London (ANI): Daniel Radcliffe has filmed a public service announcement for The Trevor Project, an organization devoted to suicide prevention among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth. The Harry Potter star said that he grew up among many homosexuals.

"I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and it was never something that I even thought twice about-that some men were gay and some weren't," the Mirror quoted him as saying. He added: "And then I went to school and (for) the first time ... I came across homophobia. I had never encountered it before. It shocked me. I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals."

"I have described myself as being 'gently eccentric' and slightly different as a person just because I've had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did. I think it's important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like Harry Potter and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered. ... The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well."

The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 by three filmmakers. Their movie, 'Trevor', about a gay teen who attempts suicide, won an Academy Award for best short film.