Barack Obama named LGBT 'Ally of the Year' by 'Out' magazine

Out magazine just unveiled the cover of its annual Out100 issue, and it features none other than the President of the United States himself, Barack Obama. This marks the first time that a sitting U.S. president has been photographed for the cover of an LGBT publication.

The mag has named the president “Ally of the Year” for the advances in LGBT civil rights that have been made during his administration, citing, among other milestones, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Out also says that the POTUS’ “evolution on marriage equality” has been “something to behold,” which—strong disagree! But those other things are good.

“One of the reasons I got involved in politics was to help deliver on our promise that we’re all created equal, and that no one should be excluded from the American dream just because of who they are,” Obama told Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin in the cover interview. “And governments need to enforce the law, prosecute acts of violence, and protect the human rights of their citizens—all of their citizens—without discrimination.”

The mag’s annual Out100 pays tribute to the year’s “most compelling” people who have impacted the lives of LGBT people. Other Out100 2015 honorees include #BlackLivesMatter co-founder Alicia Garza, activist DeRay Mckesson, artist Juliana Huxtable, model and actress Hari Nef, activist Jennicet Gutiérrez, activist Jim Obergefell, writer Roxane Gay, musician Le1f, YouTuber Hannah Hart, and reality star Caitlyn Jenner.