LONDON — Just days after the deadly shooting at an LGBT club in Orlando, Prince William has appeared on the cover of a gay magazine as part of efforts to raise awareness about homophobic bullying.
“You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of,” William said in a statement to Attitude, a leading British magazine on gay issues.
William, the second in line for the throne, is the first member of the British royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay magazine.
William revealed earlier this week that he would appear on the cover, making the statement when he was visiting the U.S. Embassy in London to sign a book of condolences for the victims of the Orlando shooting.
In May, Attitude magazine and members of the LGBT community met at Kensington Palace, the London residence of the prince and his wife, to talk about their experiences of bullying and its effect on mental health. Both William and wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, have made bullying and mental health of young people one of their main focuses.
After the meeting, William wrote: “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. 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.”
He added: “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, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need.”
The Diana Award is an anti-bullying organization set up in honor of William’s mother, the late Princess Diana, who campaigned against bullying and famously raised awareness about people living with HIV and AIDS.
The magazine’s editor, Matthew Todd, said he had met parents whose children had taken their lives after being bullied because of their sexual orientation.
“I am very happy that the future king of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop, and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects — really protects — all children,” he said.
Print copies of the magazine will appear on newsstands next week.
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