London (ANI): Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen has taken up a new job these days - preaching homosexuality to schoolchildren. The actor, who is a gay himself and is best known for his role as Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings', is giving talks to schoolchildren about gay tolerance, in a bid to end the bullying of gay pupils.

"I've been busy at quite a few schools recently. I went to a wonderful co-ed faith school in Harpenden. They were Christians and absolutely determined that their pupils did not discriminate," the Telegraph quoted him, as telling gay magazine Attitude.

"They invited me to come and give prizes to 13-year-olds in front of the parents and to talk, partly, about being gay. I said that we were all part of a minority group - be it for being short or tall or fat or thin, or having red hair or whatever. I said, ''Hands up who thinks they are part of a minority group,'' and all the hands went up.

"I had Gandalf's sword with me and I knighted a pair of children 'Sir Minority' and 'Dame Minority' and it went down very well. It is essential to talk to 12 - and 13-year-olds because they absorb what''s thrown at them, whether it be homophobia or tolerance - and we have to make sure it's positive stuff," he added.