In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with actor/comedian Scott Thompson who we first fell in love with as one of the first openly gay characters on the hit TV show “Kids in the Hall”. “The Kids in the Hall’ was a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984 consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. Their television show known for its cross-dressing antics and infinite supply of bold gay characters ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO. Scott talks about what it was like being one of the first openly gay characters on network television and today’s epidemic of LGBTQ teen bullying.
LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. We continue to have numerous teens taking their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise he would have for these kids, Thompson stated, “I remember when I was a kid absolutely I felt useless and I hated being gay but I totally fought off those feelings of worthlessness and suicide. It definitely was in my mind when I was a kid. What blows my mind is today the kids have it I think so much better and they’re still having a hard time. I think that is quite sad but at the same time, I think about what bullying is. I don’t believe you can have a world free from bullying. I think that is an impossible dream and I think to do that there would be so much social conditioning that you would have to do that I don’t think it’s worth it. I think you just have to, got to, develop a thick skin. The truth is once you get into the real world, it’s not GLEE! It really isn't... Here’s something about the whole bullying campaign. Those boys that are beating up kids and stuff, they don’t care what adults say. What you really need is people like The Rock to say it. Those kids need to hear The Rock and rappers and 50 Cent, they’re the ones that those boys need to hear.”
Scott Thompson is currently touring with Kevin McDonald in “Two Kids One Hall”.
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