Newsweek Kindles Controversy Online with 'Gay President' Cover

 By 
Alex Fitzpatrick
 on 
Newsweek Kindles Controversy Online with 'Gay President' Cover
Mashable Image
Credit:

Are controversial covers the secret to news magazine success? Newsweek certainly seems to think so.

A few days after Time made headlines around the Internet with its cover photo featuring a mom breastfeeding her maybe-too-old child, Newsweek is going to press with an image of President Obama, featuring a rainbow-colored halo and a caption declaring him the "first gay president."

Andrew Sullivan, an openly gay and self-described conservative writer, wrote the title article for Newsweek, which outlines the president's "evolution" on the issue of gay marriage.

President Obama announced his personal support for same-sex marriage during a television interview broadcast last Wednesday.

The "first gay president" line is a riff on political history -- President Clinton was often warmly referred to as the "first black president" by African-American supporters due to his close ties with the black community.

Mashable collected a sample of Twitter users' reactions to the cover. Tell us what you think about the cover in the comments below.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!