'Young And The Restless' Star Thom Bierdz Reaching Out To Gay Teens Through Art
PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 14, 2010
Openly gay actor Thom Bierdz is reaching out to troubled gay teens
through art.
Bierdz plays Phillip Chancellor III, a closeted gay man who faked his own
death to live his life openly elsewhere, on CBS' long-running daytime
soap opera The Young and the Restless. The character returned in August
after coming out gay to his son, Phillip Chancellor IV, last summer.
The 48-year-old actor told On Top Magazine that he was motivated to
act after hearing that a gay teen from his home state of Wisconsin was
bullied into committing suicide and a second boy attempted to take his
own life.
“I recognize that I have an opportunity as an out gay actor to speak up
and utilize my celebrity to bring attention to this painful issue,” Bierdz said. “Bullying of any kind is harmful, and especially if you are a gay teen already feeling like you don't fit in.”
called Teen Gay Suicide. At the group's website, youths up to 20 years of
age can submit drawings and paintings at no charge. Proceeds from an
upcoming book featuring the art will benefit The Trevor Project, a national
group centered on crisis and suicide prevention efforts for gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender and questioning teens.
“I'm well familiar with the kind of prejudice and anxiety and loneliness
that comes from being a gay teen. I was one. I know the pain of what it's
like to experience suicide in my own family,” Bierdz said, referring to
his brother.
Bierdz said he hopes the project will give teens an “opportunity to express
their feelings through art.”
“It helps by giving them a voice and visibility through powerful artistic expression,” he added.
BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF
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