Anti-bullying event at Rose Wagner Center

With the string of recent suicides among gay teens throughout the country, local actor Kirt Bateman says he "mostly just felt helpless."

"For me it started growing up on a dairy farm and being more creatively minded than physical. I was tormented daily," Bateman said.

"I look back at pictures of me as a kid, and I was pudgy, but I wasn't nearly as fat as I thought I was; as I was told I was," he said. "In high school being a non-jock and trying to hide the fact that I was gay as best as I possibly could, I can honestly say, that those were the worst years of my life."

"Now in my mid-30s I want to say 'torment me all you want, I can handle it. But don't do it to a kid!' It just took me right back."

A post Bateman made on Facebook fueled a rally of supporters, mostly in the artistic community, who also wanted to take a stand.

"One by one, so many came forward and wanted to help; to do something," Bateman said. They came up with "Different = Amazing," an evening of theater, dance and song. The goal is to combat bullying and raise funds for the Human Rights Education Center.

The event will be held Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. at Rose Wagner, 138 W. 300 South.

"This isn't a political issue," Bateman said. "There will be no bashing, no hate speech. This isn't even about gays, or gay marriage or gay rights. This is about bullying in all shapes and sizes — ethnicity, disabilities, hair color, weight, gender. This is about bringing awareness to bullying."

Years ago, Bateman found solace in the drama room. "It was the only safe place in the whole school for me." Today he is an accomplished actor and heads the Davis Arts Council.

Tickets to the event are $10, and more information can be found by calling 801-355-2787 or visiting www.differentisamazing.com and www.arttix.org.