Prince William Makes History on Cover of Gay Magazine
"No one should be bullied for their sexuality. Don't put up with it," he said.
— -- Prince William is making history by appearing on the cover of Altitude magazine, a leading U.K. gay magazine. In the issue he speaks out against homophobia, bullying and prejudice.
"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 during a discussion in May with Attitude editors and members of the youth LGBT community who were invited by the duke of Cambridge to Kensington Palace.
Prince William is the first member of the royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay publication. Other high-profile advocates of the LGBT community who have appeared on the magazine’s cover include Lady Gaga, Madonna, and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
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," William said. "Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."
Prince William and Princess Kate have made mental health awareness and bullying a top focus of their charitable work. William's mother, the late Princess Diana of Wales, was an early supporter of the gay community and took a leading role in ending the stigma around AIDS and HIV.
"What I would say to any young person reading this who’s being bullied for their sexuality: don’t put up with it - speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher," Prince William told the magazine.
He also encouraged those who felt helpless to reach out for help: "You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Prince William first revealed that he was appearing in the magazine on Tuesday while he and Kate signed a book of condolences for the Orlando nightclub victims.