Prince William makes history with gay magazine cover
Prince William is offering a show of royal support to the LBGT community in one of its darkest moments.
A day after signing a condolence book for victims of the Orlando shooting, he has become the first member of Britain's royal family to appear on the cover of a gay magazine with the July issue of Attitude, akin to America's Out.
The magazine, which went to press mere days before the massacre at Pulse, arrives on newsstands next week. The digital version is already available for purchase.
In the cover story, he talks about the mental health implications LGBT people suffer as a result of bullying by homophobes and transphobes. He is the first royal to openly condemn the bullying of the gay community.
“No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he told the magazine, according to a Kensington Palace press release Wednesday.
"The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.”
The historic cover arose out of William's invitation to the magazine to gather members of the British LGBT community at Kensington Palace to discuss the mental-health implications of bullying. It's part of the Heads Together initiative William started with wife Duchess Kate and brother Prince Harry to erase the social stigmas around mental health issues.
The magazine's editor, Matthew Todd, wrote: “During my time as editor of Attitude, I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or just perceived to be LGBT. I am very happy that the future king of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop.”
The magazine also directed "our most heartfelt condolences to those affected" by the Orlando mass murders.
"Around the world LGBT+ people experience hatred and violence every day. Such violence does not exist in a vacuum but snowballs from intolerance and bullying that begins in classrooms, too often comes from politicians, religious leaders and is often not treated with respect by the media."
