#SayYesToLove with Cosmo SA's Laverne Cox cover exclusive!

Topics for inclusion, equality and diversity in the media sphere itself remained under the media spotlight this week as social media netizens celebrated Cosmopolitan South Africa's decision to place Laverne Cox on the cover, with their logo suitably rainbow-hued to show support of the LGBTQI+ community.
Leigh AndrewsBy Leigh Andrews
5 Feb 2018
Cox of the February 2018 cover of Cosmo SA - now trending everywhere!
Cox of the February 2018 cover of Cosmo SA - now trending everywhere!

The 45-year old activist, Emmy-winning producer and Orange is the new Black actress made history as the first transgender woman ever to appear on a Cosmo cover – and for the South African edition of Cosmo, no less!

Of course some had misgivings over using an international star instead of a South African one (though there's plenty of SA-based content between the covers), and also over Cosmo US missing the boat on this, but the response has been overwhelmingly supportive.
Hollywood Reporter adds that Beverly Johnson became the first black woman to appear on the cover of US Cosmo in February 1976 – 42 years ago this month. Cosmopolitan adds that Johnson was the first black model to appear on the cover of Vogue two years prior. Cox thanked Johnson on Instagram for “…paving the way for all of the black women who have followed you over the years on Cosmo covers."
Mashable reports that the issue also includes the voice of 19-year-old SA trans model and activist ‘Princess of Darkness’ Elle van der Burg, who identifies as pansexual and explains that “trans rights aren't adequately taken into consideration in regards to legal, structural and social development in South Africa.”

So while it’s legal to be openly transgender here, thanks to South Africa's 'new' constitution, which made discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in 1996, followed a decade later by becoming the first African nation to legalise same-sex marriage and the fifth country in the world to do so, change takes time and there’s still discrimination and misunderstanding and lack of education out there, especially in terms of the difference between gender and sexuality.

Trans-forming traditional definitions of love

Van der Burg explains this in her behind-the-scenes beauty Q&A for the magazine shoot:

That’s why Channel24 celebrates this move, stating: “Along with making history, Cosmo SA’s #SayYesToLove edition is also celebrating Valentine’s Day by embracing queer, gay, lesbian, non-binary, trans, and non-conforming love.”

Paper quotes Cosmo SA's editor-in-chief Holly Meadows on describing Cox as follows: "[She’s] the world's most vocal trans poster girl and an activist for the intersection of race, class and gender identities, challenging toxic masculinity, white supremacy and the misrepresentation of trans people."

The Daily Beast explains Meadows decided to focus the Valentine’s issue on the LGBTQI+ community in particular by looking at “…love in 2018—including acceptance of self, others, and non-binary relationships”.

Watch the Cosmopolitan #SayYesToLove campaign video below:

It gives new meaning to the magazine’s tagline of ‘fun, fearless female’, especially as it’s a gorgeous, groundbreaking first in terms of race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Viva equality!

About Leigh Andrews

Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of inclusion, belonging, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! Now follow her travel adventures on YouTube @MidlifeMeander.
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