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [In New York now, they have Harvey Milk High School for gay students. They don't have much of a football team, but the half-time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/in-new-york-now-they-have-harvey-milk-high-school-for-gay-students/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The flagrantly gay Quentin Crisp dealt with homophobic bullying by refusing to bow to its onslaught. His number listed in the phone directory, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/the-flagrantly-gay-quentin-crisp-dealt-with-homophobic-bullying-by/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Love doesn't care how much money you have. It doesn't care who your parents are. It doesn't care if you're gay, straight, or transgender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-willis/love-doesn-t-care-how-much-money-you-have-it-doesn-t-care-who-your/) [Rumer Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-willis/) > [We stand with President Obama - love doesn't have a color, love doesn't care if you're gay or straight. Love doesn't discriminate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-villaraigosa/we-stand-with-president-obama-love-doesn-t-have-a-color-love-doesn-t/) [Antonio Villaraigosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-villaraigosa/) > [Why do people care if I'm gay or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/why-do-people-care-if-i-m-gay-or-not/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [I couldn't care less if someone is gay or straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-light/i-couldn-t-care-less-if-someone-is-gay-or-straight/) [Judith Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-light/) > [I don't care what straight people do, I don't care what gay people do. I don't care what nobody do. That's they business. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/i-don-t-care-what-straight-people-do-i-don-t-care-what-gay-people-do/) [ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/) > [Love doesn't care if you're gay, straight, or transgender. Your heart's gonna get broken. You're gonna turn into a crazy person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-willis/love-doesn-t-care-if-you-re-gay-straight-or-transgender-your-heart-s/) [Rumer Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-willis/) > [I wanted people not to care about whether you were gay, straight, black, white, transgender, whatever it may be... That being said, there's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-wanted-people-not-to-care-about-whether-you-were-gay-straight-black/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to get rid of homophobic bullying and to care for their gay members of staff and their gay students.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Mckellen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-am-going-around-british-secondary-schools-as-a-gay-man-talking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-am-going-around-british-secondary-schools-as-a-gay-man-talking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/ian-mckellen-1396_british_i-am-going-around-british-secondary-scho_1535333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to…” — Ian Mckellen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ian Mckellen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am going around British secondary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-am-going-around-british-secondary-schools-as-a-gay-man-talking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-am-going-around-british-secondary-schools-as-a-gay-man-talking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```