National Geographic has featured a transgender person on their cover for the first time in the publication's history.
Avery Jackson, a nine-year-old girl from Missouri, is the focus of the January issue of the magazine, which examines gender issues affecting people today.
Avery is known for making YouTube videos entitled 'AveryChats', in which she discusses the process of coming to terms with her gender identity.
National Geographic
In a statement addressing their decision to put Avery on the cover, National Geographic said her portrait was one of a series taken as nine year-olds globally.
"The portraits of all the children are beautiful. We especially loved the portrait of Avery—strong and proud. We thought that, in a glance, she summed up the concept of "Gender Revolution," the statement reads.
The cover has been praised and criticised in equal measure on social media, with the magazine saying that "more than a few have vowed to cancel their subscriptions".
Kudos to @NatGeo for making #trans lives visible & sharing Avery Jackson's story: https://t.co/BpqdaBLEEs #GenderRevolution
— YouthREX (@REXforYouth) December 16, 2016
National Geographic is trying to brainwash young people into thinking this kind of degeneracy is normal. #GenderRevolution pic.twitter.com/BgurVzAEoU
— Dirty Harry (@HarryCallahan_) December 15, 2016
An alternate cover that will be available on copies sold at newsstands features an ensemble of transgender youths spotlighted in the issue.
We just published our historic special issue of @NatGeo on the #GenderRevolution. Get one at 1-800-777-2800.https://t.co/pXvHw5Kjz9 pic.twitter.com/jbjj48wb96
— Susan Goldberg (@susanbgoldberg) December 15, 2016
The edition's release is set to coincide with an upcoming Katie Couric-helmed documentary on the subject that's set to debut on the National Geographic channel in February.
The January edition of National Geographic will hit newsstands and mail boxes on Dec. 27.
