Prince William’s historic show of LGBT support makes headlines around the globe
Prince William made history yesterday, becoming the first member of the British Royal Family to appear on the cover of an LGBT publication in Attitude’s July Issue – available to download now and in shops from next Wednesday (June 22).
HRH the Duke of Cambridge invited Attitude, along with members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace to discuss homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying, and what impact it has on mental health.
In the wake of Sunday’s tragic shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, the Duke’s show of solidarity with the LGBT community could not have come at a better time, generating headlines around the globes at the future King of the United Kindgom tells young LGBT people they have “nothing to be ashamed of”.
The thoughts of millions around the world will have now turned to the homophobic bullying and mental health issues experienced by members of our community, as the Duke follows in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana, who was famously supportive of the LGBT community and those living with HIV/AIDS right up until her tragic death in 1997.
Editorial director of Attitude Matthew Todd kicked off the snowballing tide of media coverage yesterday with an appearance on Channel 5 News, where he spoke about the Prince’s appearance, and the effects of homophobia on LGBT people.
The cover story quickly made its way around the world.
Prince William becomes first royal family member photographed for cover of gay publication https://t.co/6q00ltCUDopic.twitter.com/ie8KBpKYOT
— ABC News (@ABC) June 15, 2016
“Prince William becomes first royal family member photographed for cover of gay publication”.
Prince William made history with this stunning cover on a gay magazine – @AttitudeMaghttps://t.co/jqgG8zEpH6pic.twitter.com/iVsboVkUPo
— Marie Claire (@marieclaireau) June 16, 2016
#PrinceWilliam on the cover of the U.K.’s leading gay men’s mag! This makes me so happy! https://t.co/32OJiN02hS pic.twitter.com/Sb0yc78LNl
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) June 15, 2016
Making history! This is amazing ❤️ https://t.co/8Zme956kb4
— Emma Bunton (@EmmaBunton) June 15, 2016
It wasn’t just the West paying attention, either. News agencies in countries like Kenya, where homosexuality is punishable with up to 14 years’ imprisonment, also took notice – evidence of the ripple effect caused by the Prince’s cover.
Britain’s Prince William appears on gay magazine cover https://t.co/kDveweVhZEpic.twitter.com/5UmvmETtnI
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 16, 2016
The cover is doing what it is meant to do: Raise global awareness of the scourge of homophobia, even in countries where homosexuality can lead to state-sanctioned oppression, and sometimes death.
The hope is that cover stories such as these, featuring prominent people supporting the LGBT community, will lead to a sea change in attitudes.
Prince William appears on the cover of Attitude, a gay magazine https://t.co/sg2kKcLwHk
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) June 15, 2016
Here are just some of the headlines generated by the Prince’s historic show of LGBT support:
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Making history: Prince William appears on the cover of Attitude
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