Stand Up to Bullying with Ian McKellen

Bullying is often rooted in discrimination, the unjust or prejudicial treatment of people who are perceived to be "different." Discrimination affects people from all walks of life regardless of age, skin color, or sexuality. No one is immune to the threat of being bullied at school, at work, or in life. Hear from Ian McKellen on the importance of recognizing bullying and standing up for the victims of bullying when it happens. Follow up with resources hand-selected to help you recognize the many ways people are bullied, why people bully others, and if you are being bullied yourself.

Bullying doesn’t stop when you leave school. For many people, it may not start until adulthood. As an adult, being bullied can often be subtle and more difficult to navigate. Whether it takes the shape of harassment, disrespect, insult, or injury - bullying can affect you, your coworkers, or your friends and family. Discover strategies to approach bullying and disarm bullies - without becoming a bully yourself.

As Ian says in his PSA from Stonewall, "Don't be a bystander". Those being bullied need the support of their family, friends, coworkers - and you. Taking a stand against bullying can even mean evaluating your own behavior in life and at work . Doing so can helps you better recognize - and stop - bullying when it starts. Explore ways you can help stop bullying through self-evaluation, recognizing the warning signs of bullying in others, and by creating safe and inclusive cultures that empower people to stand up against bullying.

Ian McKellen, born and raised in the north of England, has been honored with over sixty international acting awards during his more than half a century on stage and screen. He is beloved by fans worldwide as Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. McKellen writes on a wide variety of topics for magazines and newspapers worldwide. In 1991, Sir Ian was knighted (KBE) for services to theatre in UK. He is a co-founder of Stonewall UK, which lobbies for legal and social equality for gay people. In 2008, the Queen personally appointed him Companion of Honour (CH), for his services to drama and to equality.