Finally – I’m in the US!

Well here I am in the US and my feet haven’t really touched the ground since I have arrived.

On Friday I flew to San Francisco to present at the GLAAD media awards on Saturday night. We so nearly missed our flight from La Guardia. We got stuck in security and we could hear our names being called out over the loud speaker but no one seemed to want to help. It ended up with Jill and I running like there was no tomorrow trying to find the right gate. When we got there it was deserted but we just got on before it was too late. Phew!

I have spent a day and a half in New York doing interviews. On Thursday I was with Mike Signorile on his live afternoon show. He asked me about the StandUp Foundation and what our goals were. Unfortunately I had a horrendous headache so I hope I came across OK.

We also went on a mini training course with GLAAD which was really beneficial. If we are going to make a difference we need to do it in the most effective but sensitive way possible. The main aim for everything that we do is to create an awareness, through the StandUp brand, that bullying is a real and painful problem for a lot of individuals and families. Everyone needs to know this and so the more people who stand up with me and talk about it, even just within their own families and communities, then a difference will be seen and felt.

Then Friday morning I had more interviews to do with the NY Times and Metro Weekly and I had a hair cut (so did Jill, that’s why we were late at the airport!!) so now we are all set for the GLAAD Awards. I shall be reading a speech so there will be practicing to do today. Never mind the King’s speech, this will be The Ben Speech!

Wish me luck,
Ben

Now I am in the US I feel it is really happening. There is so much going on my head is spinning.

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