Cosmopolitan magazine has launched its first ever Pride issue, featuring 50 of the most influential and inspiring members who both identify as, or advocated for, the LGBTQI community on its inaugural Rainbow List.
Timed to coincide with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, it also features Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in the top 50.
Joyce appears alongside Aussie LGBTQI poster children like singer Anthony Callea, actor and comedian Josh Thomas, pop star and gay icon Kylie Minogue, radio personality and comedian Em Rusciano, singer Sia, and comedian Joel Creasey.
Qantas’s openly gay CEO Alan Joyce has been at the forefront of the great debate, telling Aussies to embrace the true ‘spirit’
of our nation, which is diverse and beautiful.
In the magazine feature, Joyce said of Qantas, “We want all of our people who come to work every day to feel equal.
“Any piece of legislation that in some way says you’re different, you’re second class, you don’t have the same rights as everybody else, is bad for everybody’s position.”
Pannelist Penny Wong added, “Alan uses his position and profile to promote acceptance of LGBTQI people in corporate
Australia and important rights issues.”
Self-confessed gender-fluid star Ruby Rose is the cover star of the March issue, saying she was “eternally blessed and humbled” to be a part of the issue.
The Pride issues comes as 80 per cent of Cosmo readers surveyed said they support marriage equality.
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.
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 today, Thursday 9 February.
