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| Prince William: 'I'd support my child if they were gay' | Prince William: 'I'd support my child if they were gay' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prince William has said he would "fully support" his children if they were gay, but admitted he would "worry" about the added pressures they would face. | Prince William has said he would "fully support" his children if they were gay, but admitted he would "worry" about the added pressures they would face. |
| It was something he had thought about since becoming a parent, he said. | It was something he had thought about since becoming a parent, he said. |
| "I wish we lived in a world where it's really normal and cool, but particularly for my family, and the position that we are in, that's the bit I am nervous about," he said. | "I wish we lived in a world where it's really normal and cool, but particularly for my family, and the position that we are in, that's the bit I am nervous about," he said. |
| The duke was speaking to young people at a LGBT youth charity in London. | The duke was speaking to young people at a LGBT youth charity in London. |
| The Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) supports LGBT young people who are at risk of homelessness. | The Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) supports LGBT young people who are at risk of homelessness. |
| 'Barriers' | 'Barriers' |
| The duke said he backed "whatever decisions" his children made, but added: "It does worry me from a parent point of view. | |
| "How many barriers you know, hateful words, persecution, all that and discrimination that might come, that's the bit that really troubles me. | "How many barriers you know, hateful words, persecution, all that and discrimination that might come, that's the bit that really troubles me. |
| "But that's for all of us to try and help correct and make sure we can put that to the past and not come back to that sort of stuff." | "But that's for all of us to try and help correct and make sure we can put that to the past and not come back to that sort of stuff." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Ben Hunte, BBC News LGBT Correspondent | By Ben Hunte, BBC News LGBT Correspondent |
| This is a huge moment for LGBT people around the world. | This is a huge moment for LGBT people around the world. |
| For a member of the British Royal Family to give such an endorsement to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, and their fight for equality, is a big deal, especially in a time when the visibility of LGBT people is being continually questioned. | For a member of the British Royal Family to give such an endorsement to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, and their fight for equality, is a big deal, especially in a time when the visibility of LGBT people is being continually questioned. |
| However, with the Duke of Cambridge being a figurehead for the Royal Family as well as the Commonwealth, it is also worth remembering that homosexual activity is still a criminal offence in 35 of the 53 Commonwealth nations - and it is only legal in 18. | However, with the Duke of Cambridge being a figurehead for the Royal Family as well as the Commonwealth, it is also worth remembering that homosexual activity is still a criminal offence in 35 of the 53 Commonwealth nations - and it is only legal in 18. |
| Many will now be wondering whether Prince William's words could have a positive impact on these places, where people are still fighting for their lives because of who they love. | Many will now be wondering whether Prince William's words could have a positive impact on these places, where people are still fighting for their lives because of who they love. |
| Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have three children - five-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, four, and one-year-old Prince Louis. | Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have three children - five-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, four, and one-year-old Prince Louis. |
| The duke said this was not the first time he has been asked this hypothetical question about his children. | The duke said this was not the first time he has been asked this hypothetical question about his children. |
| The Queen's cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and his partner James Coyle were the first royal same-sex couple to get married last year. | The Queen's cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and his partner James Coyle were the first royal same-sex couple to get married last year. |
| The duke said parents often ask his views on the issue and that because of this, he and the Duchess of Cambridge have "been doing a lot of talking" to make sure their children are "prepared". | The duke said parents often ask his views on the issue and that because of this, he and the Duchess of Cambridge have "been doing a lot of talking" to make sure their children are "prepared". |
| 'Massive difference' | 'Massive difference' |
| He also expressed his shock at a recent attack on Melania Geymonat and her partner Chris on a London bus, saying: "I was really appalled". | He also expressed his shock at a recent attack on Melania Geymonat and her partner Chris on a London bus, saying: "I was really appalled". |
| Tim Sigsworth, chief executive of AKT, said the duke's comments would make a "massive difference" and sent "a message that we need to support, and we need to empower LGBT people". | Tim Sigsworth, chief executive of AKT, said the duke's comments would make a "massive difference" and sent "a message that we need to support, and we need to empower LGBT people". |
| He said: "I was personally rejected by my mum, and the idea that the future monarch is saying they would support their children if they came out as LGBT is a message to the whole of society really, a message that we need to support and we need to empower LGBT people." | He said: "I was personally rejected by my mum, and the idea that the future monarch is saying they would support their children if they came out as LGBT is a message to the whole of society really, a message that we need to support and we need to empower LGBT people." |
| During a conversation with AKT's founder, Cath Hall, William also spoke of his concerns about the pressures on LGBT young people coming out to their family and friends. | |
| "It's a real pressure to live under," he said. | |
| "I've been looking into issues around suicide and I imagine that the figures in the LGBT community are high, because of all the barriers and stigma around acceptance." | |
| Many people have praised the prince for the comments. | Many people have praised the prince for the comments. |
| Charity Mermaids UK, which supports gender diverse and transgender children, said it "loves that Prince William supports LGBTQ children". | Charity Mermaids UK, which supports gender diverse and transgender children, said it "loves that Prince William supports LGBTQ children". |