‘Tut’ Star Avan Jogia: ‘Stand Up & Speak Up’ Against Anti-Gay Bullying [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]

Canadian actor Avan Jogia, who is starring in the titular role of King Tutankhamun in Spike TVs Tut miniseries, has used his platform as a popular young actor to bring awareness to the bullying of LGBT teens.

Avan Jogia On Straight But Not Narrow

“I founded a charity called Straight But Not Narrow,” Jogia told uInterview exclusively. “Its main function was to educate straight teens about the apathy towards bullying – specifically bullying for people’s sexual orientation.”

Jogia, who’s starred on Victorious and Twisted, believes that this habit of ignoring or turning a blind eye to bullying or other things that one might recognize as being wrong is just as bad as actively bullying someone. He wants to encourage young people to proactively come out against the bullying of their LGBT peers.

“If you have a gay friend who is being bullied for that fact and you say nothing, your silence is as loud as their violence, is the best way to put it,” Jogia said. “It’s basically an education to people to stand up and speak up, and the worst sickness that we live in this world is apathy.”

“If you are against bullying and that is happening in front of you, you have to stand up for that,” Jogia added.

Tut premieres on Spike TV July 19 at 9 p.m.