Cosmopolitan has launched its first ever Pride issue, including a celebration of the 50 most influential and inspiring LGBTQI and allied Australians, in the inaugural Rainbow List.
Timed to coincide with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, self-confessed gender-fluid star Ruby Rose is the cover star of the March issue. She said: “I am eternally blessed and humbled to be included in this terrific list of inspirational people. I feel ecstatic to be part of the LGBTQI community and I hope my journey gives people the confidence to be themselves.”
The Pride issues comes as 80 per cent of Cosmo readers surveyed said they support marriage equality. In recognition of those who campaign and advocate for the rights of all LGBTQI people, Cosmopolitan has compiled its first Rainbow List.
Claire Askew, Cosmopolitan editor said: “We recently asked the Cosmo reader what political issue they cared about most – marriage equality was number one. That’s why, in honour of the LGBTQI community, we have put together this special Cosmo Pride issue – just in time for Mardi Gras. I am proud to call myself and Cosmopolitan magazine allies to the LGBTQI community. We truly believe that love is love.”
Cosmopolitan’s Pride issue goes on sale on Thursday 9 February.
COSMO’S RAINBOW LIST (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
A panel of six experts, including Labor’s Penny Wong and Prof. Kerryn Phelps, helped to single out the top 50 role models and those who have worked tirelessly for LGBTQI people to be treated equally.
Courtney Act 34, Performer, QLD
Tim Campbell 41, Actor & Singer, VIC
Tom Ballard 27, Comedian & Radio Presenter, VIC
Em Rusciano 37, Performer & Personality, VIC
Senior Constable Benjamin Bjarnesen 32, Police Officer With The Queensland Police Service, QLD
Julie Kalceff 46, Writer & Director Of Starting From Now, NSW
Georgie Harman 47, CEO Of Beyondblue, VIC
Kylie Minogue 48, Pop Star, VIC
Patrick Abboud 38, Award-Winning Storyteller And Documentarian, NSW
Anthony Callea 34, Singer, VIC
Josh Thomas 29, Actor, Comedian & Writer, QLD
Ollie Henderson 28, Model & Activist, NSW
Rosane Mcnamara 66, President Of New Theatre, NSW
Matthew Mitcham 28, Former Olympic Diver, QLD
Vicki Harding 51, Director Of Inner City Legal Centre, NSW
Clover Moore 71, Lord Mayor Of Sydney, NSW
Sia 41, Singer, SA
Troye Sivan 21, Singer, VIC
Vince Chong 37, President Of The Defence Force Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, And Intersex Information Service (Defglis), & Commanding Officer Of Maritime Patrol Systems Program Office, SA
Lisa Apostolides 51, Organiser Of LGBT-Plus Fancy Formal, NSW
Allan Clarke 34, Buzzfeed Indigenous Affairs Reporter, NSW
Kat Dopper 35, Founder Of Heaps Gay & Mardi Gras Board Director, NSW
Benjamin Law 33, Author & Journalist, QLD
Peter Bonsall-Boone & Peter De Waal 78, LGBTQI Rights Pioneers, NSW
Ruby Rose 30, Actress, VIC
Sam Sparro 34, Singer, NSW
Catherine Humphries Squadron Leader Within The Australian Defence Force, QLD
Courtney Barnett 29, Singer-Songwriter, VIC
Janine Middleton 57, Co-Chair Of Australian Marriage Equality, NSW
Larissa Waters 39, Co-Deputy Leader Of The Australian Greens, QLD
Gemma Cowling 19, Model, SA
Kim Leutwyler 33, Artist, NSW
Trent Zimmerman 48, MP For North Sydney, NSW
Max Mackenzie Social Worker, QLD
Toni Maticevski 40, Fashion Designer, VIC
Joel Creasey 26, Comedian, WA
Emma Freeman 40, Director, NSW
REV Dorothy Mcrae-Mcmahon 83, Spiritual Leader, Writer, Liturgist & Feminist Theologian, NSW
Casey Conway 32, Former Rugby League Player & Youth Rights Advocate, QLD
Michelle Heyman 28, Player With The Australian Women’s National Soccer Team The Matildas, NSW
Margot Fink 21, LGBTQI activist, VIC
Alan Joyce 50, ceo Of Qantas, NSW
Shannon Molloy 31, Journalist, NSW
Sally Rugg 28, Activist, NSW
Rhys Nicholson, 26, And Zoë Coombs Marr, 32 Comedians, NSW
Caitlin Stasey 26, Actress, VIC
Ann-Marie Calilhanna 43, Photographer For The Star Observer, NSW
Sarah Walker 51, TV Writer & Script Producer, NSW
