By Theertha Raj
National Geographic has just made a big statement with their January 2017 issue. The subscriber’s edition of the magazine will be the first ever to feature a transgender child on its cover, with 9 year old LGBTQ activist Avery Jackson. The special issue is on Gender Revolution, “focusing mostly on young people and how gender roles play out around the world”. With the changing perception of gender, the new issue of the magazine will look at the gender spectrum “through the lens of science, social systems, and civilizations throughout history”.
The cover has Jackson lounging on an armchair dressed in pink, with a quote by her saying, “The best thing about being a girl is, now I don’t have to pretend to be a boy.” An openly transgender girl since the age of four, she has been a strong advocate for transgender rights, who shot to fame through her series of Youtube videos called Avery chats, discussing her transition. The National Geographic cover went viral after her mother tweeted about it with heart-warming emotion, along with the hashtag #transisbeautiful. According to National Geographic Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg, the issue also features stories of 80 nine-year olds from over eight countries, talking about the way gender has influenced their lives. The special issue is also accompanied by the release of a documentary on the Gender Revolution hosted by Katie Couric.
The issue is going to hit the stands on December 28th, and has also faced a fair share of controversy. According to Goldberg, “tens of thousands of people have weighed in with opinions, from expressions of pride and gratitude to utter fury. More than a few have vowed to cancel their subscriptions.”