Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star Uncle Poodle, a.k.a. Lee Thompson, put on a purple shirt and spoke against bullying in honor of GLAAD’s spirit day.
Uncle Poodle said that it’s tough being gay and a redneck. He says in the video that he was beat up as a kid for being gay and still gets harassed by homophobic people.
“Being gay in the South … people don’t like it. Growing up as a kid, I was bullied day in and day out … broke ribs, dislocated jaw, cars vandalized … I’ve had cars vandalized to this day.”
Uncle Poodle has talked about his sexuality on the hit TLC show before . Thompson may get looks from other people in the south, but his family definitely loves him. His niece, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, proudly proclaimed on a previous episode: ”ain’t nothin’ wrong with bein’ a little gay. Everyone’s a little gay!”
GLAAD started Spirit Day in 2010 after the country was shocked when several young gay teenagers committed suicide due to bullying. The organization is encouraging people to wear purple today ( or turn their Facebook profiles purple ) in order to support GLAAD’s anti-bullying campaign.
Thompson said: “It is OK to be who you are … don’t let anybody change that.”
Here’s Uncle Poodle’s Spirit Day Video.
