Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell on the hit ABC series “Modern Family,” was a victim of bullying growing up–a moment in his life that he still remembers to this day.

“I left school in the eighth grade and I went to a different school,” he said at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s Respect Awards recently, as reported by E! Online. “It was hard. It was a horrible, horrible experience.”

The openly-gay actor also said that lived in fear everyday. “I’m sure a lot of it was rooted in homophobia. I mean, I was an ‘artistic,’ kid, which was AKA gay. I think a lot of people sensed that I was gay and were terrified of that. I think bullying comes from fear and insecurity.”

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