Russell Simmons Calls Homophobia A Sickness, Says Rappers Less Anti-Gay Than Before

Hip-hop icon, philanthropist and all-around mogul Russell Simmons sat down with Robert Wolf to discuss his business ideals, the U.S. government and society in an interview with Robert Wolf.

As the Human Rights Campaign points out , Wolf asked Simmons -- who has frequently supported lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) causes in the past -- about hip-hops evolution in the Reuters TV interview, which is part of a Black History Month series. Simmons stated that rappers today arent nearly as homophobic, racist, and sexist as they were in previous generations.

You still have the mirrors of our societal sickness: the homophobia, the sexism, the racism, the gangsta stuff," he said. "You still have all that, but thats important because theyre not as homophobic as their parents. Theyre not as racist as their parents. Theyre not as sexist as their parents. You hear their language and its scares you. Theyre not as gangsta as our government."

Last year, the longtime LGBT rights advocate attended the GLAAD Media Awards in New York alongside other allies such as TV personality La La Anthony and actress Dakota Fanning. In 2011, he joined HRCs New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign.