--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while…" description: "\"When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while the post-apartheid constitution was being drafted, I asked him to endorse making it illegal to discriminate o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/ian-mckellen-1396_asked_when-i-went-to-lobby-nelson-mandela-whil_2219160.jpg" --- # When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while the… ![“When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while the post-apartheid constitution was being drafted, I asked him to endorse making it illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexuality. I'd been warned that he might giggle if I mentioned homosexuality.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/ian-mckellen-1396_asked_when-i-went-to-lobby-nelson-mandela-whil_2219160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/ian-mckellen-1396_asked_when-i-went-to-lobby-nelson-mandela-whil_2219160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/ian-mckellen-1396_asked_when-i-went-to-lobby-nelson-mandela-whil_2219160.jpg) > “When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while the post-apartheid constitution was being drafted, I asked him to endorse making it illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexuality. I'd been warned that he might giggle if I mentioned homosexuality.” [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. McKellen recounts his attempt to persuade Nelson Mandela to protect LGBTQ rights, noting Mandela’s cautious humor, highlighting the difficulty of advocating for controversial issues. **In simple terms:** He tried to get Mandela’s support for gay rights, but Mandela was hesitant. Key Takeaway Advocacy may meet subtle resistance even from allies. Themes human rights advocacy political negotiation Mood reflective determined Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - legislation - activism - social movements Key Concepts historical anecdote dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can overcome such hesitance? - How do cultural norms shape political support? A Different Perspective The anecdote may lack broader context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apartheid Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid-constitution-4946093/) [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Discriminate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discriminate/) [Drafted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafted/) [Endorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endorse/) [Giggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giggle/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal/) [Lobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobby/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela/) [Mandela Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela-post-4946094/) [Mentioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentioned/) [Mentioned Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentioned-homosexuality-4946092/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson/) [Nelson mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson-mandela/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Warned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warned/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) ## Related quotes > [I have been reluctant to lobby on other issues I most care about - nuclear weapons (against), religion (atheist), capital punishment (anti), AIDS (fund-raiser)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-have-been-reluctant-to-lobby-on-other-issues-i-most-care-about/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [One of the oddest things in life, as we all know, is the way that when you have heard a thing mentioned, within twenty-four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-of-the-oddest-things-in-life-as-we-all-know-is-the-way-that-when/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I have no wisdom and nothing useful to tell you - I only mentioned this because it came into my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hoban/i-have-no-wisdom-and-nothing-useful-to-tell-you-i-only-mentioned-this/) [Russell Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hoban/) > [There's no reason for me to go into a big dissertation about why I'm not getting the calls. 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We spoke about Israel and I mentioned 'Scooterman' and he just froze.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david-goldberg/in-1998-i-received-treatment-for-my-knee-by-an-israeli-therapist-we/) [Gary David Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-david-goldberg/) > [Im on another level, b-tch you heard me say that do you SOD I never mentioned you cause you not worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/im-on-another-level-b-tch-you-heard-me-say-that-do-you-sod-i-never/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [There are names I do not want mentioned in my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-schwarzkopf/there-are-names-i-do-not-want-mentioned-in-my-home/) [Elisabeth Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-schwarzkopf/) > [It sure is cool that I was mentioned in 'Rolling Stone.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/it-sure-is-cool-that-i-was-mentioned-in-rolling-stone/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. 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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. 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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 Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... 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