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