In A First, LGBTQ Couple On ESPN Mag's Cover

ESPN The Magazine is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its body issue. And, what would be an ideal way than portraying 10 unique yet inspiring cover images, including one that features a LGBTQ couple pose together, first for the magazine's history.

📸 #BODY10 cover athletes... @S10Bird & @mPinoe! 🙌 #WatchMeWork

Photos courtesy ESPN The Magazine // cover photo by Radka Leitmeritz // behind the scenes photos by Eric Lutzens pic.twitter.com/eCQw9OInJZ

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 25, 2018

“The Body Issue” series represents human physique and function

The couple was motivated to spread the message of gender equality. Women's sports WNBA star Sue Bird and professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe were featured together in this year's magazine.

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#Body10 in motion 🤸🏻‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/JVldwBaZRz

— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 25, 2018

The highly-anticipated body issue every year features athletes from different perspective. This year, they aim to bring diversity. The magazine also includes three other women on the covers: soccer player Crystal Dunn, softball player Lauren Chamberlain, and basketball star Breanna Stewart – each one’s portraying uniqueness in  diverse way.

?? Tolerance in WoSo and sports well-represented on the @espnW Body Issue 2018 featuring @mPinoe & @S10Bird and @crysdunn_19 #ESPN #BodyIssue #BODY10 #tolerance #LoveIsLove #noracism #Equality #ct22ows #womensfootball #womenssoccer pic.twitter.com/DpDbFF4NXr

— CT22, Our Women's Soccer (@ct22ows) June 25, 2018

Editor-in-chief Alison Overholt describes the annual publication as a “ the athletic form – in every shape and size – and to allow people to stop and marvel at the works of art these bodies truly are.”

The ESPN Body Issue is out.

Congrats to Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe — the first openly gay couple to be on the cover, and featured in the issue.https://t.co/HDjbOVtAR7 pic.twitter.com/RQVbfxk4F7

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 25, 2018

In the past, transgender athlete Chris Mosier has been featured, and veteran paralympian Kristie Ennis has also posed for the iconic issue. But this is for the first time, an LGBTQ couple has been featured.

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Check out some images from the magazine:

ESPN: The Body Issue, 10th edition, Cover. pic.twitter.com/ZoHPNrVz9Y

— Lauren Chamberlain (@LChamberlain44) June 25, 2018

After 4 years I finally decided to do these amazing and incredible pictures with @espnmag I hope everyone enjoyed them as much as I did. Thank you @espnmag I had a blast! #2018 #magazine #espn #body 👍🏼🤭😬🙌🏽👊🏾👅🏋🏽‍♂️👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/cGWo8vDIpN

— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) June 25, 2018

Creators believes the idea to bring out the body issue was to challenge beauty magazines' traditional notions. Each magazine showcases bodily perfection, and leads readers to unreal beauty and to celebrate athletic prowess in all its forms.

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Feature Image Credit: ESPN The Magazine

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