Brody's Notes... British TV Gay Teen Reality Star Tells Homophobic Bullies To ‘Shut Up!’

Harry Derbridge

By Gary Nunn (London, England) MAR 2 | Harry Derbridge, 16, put his famous catchphrase to good use today when he advised young people experiencing homophobia to tell the bullies to ‘shut up!’

Derbridge currently appears on the ITV2 programme; The Only Way Is Essex.

Supporting Stonewall’s ‘It gets better … today’ campaign, Harry said: 

“The first person I told was my cousin Amy, who is also in the show. She said ‘Harry, we’ve known that since you were 5 years old!’ I was born this way – I’m lucky because I found it easy to come out and all my family and friends have been so accepting. But bullies did put me down at school with their abuse. This has just made me a really strong person – I told them to shut up. Essex is a good place to be gay and proud."

Harry also talked about the role models who have inspired him to be himself: ‘Gay role models are so important – especially people like Brian Friedman, Alan Carr and Louie Spence – they’re out, they’re proud and they’re on TV – brilliant.’

Stonewall’s ‘It gets better … today’ campaign reassures young lesbian, gay and bisexual people that they don’t have to stand for bullying and their lives can be great today. High-profile messages of support have been recorded by celebrities including John Partridge, Danny Miller, Marc Silcock, Antony Cotton, Kieron Richardson, Katy Perry, Sue Perkins, Brian Dowling, Jodie Harsh, Joe McElderry, Christina Aguilera and Denise Van Outen. www.stonewall.org.uk/itgetsbettertoday